Is the Coton de Tulear a good family dog?

The Coton de Tulear is a small dog breed that originated in Madagascar, named for its city of origin and its cotton-like coat. They are petite, white coated dogs whose fur should be textured more like hair than fur, which is long and very soft to the touch. While they are by no means as common within the UK as many of the other small white dog breeds such as the Bichon Frise, they are growing ever more popular as lap dogs and companions worldwide, both thanks to their cute appearance and kind tempers. They are reputed to be a very low shedding dog breed, and as such, are often recommended as a potential choice of pet for people who often suffer from allergies to dog dander.

If you are looking for a new dog and are particularly drawn to small lap dog types, the Coton de Tulear is definitely worthy of consideration. In this article, we will look at some of the core traits and care requirements of the breed in more detail, and find out if they make for good family pets. Read on to learn more.

What are their temperaments like?

The Coton de Tulear is an incredibly appealing little dog with a fun loving personality, affectionate nature and reasonably high intelligence. They like to please their owners and can be taught to perform tricks, such as walking on their hind legs! They really enjoy playing and having fun, and will sometimes display a range of vocalisations while doing so, which can be highly entertaining!

They are considered to have the outgoing and open natures of some much larger breeds, such as the Labrador and Golden Retriever.

Are their coats high maintenance?

It is certainly fair to say that the Coton de Tulear coat needs quite a lot of care, and this means brushing and combing on a daily basis, as well as regular baths. They do not shed heavily, and the hair that they do shed tends to remain trapped within the coat, and can soon cause matting and knots if not regularly brushed out.

They can be clipped off to reduce the maintenance required for the coat, but as the soft, silky coat is one of the most appealing traits of the breed, this is relatively rare.

How much exercise do they need?

They are relatively lively little dogs, and have plenty of endurance for long walks and lots of running around. However, two reasonably long and active walks per day is usually sufficient to cover most of their exercise needs, and they also like to play outside and be able to run around.

They are fun loving little dogs that are always ready for a game, and will never miss an opportunity to play ball or run around!

Are they easy to train?

As an intelligent dog that is also very much a people-pleaser, the Coton is among the most amenable of dogs to training, and they pick up new skills quickly, and retain them for life. They love to learn and to take part in active training sessions, and like a lot of variety in their days. They can retain a wide range of commands and also complex chain commands, and are also more than capable of leaning tricks!

The Coton de Tulear thrives on positive reinforcement training and lots of praise, and will work very hard to please you when training.

Do they get on well with other animals?

They are very inquisitive, outgoing dogs that are always keen to make new friends, making them excellent social dogs that very much enjoy playing with others. Like all dogs, they require introductions and socialisation with other dogs when young, and will then very much enjoy making new friends and playing in the dog park.

They can also live quite happily with cats when properly introduced, and will often be very affectionate with all of the other animals within the household.

Are they good with children?

The Coton de Tulear really loves children, and is among the best breeds for families with kids. They are kind and affectionate with kids of all ages, and are able to moderate their behaviour to ensure that even the smallest of children are not bumped or knocked over in play.

They thrive on being involved in every aspect of family life, and will often invite the children to play with them, and will happily spend lots of time out in the garden with the kids in the summer, running around and having fun.

It is of course important to teach your children how to treat and handle the dog, as due to their small size, the Coton may potentially become hurt or frightened with too much boisterous play, and children should be taught to respect this and moderate their play accordingly.