Coton de tulear: description, advantages and disadvantages, nuances of care

Coton de tulear - breed, characterized by small size. These dogs are not very common in our country, breeders are quite difficult to find.

The breed was bred in Madagascar, and it is still the real pride of local breeders.

The dog is incredibly pretty, evoking aesthetically pleasing feelings, petite, with a cheerful, perky temper. She is loved not only for her external beauty, but also for her sociable character, ingenuity and loyalty.

The Coton de Tulear breed is called Madagascar Bichon, which is associated with the snow-white cotton of those edges. The breed is quite ancient, but there is no exact information about the origin, the first mentions are dated to the end of the XVI century.

Once to keep such a dog was equivalent to demonstrating success, security, and keeping Bichon to ordinary people was officially forbidden. At the end of the XIX century begins the process of selection with Maltese, Bolognese, as a result of which a very nice animal was obtained. Official registration of the breed was recorded in 1971, but the standard of appearance again underwent changes.

This miniature breed has several varieties. As for the standard parameters, they are represented by the following figures:

• height of males varies from 25 to 30 cm, females - from 20 to 26 cm;
• body weight of males - from 4.5 to 6 kg, females - from 3.5 to 5 kg.

Characteristics of the exterior of the Coton de Tulear breed:

• strong build;
• musculature well developed;
• the constitution is harmonious, proportional, the type is slightly elongated;
• head is medium sized, triangular in shape;
• muzzle slightly shortened, the transition from nose to forehead is not pronounced;
• the eyes are large, round in shape, widely spaced, dark;
• ears small, set high, hang;
• corps squat, similar to dachshunds;
• the neck is not too wide, the muscles are strong, the back is stretched;
• belly does not hang;
• limbs shortened, powerful, parallel-spaced, straight type;
• feet small, round;
• tail in shape resembles a saber, at the base is thicker than at the end, length up to 17 cm.

The main feature of the Madagascar Bichon is wool. By type, it is very thick, fluffy, very smooth to the touch, soft. It can be compared to cotton, thanks to the airiness, light medium-sized waviness.

This spectacular snow-white fur coat is similar to fur and makes an amazing impression. As for the suit, the standard allows only one variation: a white-boiled color.

Any shades are not allowed, ebb in the main color, except for small inclusions in the area of ​​the ears, they can be smoky or blue. Short hair is rejected.

Like any other breed, the Madagascar Bichon has its advantages and disadvantages.

The main advantages noted by dog ​​handlers are as follows:

• kindness and friendly attitude towards people and animals;
• good immunity, health is stronger than most small breeds;
• well trained, easy to train;
• active and energetic, love outdoor games, but they do not need long walking;
• moderate molting;
• no unpleasant odors.

There are some drawbacks, they should be considered before the acquisition.As a rule, this is the difficulty of caring for the spectacular cotton coat.

Among the shortcomings noted such:

• snow-white dogs are very easy to get dirty, dusty;
• since the wool is of elongated type, it turns into mats, tangles;
• on wool instantly sticks to everything;
• constant and rather careful care is required so that the pet looks beautiful, if it is not provided, an untidy appearance is guaranteed;
• unkempt wool leads to a number of serious diseases of the infectious type;
• Koton barking too shrill;
• if the dog is not brought up, it is completely uncontrollable, social untimely socialization will lead to aggressiveness.

Tulears are a companion of human nature, they make excellent friends.

Cotons like to bark, so they talk to the world, you have to live with it, especially if you started an active game. Due to its qualities, such a dog will perfectly fit into a family where there are children, they are excellent animators, happy to play with the child.

If you feel tired, do not get angry, do not start to growl, just run away and hide.

Since the breed is quite fragile, do not allow the child to play with the puppy uncontrollably. Tulear gets on well with other animals, cats.

He is pretty smart and smart, very efficient. Therefore, tirelessly can train, will be happy to learn new places.

As for outsiders, the Coton will not show aggression, but he will be on his guard, he is not too trusting.

This breed is very polite, not annoying. Requires socialization and education from an early age.

Feeding dogs must be balanced, it is a guarantee of well-being and health.

It is very important to organize the feeding, which will be nutritious and useful.

They already have all the necessary substances, as well as a complex of vitamins and trace elements. Cotons are usually not obese, but control of portions is still necessary.

If you decide to feed the dog with natural products, you should make a diet of the following products:

• lean meat (beef, veal, rabbit, turkey, chicken), seedless, lived;
• cereals: buckwheat, oats and others;
• fish, sea, peeled;
• weekly - eggs;
• vegetable type fat;
• low-fat sour milk, cottage cheese, cheese;
• seasonal vegetables and fruits;
• greenery;
• offal;
• vitamin and mineral complex, bone meal.

Under a categorical ban:

• food from your table;
• salted and peppered, seasoned with spices;
• sweet, flour, pastries;
• tubular bones and all chicken;
• plum, grapes, legumes, potatoes;
• pasta;
• pearl barley;
• river type fish.

It is easier and more convenient to organize food with ready-made food, so you will be sure that the proportions of nutrients are kept in the right amount.

In addition, they do not require cooking.

The daily portion is divided into equal parts.

It has already been mentioned that grooming a cat's coat is a painstaking, thorough business that requires regularity. A snow-white fur coat is a dog’s pride, and it should be in perfect order.

Hygiene procedures are mandatory.

• Dogs of this breed should be combed daily, and twice a year (during the molting period) to use for this purpose the Pudcherka. The process of combing should be done as carefully as possible.
• Prophylactic treatment of parasites, both external and internal, is carried out regularly.
• The dog can be cut if you do not plan to take part in exhibition forums. In this case, the length remains natural without model-type haircuts.
• Enough to collect strands in the area of ​​the forehead in the tail, cut off, so as not to climb into the eyes and not too dirty.
• You should buy a dog clothes for the winter and off-season. She will save her from cold weather and mud during the walk.
• Water procedures are carried out as needed, using only special means for bathing. Water should be warm.
• Dogs of this breed love water, willingly bathe and swim, after swimming you should rinse the dog under the tap.
• After water procedures it is necessary to apply special balms.
• When forming mats, they should be treated with a balm and disassembled manually.
• Periodically clean the ears, using sticks and discs, it should be done very carefully. Every day, the ears are examined for inflammation, redness.
• Eyes are wiped twice a week, for this purpose, a cotton pad is moistened with a special agent from vetapteks.
• Teeth are cleaned with a brush and special paste, you also need to buy dog ​​bones with fluoride.
• The claws are trimmed as needed with a clipper, you can never use ordinary scissors. In addition, puppies are trained to this procedure from the first days of life.
• According to the schedule, it is necessary to vaccinate in time, twice a year you need to show the animal to a veterinarian.
• You need to walk with the dog twice a day, you do not need to walk for too long, but you need to play and run freely.

Care for a dog is not only to maintain a beautiful appearance, but also to monitor its health.

Coton wool is considered to be minimally annoying in this regard, especially if you properly care for it.

The dog’s health is quite strong, but the following problems may arise:

• disorders of the gastrointestinal tract;
• allergy;
• problems with the liver, eyes, musculoskeletal system;
• urolithiasis disease.

In order to prevent diseases or catch them at an early stage, it is imperative to monitor the condition of the pet and see the doctor in time, it is good to look after him.

The lifespan of dogs is up to 16 years.

As soon as the puppy reaches two months of age, it begins to bring up.

Need to teach your baby:

• respond to the name;
• know your home;
• wear a collar and walk on a leash;
• not to be afraid of a loud sound, strangers, animals, places where there are a lot of people, noisy, highways.

After the puppy adapts to all the listed points, you can start training, the simplest commands.

Gradually, as you learn, you should move on to more difficult stunts.

By the year the dog is fully capable of learning the commands: "Place", "lie", "sit", "fu."

Training requires consistency, patience, strict but calm attitude.

Cotons are very smart, they are able to perceive well the system of rewards, affection.

Dogs perfectly feel the mood of the owner, so with a bad mood it is better not to take up training.

Grievance, humiliation badly affect the dog. If she does not understand something, you just need to explain again. Already in 4 months, the baby can be sent to the general course of training. Dogs eagerly participate in various competitions, although the number of such events is limited due to the small size of the dog.

Be careful with the acquisition of tweeters - the dog will constantly bark at them.

More information about this breed of dogs can be found in the video.