Dog breed

Coton de Tulear

The Coton de Tulear is a small white companion dog from Madagascar, named after the port of Tulear and its coat, which feels like cotton. It weighs just 3.5–6 kg, is cheerful and sociable and hardly barks. It barely sheds, but its coat needs combing every day.

Low shedding
FCI Group IX · Companion dogs · standard no. 283

Weight: 3.5–6 kg
Height: 23–28 cm
Lifespan: 13–16 years
Origin: Madagascar

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Photo: Uschi Goess (eingestellt von Caronna), CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Temperament

The FCI standard stresses that a happy, stable temperament is one of the breed's main traits, and it really is hard to find a sunnier dog. The Coton is very sociable with people and other dogs, happily greets guests and adapts quickly to all kinds of living situations, from a city apartment to a house in the country. The AKC gives it top marks for affection and for how it gets along with children, dogs and strangers, and its lowest mark for barking. It loves fetch and can surprise you with its agility. It is intelligent and eager to learn, and gentle training methods work best. Its weak spot is loneliness: a bored Coton left alone for long periods may destroy things and become frustrated.

Energy: calmvery energetic
Affection: independentvelcro pet
With children: not idealgreat
With other pets: difficultgreat
Trainability: stubborneager to learn
For first-time owners: for experienced ownersyes
With strangers: waryoutgoing
Playfulness: dignifiedeternal puppy
Shedding: minimalheavy
Grooming: easydemanding
Being left alone: strugglescopes well
Apartment living: needs a house and yardgreat in a flat
Barking: quietvocal
With other dogs: difficultgreat
Protectiveness: lowhigh
Drooling: hardly anya lot
Cold tolerance: feels the coldexcellent
Heat tolerance: strugglescopes well

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the Coton de Tulear for?

The Coton is a very good choice for a first-time owner, a family with children, a senior and an apartment dweller. It can also work for people with allergies who react well to long-coated dogs. Don't choose one if you often leave a dog alone all day, or if you don't want to comb a dog daily or pay a groomer.

Pros

exceptionally friendly with people and animals
hardly barks
hardly sheds
long-lived

Challenges

daily combing
copes badly with being alone
white coat gets dirty easily
rare breed, puppies harder to find

Size and looks

Size and looks: Coton de Tulear
Height at the withers	males 26–28 cm, females 23–25 cm
Weight	males 4–6 kg, females 3.5–5 kg
Lifespan	13–16 years
Coat	long
Colors	white
Country of origin	Madagascar
Classification	Group IX: Companion and Toy dogs
Also known as	Coton, Coton de Tuléar, Royal Dog of Madagascar

Care and exercise

30–60minof exercise a day

4/5grooming needs

2/5shedding

The Coton needs moderate exercise: two or three walks a day plus play, around 30–60 minutes in total. It loves to fetch and enjoys agility or rally. The coat takes the most work. The long, fluffy hair doesn't shed in the usual way and must be combed and brushed right down to the skin every day, or mats form close to the skin, and a badly matted dog has to be shaved. The AKC advises using a spray conditioner so the hair doesn't break. Many owners choose a short "puppy cut," which makes grooming much easier. Check the ears several times a week and remove excess hair from the ear canal. Start getting the dog used to combing and baths in puppyhood so it sees them as a treat.

How much should the Coton de Tulear eat?The calculator starts from this breed’s typical weight: calories and grams a day.

Health and breed-related conditions

The Coton de Tulear is a long-lived and relatively healthy breed. The AKC says known genetic problems typically affect 1–5% of dogs in the breed, and breeders genetically test all breeding animals. Eye disease, hip dysplasia, luxating patella and intervertebral disc disease do occur. The British Kennel Club recommends eye exams, and the breed club runs its own health program. In a 2024 UK study the median lifespan was 14.2 years, although the sample was small. The AKC even gives 15–19 years, which is an optimistic figure. Daily dental care and weight control help keep the dog in good shape.

eye diseaseThe Kennel Club recommends eye exams for the parents.
luxating patellaAs in many small breeds; ask whether the parents' knees were checked.
hip dysplasiaAccording to the AKC, it occurs occasionally.
intervertebral disc diseaseRecorded in the breed, though rarely.

Health tests to ask the breeder about

eye exam (ECVO)
patella exam
hip X-ray (HD)

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

The Coton de Tulear comes from Madagascar, where according to the Kennel Club it lived for several centuries around the port of Tulear (now Toliara). It was called the Royal Dog of Madagascar. The breed belongs to the bichon family of small white companion dogs. Dogs brought from the island became popular in France long before the breed was officially recognized in 1970, and from there they spread around the world. The current FCI standard was published in 1999, and the British Kennel Club gives 1990 as the year the breed was officially recognized. The word "coton" refers to the texture of the single, cottony coat.

Fun facts

The name comes from the French word coton (cotton) and the port town of Tulear in Madagascar.
The standard allows light gray or fawn shading on the ears, but the overall impression must be white.
The Coton has a single coat with no undercoat.
According to the FCI standard, a Coton's height relates to its body length as 2 to 3.

Frequently asked questions

Do Coton de Tulears shed?

Very little. Dead hairs stay in the long, cottony coat and are removed during combing. That's why the Coton is often recommended for people with allergies, but no dog is fully hypoallergenic, since dander and saliva also cause reactions. It's worth checking how you react to a specific dog.

How long do Coton de Tulears live?

Usually 13–16 years, and many dogs live longer. A 2024 UK study calculated a median of 14.2 years, and the AKC gives as much as 15–19 years. It is one of the longest-lived breeds.

Do Coton de Tulears bark a lot?

No, it is one of the quieter small breeds, and the AKC gives it its lowest rating for barking. A Coton may bark at a visitor, but it isn't a dog that comments on every sound outside the window. That's a big plus in an apartment building.

Can a Coton de Tulear be left alone?

For short periods, yes, but it is a very sociable dog and long stretches alone don't suit it. A bored Coton may destroy things and be unhappy. It is happiest where someone works from home or where there are other animals for company.

How much does a Coton de Tulear weigh?

Adult dogs of this breed usually weigh: males 4–6 kg, females 3.5–5 kg. Height at the withers: 23–28 cm. That range is for healthy adults in good condition.