History of the Breed
The Coton de Tulear originated on the island of Madagascar and is still today the national dog.
The Cotons ancestors were possibly brought to Madagascar in the 15th and 16th centuries aboard pirate ships.
The Coton de Tulear is of the Bichon family, linked most closely to the Bichon terrier and the Tenerife terrier.
They gained their name from the port of Tulear where they originated from and their cottony like coats.
Around the 17th century, the Coton de Tulear caught the eye of the Malagasy royal family and it became illegal for a commoner to own a Coton, gaining them the name “Royal dog of Madagascar”.
Although still a rare breed in the UK for 2025, they are becoming increasingly popular in the United States and Europe. The first Cotons were imported into the UK in 1997 and were recognised by the UK Kennel Club in 2000 and made their debut at KC licensed shows in 2001 and are shown in the Toy Group. Coton de Tulear’s have just been awarded by the Kennel Club Championship status in the UK from March 2026. To be acknowledged as a progressing breed by the Kennel Club and be awarded this Championship status is what as a breeder I am proud to be part of.
Characteristics & Temperament
Cotons are considered a companion dog. Their gentle nature, cute appearance and clownish antics belie their intelligence, adaptability and stamina. They love to be with people and have a tendency to become quite attached to them.
Temperament is one of the main characteristics of the breed. They are happy, stable and sociable with humans as well as other dogs.
They can be very clownish and have a habit of walking on their hind legs, which many find very endearing. Some cock their heads to one side when listening, while others have quite a vocabulary of sighs, whimpers and rumbles. It is said Cotons chuff.
Their intelligence lends itself to a variety of activities, including obedience, agility, musical freestyle and even tracking. Generally, they are easily trained.
mopseys.com 