At home
Why does my Coton follow me everywhere?
From room to room, bathroom included.
What's going onCotons were kept for company. Teach short spells alone as a puppy, and if they are distressed when you go out, contact your vet.
Breed guide · Dogs
Coton de Tulear
Madagascar's nobility kept Cotons for company. I've rearranged my evenings around mine.
- Lifespan
- 14 to 16 years
- Size
- Small
- Weight
- 3.5 to 7 kg
- Shedding
- Light
Last updated 14 October 2026
✓
Thank you.
We will be in touch soon to confirm.
The Coton de Tulear at a glance.
How big does a Coton de Tulear get?Small, 3.5 to 7 kg. Males are usually a little bigger than females.Do Coton de Tulears shed?Lightly. That long cotton coat still needs brushing every day, or it mats at the root.Is a Coton de Tulear good in a flat?Yes, they adapt well. What they need most is company.Can a Coton de Tulear be left alone?With practice, in small steps. Teach short spells alone from puppyhood, before they need it.What health problems do Coton de Tulears have?Hips and knees first, then eyes. Hip Dysplasia and a slipping kneecap lead their record as young dogs.Where is the Coton de Tulear from?Madagascar. The name comes from the port of Tulear and the cotton coat.
Coton de Tulear traits
What they brought with them.
Tap a card to see what is going on.
At home
Why does my Coton walk on their back legs?
A full dance on the back legs, for half a biscuit.
What's going onMany Cotons walk on their back legs to get your attention. It is charming. Their hips and knees are on their health record, though, so reward sitting just as much.
At home
Why does my Coton grunt?
Grunts and soft barks, as if you are having a proper conversation.
What's going onEnjoy the conversation, and save your reply for when they are quiet, or they learn that noise gets results.
At home
Hips and knees first
A skip in their stride, or a pause before jumping up beside you.
What's going onHip Dysplasia (a poorly fitting hip joint) and Patellar Luxation (a slipping kneecap) lead their health record as young dogs. Keep them lean, and give them steps up to the sofa.
At home
Stairs in the dark
Hesitating on the stairs at night, or bumping into furniture in dim light.
What's going onProgressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA, gradual loss of sight) is on their record. It usually shows first in dim light, so notice the hesitation and mention it to your vet.
At home
A coat that mats at the root
Soft on top, and tangled close to the skin underneath.
What's going onTheir cotton coat tangles close to the skin. A short brush every day keeps it free, and makes it easy to find an itch before it becomes a sore.
A Coton de Tulear in Dubai
The bit nobody tells you.
Their company
Built for: Madagascar's nobility, all day.
In Dubai: Often a working day alone in a flat.
Their act
Built for: An audience.
In Dubai: Saved up for the evening.
Their tricks
Built for: Whatever earned some attention.
In Dubai: Whatever got a biscuit last time.
The shadowing and the attention-seeking mostly come from that gap.
Nobody can be their audience all day. You can make the time apart easier and reward the right tricks, and the ten things below are how.
Your plan is built around their breed: the risks on a Coton de Tulear's record at every age, and the care that goes with each one.
Join the founding families. AED 1,999 of essential care for AED 199.
Daily care for a Coton de Tulear
Ten things that make their life better.
They were kept for company. Time alone is easiest to learn as a puppy.
Every age, starting in the first week
Why
They were kept for company. Time alone is easiest to learn as a puppy.
What to do
From their first week, leave them in a safe room with a chew for a few minutes while you are home, then a little longer. Come and go without a fuss.
Separation distress is treatable, and home fixes can make it worse.
Any age, and new distress in an older dog matters most
Why
Separation distress is treatable, and home fixes can make it worse.
What to do
Film them for twenty minutes after you leave. If you see howling, pacing, scratching at the door or accidents, don't punish it, and skip the anti-bark collar: both make the fear worse. Show the film to a vet.
Extra weight loads the hips and knees that lead their health record.
Every age
Why
Extra weight loads the hips and knees that lead their health record.
What to do
Weigh their daily food on kitchen scales. Use part of it for training, and take any treats out of the same amount. A Body Condition Score (a check on whether they are the right weight) is in your plan from their puppy visits.
Hip Dysplasia (a poorly fitting hip joint) and Patellar Luxation (a slipping kneecap) are on their record from puppyhood.
Every age, most of all up to 4 years
Why
Hip Dysplasia (a poorly fitting hip joint) and Patellar Luxation (a slipping kneecap) are on their record from puppyhood.
What to do
Give them steps up to the sofa and bed, and put rugs down on marble. Reward sitting as much as the dance on the back legs. Lift them with one hand under the chest and one under the back end. Hip screening (a check of how well the hips fit) is in your plan at their puppy visits, then a hip evaluation from six months to four years.
A collar presses on a small neck every time they pull.
Every age
Why
A collar presses on a small neck every time they pull.
What to do
Clip the lead to a well-fitted harness and keep the collar for their ID tag. Check the harness has not matted the coat underneath.
Dental disease is on their health record from four years, and leads it from seven.
Every age, most of all from 4 years
Why
Dental disease is on their health record from four years, and leads it from seven.
What to do
Brush daily with a dog toothpaste, never human toothpaste. Start with a few seconds and a reward while they are a puppy, so it is a habit long before they need it. A dental evaluation (teeth and gum check) is in your plan at their puppy visits, and a professional dental clean from age four.
Allergies and ear infections are on their record from puppyhood, and both hide under that coat.
Every age, most of all up to 4 years
Why
Allergies and ear infections are on their record from puppyhood, and both hide under that coat.
What to do
Brush through their coat every day, a patch at a time, with a reward. After a bath, dry their ears well. Clean them with the ear cleaner your vet gives you. Ear cleaning is in your plan from age two to four.
A Coton who is always carried has fewer chances to learn what is safe, and worry can come out as barking and snapping.
Every age, most of all as a puppy
Why
A Coton who is always carried has fewer chances to learn what is safe, and worry can come out as barking and snapping.
What to do
Walk them, even though you could carry them. Let them meet calm dogs and new people at their own pace, with a treat for staying calm. If they growl or snap, contact your vet.
Their thick white coat holds heat, and the heat off the pavement reaches them before it reaches you.
Every age, most of all puppies and from 7 years
Why
Their thick white coat holds heat, and the heat off the pavement reaches them before it reaches you.
What to do
From May to September, walk before sunrise and after dark. Put the back of your hand on the pavement for five seconds: if you cannot keep it there, neither can they. Carry water.
Heart Murmurs (an unusual sound in the heartbeat) are on their health record from four years, and heart disease from seven.
Every age, most of all from 4 years
Why
Heart Murmurs (an unusual sound in the heartbeat) are on their health record from four years, and heart disease from seven.
What to do
From four years, notice if they start to cough or breathe faster while they sleep, and if anything changes, contact your vet the same day.
Five of these are in your plan. The rest you can do at home.
Join the founding families. AED 1,999 of essential care for AED 199.
Coton de Tulear health by age
Their health, at every age.
How old are they?
Their age
Coton de Tulear Puppy health
the first six months
What to watch for
- Developmental or early clinical signs of Hip Dysplasia (HD, poorly fitting hip joint)
- Developmental or early clinical signs of Patellar Luxation (PL, slipping kneecap)
- Congenital or early inherited ocular disease related to Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA, gradual loss of sight)
- Juvenile onset of allergies
- Juvenile onset of ear infections
The care that goes with it
- Core vaccinations, microchip and Dubai Municipality registration
- Deworming, and flea and tick prevention
- Growth and nutritional evaluation, and early socialisation
- Hip Dysplasia screening, from the first visits
- Early follow-up for any signs of a slipping kneecap
The full care detail
- Core vaccination programme, microchipping and Dubai Municipality registration. Titre testing discussion where clinically appropriate; not a substitute for completing the core vaccine series
- Deworming and external parasite prevention tailored to Dubai exposure
- Body Condition Score (BCS), Muscle Condition Score (MCS), dental, growth and nutritional evaluation, and early socialisation
- Baseline screening focused on Hip Dysplasia (HD)
- Early diagnostic follow-up for signs suggestive of Patellar Luxation (PL)
Their age
Coton de Tulear Juvenile health
6 months to 2 years
What to watch for
- Emerging Hip Dysplasia (HD) with exercise intolerance or lameness
- Emerging Patellar Luxation (PL) with exercise intolerance or lameness
- Progression or first clinical detection of Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
- Recurrent or persistent allergies
- Recurrent or persistent ear infections
The care that goes with it
- Hip evaluation
- Patella stabilisation (keeping the kneecap in place)
- Neutering or spaying, timed for a small breed
- Ophthalmic evaluation (eye exam)
- Finding the cause of eye signs that keep coming back
The full care detail
- Hip evaluation
- Patella stabilisation
- Neuter/spay timing discussion that accounts for small-breed growth and disease risk
- Ophthalmic evaluation
- Investigate recurrent signs rather than repeatedly treating presumed Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
Their age
Coton de Tulear Young Adult health
2 to 4 years
What to watch for
- Hip Dysplasia (HD)
- Patellar Luxation (PL)
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
- Allergies
- Ear Infections
The care that goes with it
- Hip evaluation
- Patella stabilisation (keeping the kneecap in place)
- Ophthalmic evaluation (eye exam)
- Allergy management
- Ear cleaning
The full care detail
- Hip evaluation
- Patella stabilisation
- Ophthalmic evaluation
- Allergy management
- Ear cleaning
Their age
Coton de Tulear Prime Adult health
4 to 7 years
What to watch for
- Patellar Luxation (PL)
- Dental Disease
- Heart Murmurs (an unusual sound in the heartbeat)
- Allergies
- Cataracts (clouding of the lens)
The care that goes with it
- Patella surgery, where it is needed
- Dental cleaning
- Cardiac evaluation (heart check)
- Allergy treatment
- Cataract monitoring
The full care detail
- Patella surgery
- Dental cleaning
- Cardiac evaluation
- Allergy treatment
- Cataract monitoring
Their age
Coton de Tulear Senior health
7 to 10 years
What to watch for
- Dental Disease
- Heart Disease
- Cataracts
- Kidney Disease
- Arthritis (sore, stiff joints)
The care that goes with it
- Dental care
- Cardiac therapy (heart treatment)
- Eye surgery, where it is needed
- Renal support (kidney care)
- Pain relief
The full care detail
- Dental care
- Cardiac therapy
- Eye surgery
- Renal support
- Pain management
Their age
Coton de Tulear Geriatric health
10 years and over
What to watch for
- Arthritis
- Kidney Disease
- Heart Failure
- Cognitive Dysfunction (dementia in older pets)
- Cancer
The care that goes with it
- Pain relief
- Renal therapy (kidney treatment)
- Cardiac support (heart care)
- Cognitive supplements (support for an ageing mind)
- Oncology care (cancer care)
- Quality-of-life assessment
- Palliative care (comfort care)
- End-of-life planning with your veterinary team
The full care detail
- Pain relief
- Renal therapy
- Cardiac support
- Cognitive supplements
- Oncology care
- Quality-of-life assessments
- Tailored palliative and comfort-focused care plan
- Compassionate end-of-life planning with your veterinary team
Breed predispositions indicate an increased risk rather than certainty of disease. What is right for them always comes from their own history and an evaluation.
Getting a Coton de Tulear puppy in Dubai
Before they come home.
A Bichon-family dog
Small, white and cotton-coated
The Coton is a small white cousin of the Bichon Frise, the Maltese and the Havanese. What sets them apart is the soft, cotton-like coat and a clown's sense of timing. Ask the breeder to show you an adult coat, so you know what you will be brushing.
Colours
White, with a little shading
A Coton is white, sometimes with a little light grey or tan shading on the ears. Puppies can show darker patches that fade as they grow.
The first six months
Caring for a Coton de Tulear puppy
Their full vaccination course, microchip and Dubai Municipality registration come first, with hip screening in their first months. Start short spells alone and a few seconds of brushing each day now, while both are easy to learn.
Puppy health, 0 to 6 months
Getting the home ready
Steps, rugs and a safe room
Put steps up to the sofa and bed, and rugs on marble, for young hips and knees. Set up a safe room or a pen with a chew for the first short spells alone.
Ten things that make their life better
Before you commit
Ask about hips, knees and eyes
Ask the breeder for both parents' hip, knee and eye results. Hip Dysplasia, Patellar Luxation (a slipping kneecap) and Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA, gradual loss of sight) are on a Coton's record from puppyhood.
Before the clinics open
Join the founding families
AED 1,999 of essential care for AED 199. No payment now.
For a new puppy: First 30 days with a new puppy · Puppy vaccinations in the UAE · Heatstroke in dogs
When to see a vet
When it is not behaviour.
He'll keep your evenings. If he stops wanting to dance for a biscuit, contact your vet the same day about his hips.
Coton de Tulear history
Before they were yours.
A Coton de Tulear today. In Madagascar
Company for the nobility
The Coton comes from Madagascar, and takes the name from the port of Tulear and the cotton coat. Breed histories say the island's ruling Merina nobility kept them for company.
What they still carryA dog kept for company, happiest beside their people.
A Coton de Tulear today. 1973
Out of Madagascar
In 1973 an American, Dr Robert Jay Russell, brought Cotons to the United States and called them the Royal Dog of Madagascar.
What they still carryThe name Royal Dog of Madagascar.
Ch Mi-Toi's Burberry At Justincredible at Westminster, New York, 2015. Photo: Pets Adviser, CC BY 2.0. 2014
Known by name
The American Kennel Club recognised the Coton in 2014, and the breed found families far beyond Madagascar.
What they still carryThe same soft coat and sociable, clownish nature.
Today
In Dubai
Today a Coton lives in a flat and still wants what they were kept for: to be with their people, and ideally to make them laugh.
What they still carryA clown who wants an audience of one.
Coton de Tulear questions
The ones you type at midnight.
How big does a Coton de Tulear get?
How long do Coton de Tulears live?
Do Coton de Tulears shed?
Is a Coton de Tulear good for a flat in Dubai?
Can a Coton de Tulear be left alone?
Why does my Coton de Tulear walk on their back legs?
What health problems do Coton de Tulears have?
Where does the Coton de Tulear come from?
Breeds like the Coton de Tulear
If the Coton de Tulear suits you, so might these.
Bichon FriseThe same kind of dog: a small white lap dog, a little livelier, with a coat that needs daily grooming.
HavaneseAnother cheerful lap dog, a little smaller, with a silky coat and more to say.
Cavalier King Charles SpanielThe same gentle, people-loving temperament, in a calmer spaniel with a silky coat that sheds more.
MaltipooA similar size and a coat that sheds very little, in a poodle cross that needs regular trims.