Instructions
Look at the dog, estimating its weight and size. Take note of any noticeable or prominent characteristics. The dog should be between 10 and 12 inches high at the shoulder, weighing anywhere between 12 and 15 pounds. It should be noticeably longer than it is tall, with a tubular body and thinly muscled legs. The tail should be only an inch or two long, held straight up and furred like a pom-pom.
Examine the dog’s fur. It should be long, untangled and soft like cotton. It should be free of any oil as well as any odor. This breed’s fur is completely hypoallergenic, being completely dander and allergen-free. The primary color of the fur will always be white, though spots of yellow, black or gray can appear randomly across the animal’s pelt.
Look at the dog’s head. It should be round and roughly spherical, with a very short muzzle and mouth almost human in width and configuration. The ears should be long and droop low to the sides. Often the ears are completely missed because they are so heavily furred that they blend in with the sides of the head. The dog should have prominent brows with slightly longer fur protruding up and forward, often covering the dog’s eyes. The eyes themselves are always large, round and very dark. If you pay close attention, you will be able to make out the hallmark of the breed, the excessively long and thick eyelashes.
How to Identify a Coton de Tulear
The Coton de Tulear is a toy-sized companion breed related to the French bichon and the Italian Bolognese. This dog is actually a native to French-controlled Madagascar, likely the result of a cross with the local species and dogs brought in from France. Originally the dog could only be owned by Madagascar royalty. Though this law has since been reconsidered, the breed is still referred to as the Royal Dog of Madagascar. Its name is derived from the port city of Tulear, where the dog’s precursors were likely to have been imported, and the French word for cotton. This is a reference to the cottony soft fur that the dog possesses. This breed was forgotten to the world until its rediscovery only a few decades ago, obtaining official recognition in 1970. Since then, it has become popular as an energetic and eager-to-please pet.