Coton de Tulear

• Bathing: Bathe them every three months or so. Too many baths can strip their skin of healthy oils, so ask your vet for what they recommend. When you do bathe them, use a dog-friendly shampoo.   
• Brushing: Use a pin brush or slicker brush every day to keep their coat shiny and tangle-free. If tangles do occur, a metal comb with a conditioning grooming spray and detangler can help make removing them easy and painless. 
• Dental care: Help keep your Coton’s teeth in shape by brushing them daily with a dog toothpaste. It’s a good idea to start when your Coton de Tulear puppy is young so they get used to the experience. They’ll need a pro cleaning at your vet once a year, too. 
• Ear care: Check their ears every day. If there’s redness, swelling, debris, or an odor, your pup may have an ear infection that needs vet attention. Talk to your vet about how to clean your dog’s ears if they’re prone to irritation or infections.  
• Nail care: Cotons need their nails trimmed once a month. You’ll know it’s time for a trim when you can hear them tapping on hard surfaces. 

Cotons are not only smart pups, but they also live to make you happy—this means that they’ll be delighted to show you everything they’ve learned, and they’ll probably pick things up quite quickly.  

If you adopt your Coton when they’re a puppy, start obedience training early; you can teach them cues like sit, stay, and come. Also invest time in proper socialization, which involves exposing them to new people, places, and things in a non-scary manner.   

Always use positive reinforcement—praise, dog treats, and favorite toys—to teach your pup how to be on their very best behavior.  

Because Coton de Tulear puppies have tiny bladders, housetraining can be challenging. Taking your Coton out every few hours or immediately after having an accident helps them learn to associate going outside with potty time.  

Crate training your puppy for short periods when you’re not around to supervise can also help—just make sure the crate is large enough for them to stand up in and turn around. Fill it with lots of cozy blankets and toys to make it extra comfy.  

Cotons de Tulear typically do well on a high-quality commercial dog food. Choose a diet that’s AAFCO-compliant for your dog’s life stage (puppy, adult, or senior). Your vet can recommend the best dog food for your Coton. 

Because they’re so little, Cotons may benefit from a dog food made specifically for small breeds, such as Royal Canin Size Health Nutrition Small Adult Dry Food. Or your vet might recommend a diet focused on dental health, like Hill’s Science Diet Adult Oral Care Dog Food. 

And remember: Treats should never make up more than 10% of a dog’s daily calories.  

Despite being energetic, Cotons don’t need an excessive amount of exercise.  

Two 15-minute daily walks is sufficient, but also keep puzzle toys around so your Coton is mentally stimulated during the day. A living room game of fetch is great, too, and some particularly athletic Cotons might love the challenge of dog sports, like agility trials. 

Without physical and mental engagement, these clever canines can easily get bored, and you might not like how they decide to spend their time (think chewing your shoes).  

When you do go out and about together, remember not to speed-walk—your Coton’s little legs can’t keep up! Instead, be patient, and give them the time to stop and smell the roses (literally—scent walks are great for their mind).   

It’s worth noting that these pups can be sensitive to heat because of their thick coat, so be mindful of the temperature in warmer months and get them inside if they’re panting or uncomfortable.  

These energetic social butterflies don’t like to be alone. They care less about their environment and more about the fact that someone is there to keep them company. Cotons might do best in a house with homebodies or other pets to keep them company.  

Because of this, separation anxiety can be an issue. Talk to your vet or a behaviorist if you’re concerned about separation anxiety affecting your dog.  

Great for large houses, apartments, or anything in between, these pups just need some adjacent grass (whether it’s a fenced yard or park) to stroll during their daily exercise.