Coton de Tulear Guide: Temperament, Care and Adoption
Coton de Tulear overview
Small in build, the Coton de Tulear carries a long, cottony coat and has round, dark, expressive eyes. The American Kennel Club places it in the Non-Sporting Group and lists Madagascar as its origin.
Where does the Coton de Tulear come from?
The breed takes its name from the French word for cotton and from the Madagascan port of Tulear. It is believed to have evolved from Bichon-type companion dogs that European merchants brought to Madagascar, and the ruling Merina monarchy later restricted ownership to royalty, which earned it the title Royal Dog of Madagascar.
How big does a Coton de Tulear get?
The American Kennel Club lists males at 10 to 11 inches tall and females at 9 to 10 inches, and the United Kennel Club gives the same desirable heights. For weight, the American Kennel Club publishes 9 to 15 pounds for males and 8 to 13 pounds for females, while the United Kennel Club's standard accepts 9 to 13 pounds for males and 8 to 11 pounds for females.
Temperament
The American Kennel Club describes the breed as charming, bright and happy-go-lucky. The United Kennel Club standard calls it happy, stable and sociable with people and with other dogs. The American Kennel Club rates it 5 of 5 for family affection, openness to strangers, and compatibility with children and with other dogs.
Exercise and enrichment
The American Kennel Club rates the breed 3 of 5 for energy and 3 of 5 for mental enrichment needs.
Grooming and shedding
The American Kennel Club lists the coat as long, wavy and double. The United Kennel Club standard describes it as soft, dense and cottony, never hard or harsh. The American Kennel Club rates grooming frequency 4 of 5 and shedding 2 of 5.
Training
The American Kennel Club rates trainability 4 of 5 and adaptability 4 of 5.
How long does a Coton de Tulear live?
The American Kennel Club gives a general life expectancy of 15 to 19 years, so an older dog may still have many years ahead.
Coton dogs for adoption: what to ask
When you look at coton dogs for adoption, the breed's reputation for sociable, affectionate behavior is a useful starting point, though each dog's own history matters most. Ask the organization caring for the dog about its coat condition, and ask a veterinarian which health checks make sense for the dog in front of you.
AKC breed facts
These are the American Kennel Club’s general facts and 1 to 5 ratings for the Coton de Tulear as a breed. General tendencies don’t establish any one dog’s ancestry, personality or health; ask the listing organization about the dog you are considering.
- AKC group
- Non-Sporting Group
- AKC recognition year
- 2014
- Height (AKC published)
- 10-11 inches (male), 9-10 inches (female)
- Weight (AKC published)
- 9-15 pounds (male), 8-13 pounds (female)
- General life expectancy
- 15-19 years
- AKC size category
- Small
AKC general breed ratings (1 to 5)
- Energy: 3 of 5
- Mental enrichment: 3 of 5
- Trainability: 4 of 5
- Grooming frequency: 4 of 5
- Shedding: 2 of 5
- Vocalization: 1 of 5
- Drooling: 1 of 5
- Adaptability: 4 of 5
- Playfulness: 4 of 5
- Watchful or protective tendency: 3 of 5
- Affection toward family: 5 of 5
- Openness toward strangers: 5 of 5
- AKC child compatibility rating: 5 of 5
- AKC dog compatibility rating: 5 of 5
Health screenings AKC lists for the breed
Breeding evaluations AKC names for the breed; they are not a diagnosis or a testing plan for any one dog.
- Patella Evaluation
- Hip Evaluation
- Cardiac Exam
- Ophthalmologist Evaluation
Source: American Kennel Club breed profile (opens in a new tab), retrieved November 4, 2026 (snapshot akc-2026-11-04).
Written by Lily's Second Chance with AI assistance from the sources listed under References. Facts were checked automatically against those sources on November 7, 2026.
References
- Breed Standards : Coton de Tulear | United Kennel Club (UKC) (opens in a new tab), United Kennel Club, checked November 7, 2026
- Coton de Tulear - AKC breed profile (snapshot akc-2026-11-04) (opens in a new tab), American Kennel Club, checked November 4, 2026
