3 KEY PLAYERS IN YOUR COTON’S EDUCATION
by Nathalie Suisse

First key player in your Coton’s education: THE BITCH.
As a future buyer, you should be able to see the pups’ mother and, if possible, the father as well. Your pup has inherited their genes.

Mother is going to educate her pups in the early stage of their life and for several weeks. A shy or over aggressive bitch will teach her pups to behave just like her.

Second key player: THE BREEDER.
It is very important that you see where your pup was born and how it was raised – a pup must receive a great number of different stimuli to grow confident.

Third key player: YOU - THE OWNER.
Cotons de Tuléar are small bundles of affection on four legs! They thrive on company and will only really be happy if with you. You must reconsider your decision to adopt such a dog if you must leave your Coton alone for long periods of time. Cotons de Tuléar are always happy to share their day to day life with another four-legged friend. They are wonderful companions for children.

Cotons de Tuléar are lovely but determined little dogs. It is very important that your Coton learns to trust and respect you if you are to enjoy a pleasant relationship for many years.

If you do not succeed in doing this, your Coton will rapidly take command: he will run away when you call him back, he will fight against your brushing and all aspects of grooming and most probably cry when you leave!! The list is not exhaustive…

On the other hand, if your Coton sees you as a respected and trusted master, his goodwill will have no limits and he will do anything to please you. In other words, you absolutely must define the rules from the very beginning and stick to them.

It is a small dog, which means you can take your Coton practically everywhere with you. In addition, he adapts very well to all sorts of situations providing he has been properly socialized from the very beginning – in other words the more places and people your Coton sees when he is very young, the more likely he will be to take them as totally natural for the rest of his days. Be careful not to observe too much of a routine and make sure not to behave in an exceedingly protective manner: you don’t want to make your Coton shy.

Even though they are small dogs, Cotons de Tuléar are extremely dynamic and confident little fellows; they are eager to learn and will excel in canine sports or activities, such as obedience, agility, field trial, etc.

So called “puppies’ classes” are strongly advised and you should make a point to take your Coton to these canine gatherings from the beginning.

Information and addresses
Tel. +41 21 386 72 22 (Eukanuba Help Line)
Tel. +41 31 306 62 62 (SCS)

Cotons not only usually love Agility – but they are extremely good at it!!

PUPS’ CLASSES
www.toutouschool.ch
SCS: Website SCS ("Welpenspielgruppen)

Agility
www.perlesonyx.com/agility.html
www.agility-ch.ch