General information about the appearance and character of the dog, the area of origin of the breed, versions of the origin of the Coton de Tulear, popularization of the variety and recognition in the United States. Coton de Tulear or Coton de Tulear, small fluffy dogs, similar to the dogs of the Bichon group. They have a soft coat and a prominent black nose, large expressive eyes covered with bangs, and somewhat short limbs. Coton's tail curls up and rests on his back. Most often, their "coat" is white, black and white or tricolor.
This is a playful, affectionate, intelligent breed. Dogs are quiet, but having fun, they can bark and make other noises. They walk on their hind legs to please their masters. Cotons love new people and are very curious. Dogs are easy to train, love to swim, run and play, pets adapt well to any habitat.
The locality of origin and possible ancestors of the Coton de Tulear
The Coton de Tulear predates the first written records of dog breeding, and much of its early history has been lost. No one knows exactly what the origin of the Coton de Tulear is, and all the talk about his ancestry is nothing more than pure speculation. We can confidently say that this breed originated in the south of Madagascar no later than the 19th century, and was traditionally kept in Merina (pronounced Mare-In).
It is widely accepted that the Coton de Tulear is a member of the Bichon family, a very old group of Western European companion dogs. They are typically small in size, solid, predominantly white, and long, fluffy coats. Other members of the Bichon family include: Bichon Frize, Havanese, Bolognese, Russian Bolonki breeds and the now extinct Bichon Tenerife. Sometimes the Maltese and Norwegians are also part of the group.
The Bichons are an ancient group with controversial origins. They are said to be descended from the Bichon Tenerife, a small, fluffy white dog from the Canary Islands, Spanish territory off the coast of Morocco. Others say that these canines originate from the Maltese dogs - one of the most beloved companions of the ancient Greeks and Romans. It is believed that the French developed the Bichons by crossing breeds such as the Poodle, Barbet and Lagotto Romagnolo. Because historical data is scarce, modern Bichon breeds overlap so intensely that genetic evidence is almost meaningless.
The complete truth of their origin will probably remain a mystery forever. According to researchers, members of this group are almost certainly descended from Maltese dogs, which are among the oldest European breeds. There is extensive historical and archaeological evidence that the "Maltese" were known and distributed in the Mediterranean several thousand years ago. They were popular with the Greeks and Romans, due to their trade and military contacts, the breed spread throughout Europe.
The Bichons (which include the Coton de Tulear) became the "treasures" of the European nobility. These dogs were often depicted in Renaissance canvases and described in literary works. Although they were found in Europe, Bichons have always been the most popular in France, Spain and Italy. Although mostly supported by the nobility, the upper class merchants and artisans quickly adopted the breed. Probably the first time they encountered dogs like Bichon on the island of Malta and the Canary Islands, Spanish sailors began bringing them with them around the world.
These little dogs (like the Coton de Tulear) were easy to take care of on the ship. The adorable dogs have become sailors' companions on trips where they have not seen their families for months or even years. More importantly, the Bichons hunted and killed rats, which destroyed valuable food supplies on the ship, or poisoned what they had not eaten, spreading disease. Eventually, sailors from French, Italian, Belgian and Portuguese ports also started bringing these dogs with them.
The Bichon type of dog reached the peak of its popularity with sailors at the same time that the modern era increased European world knowledge. These pets have spread from South America to East Asia. At some point, they reached the island of Madagascar.
Versions of the origin of the Coton de Tulear breed
Written sources indicate the time of arrival of these dogs. It is clear that they were developed before 1658, when the Frenchman Etienne de Flacourt wrote The History of the Island of Madagascar, where he first described the breed. Some argue that this was in the late 1400s, while others point to the early 1600s. Given the history of Europe's activities in the Indian Ocean, the opinion of this writer is that the first Bichons in Madagascar probably did not arrive until the end of the 16th century, and it is much more likely that this was in the 17th century.
There are many stories about how the Bichons (and also the Coton de Tulear) came to Madagascar. The most widespread theory is that there was a major shipwreck on the southern coast of Madagascar. Presumably, all the sailors died in the sunken ship, but some of the little Bichons were able to swim ashore. There are many versions of fairy tales, where the wreck is sometimes French and sometimes Spanish. In several popular legends, the wrecked ship was pirated, which is unlikely. Not only is there absolutely no record of this wreck, it is also doubtful that the small number of surviving dogs would have been sufficient to form the Coton de Tulear breed.
Another popular theory is that pirates pillaging off the coast of southern Madagascar brought the breed to the island directly from Europe, or by stealing dogs from other ships. This version has practically no evidence. It is unclear how piracy spread in the Indian Ocean at the time, and it is also unclear whether pirates retained Bichon-type dogs.
The most probable lineage for the Coton de Tulear states that these dogs were first introduced to southern Madagascar from the islands of Reunion and Mauritius. Settlers from Europe began colonizing Mauritius and Reunion in the 16th and 17th centuries and brought along Bichon-type dogs. There is historical evidence of the existence of the Bichon de Reunion breed, which descended from these dogs.
It is highly likely that French, Dutch, Portuguese or British traders acquired these dogs in Reunion and Mauritius and then introduced them to the Merina people, who have long been one of the most influential groups in Madagascar. These dogs may have been sold to the rulers of Merina or presented as gifts. Since there is no written evidence about this, and genetic tests are impossible, since the Bichon de Reunion became extinct, it is not easy to finally confirm this theory.
There is an ongoing debate about what happened to the Coton de Tulear when they arrived in Madagascar. The dogs are said to have originally run wild and survived by hunting lemurs and wild pigs in packs. According to this theory, the breed was forced to live on its own for many years, and possibly centuries, and became the cherished companion of the upper classes of the Gelding only after it was tamed and bred. Others say the dogs were immediately adopted by Merina's ruling classes upon arrival on the island. Proponents of this theory usually point out that the Coton de Tulear is too small and lacks the aggression to survive on its own. Most likely, the 2nd theory is almost certainly accurate, and the 1st is nothing more than a romantic myth.
Madagascar would be a very difficult place for canines to survive. To begin with, any story about packs of Coton de Tulear hunting wild pigs is absolutely ridiculous. Even a large number of Cotons de Tulear could not knock down a full-grown pig, no matter how small. There are few other land animals large enough for a dog to eat, apart from rats, small insectivores, and a small number of lemur species. Most of these animals are extremely well protected by teeth or thorns, and such as the Ringed Lemur can easily climb a tree where a dog cannot reach.
Even if these dogs could find enough food to survive, it is doubtful that they escaped the attack of the island's predators. Madagascar is home to an unexplored group of carnivores that scientists still don't know how to properly classify. Among them are Fossa, a fierce hunter capable of killing an adult Coton de Tulear, and seven smaller species of mongooses and weasels such as the Falanuc and Fanaloka puppy-dangerous dogs.
The breeding of the Coton de Tulear was not carefully regulated because there were several types of Bichons on the island, the breed crossed with local hunting dogs. It is not clear what types of dogs figured in their pedigree, but it is believed that these are the hunting dogs of the Morundava and the local wild types of pariah dogs. Such mergers happened frequently and continued until the twentieth century. Indigenous canines have influenced the appearance of the Coton de Tulear by making them slightly larger and adding a variety of colors.
Regardless of how the Coton de Tulear ended up in the possession of the rulers of the Merina, the dog was highly regarded. She was considered a symbol of the wealth of the aristocracy, and was inaccessible to commoners. Initially, Madagascar was home to many different rival kingdoms and chiefs, but the island eventually merged into one nation, a country in which the people of Merina played a major role. Merina spread the Coton de Tulear throughout Madagascar, although animals remained most dominant in the south of the island.
The breed became especially associated with the coastal port city of Tulear, now Tuleara, in the southeast of Madagascar. The Coton de Tuler was one of the hallmarks of wealth, power and prestige on the island. After years of intense competition between British and French control of the island, the French government formally annexed Madagascar in 1890. The French colonial rulers of the island appreciated the Coton de Tulear in the same way as the native Malagasy. Many soldiers and administrators brought their own Bichon dogs from Europe, such as the Bichon Frize, Maltese and Bolognese, and crossed them with the local Cotons de Tulear in an attempt to improve the breed.
The history of popularization of the Coton de Tulear
Although several members of the breed were brought to France by colonial officials, the Coton de Tulear remained largely unknown outside its native island until, in 1960, Madagascar achieved full independence. In the 1960s, tourism on the island increased significantly as many Europeans sought to see the island's unique landscapes and wildlife. Arriving planes were met at the airport by groups of Malagasy people in traditional dress with several Coton de Tulear. These dogs are very interested in tourists, and many bought them. Representatives of the breed, brought to Europe, became even more in demand and were so appreciated that the purchase of one dog could often pay for the entire vacation.
When the Coton de Tulear became popular, some sellers began selling mixed breeds, passing them off as purebreds. To prevent this, in 1970, Louis Petit, President of the Madagascar Canine Society, formally petitioned the Federation of Cynology International (FCI) for full recognition. This request was granted, which allowed the Coton de Tulear to become a thoroughbred.
Demand in Europe for purebred ancestors has skyrocketed. Many dogs were sent to Europe and the breed became rare in Madagascar. By 1980, the Malagasy government limited the number of breed individuals that could be exported from the island to 2 per family, to no more than 200 per year. This only led to the development of an underground breeding market that took place with any small, fluffy white dog similar to the Coton de Tulear.
Recognition of the Coton de Tulear in the USA
European breeders have worked hard to standardize and improve the Coton de Tulear, with the result that their furry coats are much longer than their ancestors. The first representative of the species arrived in America in 1974. At the same time, American doctor Jay Russell studied lemurs in Madagascar. He saw the Coton de Tulear during his work and was fascinated by the breed. Jay sent several copies to his father, Lew Russell. In 1976, the couple gave birth to their first puppy in the United States, Gigi from Billy.
Russell founded the Coton de Tulear of America (CTCA), the first species club in America. The breed attracted significant media attention in its early days in the United States and has appeared in a number of television programs, books, and magazines. The first European standard was written in 1977 by Jacques Sade. He acquired his dogs in Madagascar and founded the Plattekill kennel.
The popularity of the Coton de Tulear in the United States continued to increase throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Like many rare breed clubs, the CTCA opposed formal recognition by the AKC. According to the CTCA, the AKC does not regulate or control its breeders. The CTCA believes the AKC is allowing too many breeders to work and register dogs, which jeopardizes the health, temperament and quality of many breeds. The CTCA also believes that the AKC should require all show dogs to be cleared of serious health problems prior to competing in championships and earning titles. The CTCA has remained very firm in its opposition to the recognition of the AKC until today.
In the early 1990s, many other Coton de Tulear clubs formed in the United States, although most of them have since closed, with the exception of the American Coton Club (ACC). Although the ACC and CTCA disagree on several points, both clubs are in opposition to the ACC's recognition. Many hobbyists and breeders of the Coton de Tulear disagreed with the CTCA's opinion and wanted to help their breed gain full AKC recognition. The longest-running and most influential of these is the USA Coton de Tulear Club (USACTC), which was founded in 1993.
The dispute between USACTC, CTCA and AKC over AKC recognition has become heated. This debate intensified after the Coton de Tulear received full recognition from the United Kennel Club (UKC) in 1996 as a member of the Companion Dog Group. Attitudes towards the UKC vary, with most rare and working dog breeders having a better opinion of the UKC than of the AKC. Both sides criticized each other. A lot of the attacks were pretty personal. The struggle between breeders and amateurs of the Coton de Tulear became passionate and unpleasant.
On June 27, 2012, the AKC officially assigned the Coton de Tulear to the Miscellaneous Class and USACTC became the official AKC club. This means that full AKC recognition is inevitable, provided additional benchmarks are met. The CTCA and AKK are still in dispute. These two groups are trying to mobilize their membership to compete for recognition.
The Coton de Tulear has always been kept as a companion, and the breed's future will lean towards a pet rather than a working dog. In recent years, the breed has begun to participate in some canine sports. The species is now growing rapidly throughout the United States and Europe, and the breed is becoming more famous and desirable. Provided the current quality of the variety is maintained during its popularity, the future of the Coton de Tulear looks bright.
For more information on the breed, see the video below:
