A perfect dog for beginners may look elaborate but is totally low-maintenance: the “Coton de Tuléar,” or cotton dog.
The “Coton de Tulèar”, or cotton dog, belongs to the group of the so-called “Bichons” – small, cuddly dog breeds from the Mediterranean region. They also include the Maltese, the Havanese, the Bolognese and the Bichon Frisé, who were taken to the islands of Madagascar and Cuba by rich ladies, especially during the colonial period.
The differences of the races
Like the Havanese or Maltese, the “Coton” has very silky fur that hardly sheds. In contrast to his distant relatives, you “only” have to brush him daily and never cut him. Visually, only experts usually recognize the difference, although the “Coton” is even slightly larger than a Maltese at 3.5 to 6 kilograms. It should also be much more robust and have an extremely long life expectancy of 15 to 19 years. Genetically, he is still very closely related to the poodle, which is why he is also said to have a high intellect.
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Perfect beginner dog
The cotton dog has few disadvantages if you prefer small dogs. His genetics are very robust, which means he hardly ever gets sick and is very undemanding except for the daily brushing. He is also extremely sociable, doesn’t bark and is very fond of children as long as they see him as a playmate and not a ‘toy’. With his captivating looks, it is sometimes difficult to believe that he should also be given a thorough education and not be spoiled too much.