Animal register · DogComing soon to the app
Coton de Tulear
Coton, Coton de Tuléar, Royal Dog of Madagascar
The Coton de Tulear comes from Madagascar, under the patronage of France; the FCI lists it among the bichons and related breeds. The FCI standard describes a small, long-haired companion dog with a white, cotton-textured coat, round dark eyes and a lively, intelligent expression, of a happy, stable temperament and very sociable with people and other dogs. It gives a height of 26–28 cm for males and 23–25 cm for females and a weight of 4–6 kg for males and 3.5–5 kg for females; the ground colour is white. A dog of this size is fully grown at about 8–12 months (PetMD); the Royal Kennel Club gives a lifespan of over 12 years.
The Royal Kennel Club recommends up to 30 minutes of exercise a day, says the breed suits a flat or apartment, sheds little and needs grooming every day. The PDSA calls Cotons loyal and loving dogs that thrive on family life and make excellent family pets. PetMD says they generally get along with children and other pets when introductions are done properly, can develop separation anxiety if left alone for more than a few hours, and recommends checking the ears at least once a week and a bath about once a month.
Built and tested; it arrives with a coming app release.
Updated:
At a glance
- Size
- small — The Royal Kennel Club S724
- Adult weight
- males 4–6 kg, females 3.5–5 kg — FCI S722
- Daily exercise
- up to 30 minutes a day — The Royal Kennel Club S724
- Brushing
- every day — The Royal Kennel Club S724
- Shedding
- does not shed (not the same as hypoallergenic) — The Royal Kennel Club S724
- Lifespan
- more than 12 years — The Royal Kennel Club S724
Key facts from the sources at the bottom of the page. Where sources differ, each value is listed.
Who it suits
Good for:
The same tags as in the app. Each tag is backed by the sources listed at the bottom of the page.
What it needs
From breed standards, kennel clubs, veterinary charities and studies. Where sources differ, each one is shown.
Exercise
- Daily exercise: up to 30 minutes a day — The Royal Kennel Club S724
Coat and grooming
Meals
General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):
Lifespan
- Lifespan: more than 12 years — The Royal Kennel Club S724
Life stages
- Reaches adult size at: about 8–12 months (guidance for its size class) — PetMD S10
General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):
Size and weight
Training
- FCI standard no. 283, group 9 (companion and toy dogs); origin: Madagascar. — FCI S721
Questions and answers
Answered only from the sourced facts on this page; every answer names its sources.
How much exercise does a Coton de Tulear need?
According to our sources, the Coton de Tulear needs this much exercise: up to 30 minutes a day — The Royal Kennel Club S724.
How long does a Coton de Tulear live?
According to our sources, the lifespan of the Coton de Tulear is: more than 12 years — The Royal Kennel Club S724.
How big does a Coton de Tulear get and how much does it weigh?
Size and adult weight of the Coton de Tulear, according to our sources: Size: small — The Royal Kennel Club S724; Adult weight: males 4–6 kg, females 3.5–5 kg — FCI S722.
How much grooming does a Coton de Tulear need?
Coat and grooming of the Coton de Tulear, according to our sources: Brushing: every day — The Royal Kennel Club S724; Shedding: does not shed (not the same as hypoallergenic) — The Royal Kennel Club S724; Coat: long — The Royal Kennel Club S724.
Who is the Coton de Tulear a good fit for?
Our sources describe the Coton de Tulear as a good fit for: apartment living — The Royal Kennel Club S724; family life — PDSA S725; families with children — PetMD S726; homes with other pets — PetMD S726; homes that prefer less shedding — The Royal Kennel Club S724. Keep in mind: needs brushing several times a week — The Royal Kennel Club, PDSA S724S725; loves company — best with someone home most of the day — PetMD S726.
Game rules, not veterinary advice
How PetPrep simulates it
In PetPrep one real week is one month of the pet's life. These are the rules the game uses for this breed. PetPrep chose them from the sources on this page; they are not care instructions for a real animal.
| Life stage | Starts | Meals a day | Daily step goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puppy | arrives at 2 months | 4; from month 3: 3; from month 6: 2 | 1,000 steps per month of age (2,000 on arrival), up to 3,000 from month 3 |
| Young dog | month 9 | 2 | 3,000 steps |
| Adult | month 36 (3 years) | 2 | 3,000 steps |
| Senior | month 108 (9 years) | 2 | 2,300 steps |
- Step goal = minutes of daily exercise × 100 steps: an adult gets 30 minutes, so 3,000 steps a day.
- Learns commands as fast as the mixed breed of the free plan.
- Becomes a senior in month 108 (9 years) — the last quarter of the breed's expected lifespan.
- Walks count real steps from Apple Health or Health Connect (with permission, read-only) and the phone's motion sensor — no GPS.
- Combing 7 times a week.
- Care: checking and cleaning the ears once a week — a task for the child.
- Care: a bath every 4 weeks — a reminder for the parent.
Each game number is a PetPrep decision recorded with its sources. — PetMD, AAHA, Dogs Trust, ASPCA, VCA Animal Hospitals, The Royal Kennel Club, Purdue University Canine Welfare Science, Wikipedia, British Journal of Sports Medicine S10S11S14S18S19S21S24S35S45S724S726
Common Coton de Tulear owner mistakes
Small habits that cause bigger problems — each point comes from the sources of this breed.
- Too little daily exerciseExercise needed: up to 30 minutes a day. Plan it into every day, not only at weekends. — The Royal Kennel Club S724
- Skipping coat careBrushing: every day. Does not shed (not the same as hypoallergenic). — The Royal Kennel Club S724
- Forgetting that the puppy is still growingAdult size reached at: about 8–12 months (guidance for its size class). Until then, plan exercise and food for a young animal that is still growing, and ask your vet what suits yours. — PetMD S10
- Overlooking the breed's known health issuesHip dysplasia, a poorly developed hip joint that can lead to arthritis, occurs in the breed; breeders are advised to have the parents' hips scored. Von Willebrand's disease, an inherited problem with blood clotting that can cause excessive bleeding, occurs in the breed. Luxating patellas, where the kneecap temporarily slips out of place, occur in the breed. Progressive retinal atrophy, an inherited eye disease that can slowly lead to blindness, can occur in the breed. — PDSA, PetMD S725S726
In PetPrep a child practises exactly these habits — steps, meals, care — before the real pet comes home.
Health
For information only, not vet-reviewed. Ask your vet about your own animal.
- Hip dysplasia, a poorly developed hip joint that can lead to arthritis, occurs in the breed; breeders are advised to have the parents' hips scored. — PDSA S725
- Von Willebrand's disease, an inherited problem with blood clotting that can cause excessive bleeding, occurs in the breed. — PDSA S725
- Luxating patellas, where the kneecap temporarily slips out of place, occur in the breed. — PetMD S726
- Progressive retinal atrophy, an inherited eye disease that can slowly lead to blindness, can occur in the breed. — PetMD S726
Before you buy: what to check with the breeder
Questions to settle before you take a puppy home. The points are advice from vets, welfare charities and kennel clubs; each cites its source.
For every breed
- See the puppy with its mother, where it was born. — PDSA, RSPCA K1K2
- The puppy should not leave its mother before 8 weeks of age. — PDSA K1
- Ask for the pedigree. Under FCI rules a pedigree may be issued for correct parentage only. — FCI K7
- Ask to see the health-test results of both parents. Which tests matter depends on the breed. — PDSA, British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K1K9K10
- National kennel clubs can set breeding rules that go beyond the FCI's — ask the breed club which tests the parents need. — FCI K7
- Ask for a written sale contract that records the puppy's background and health. — British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K9K10
Laws on the minimum age, microchipping and vaccination differ by country — check the rules where you live.
Health tests of the parents for this breed
Tests the Royal Kennel Club recommends as a minimum
- Genetic diversity — check the inbreeding coefficient — The Royal Kennel Club S724
Further tests for best practice
- Eye examination by a veterinary eye specialist (UK: BVA/KC/ISDS scheme; for some breeds with gonioscopy) — The Royal Kennel Club S724
These lists come from the UK's Royal Kennel Club and are an orientation; national kennel clubs can set their own, stricter rules. Ask the breed club and the breeder which tests the parents have done.
Similar breeds
Other dogs in the register with similar needs — each with sourced facts.
Sources
Every fact on this page cites one of these sources.
- S10PetMD — S. C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP, 2025-05-20 — When Do Dogs Stop Growing?https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/when-do-dogs-stop-growing
- S11AAHA — 2019 AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines — Canine life stage definitionshttps://www.aaha.org/resources/life-stage-canine-2019/canine-life-stage-definitions/
- S14Dogs Trust (UK) — Caring for an older doghttps://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/life-with-your-dog/at-home/looking-after-an-older-dog
- S18ASPCA — General Dog Carehttps://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/general-dog-care
- S19VCA Animal Hospitals (2025-02-21) — Feeding Times and Frequency for Your Doghttps://vcahospitals.com/pets-first/know-your-pet/feeding-times-and-frequency-for-your-dog
- S21The Royal Kennel Club (UK) — Puppy feeding tipshttps://www.royalkennelclub.com/health-and-dog-care/health-dog-care/health/health-and-care/a-z-of-health-and-care-issues/puppy-feeding-tips
- S24Purdue University Canine Welfare Science (content: Pet Leadership Council 2019, bedogsmart.com) — Dog Fitness and Exercise (PDF)https://caninewelfare.centers.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Dog-Fitness-and-Exercise.pdf
- S35Wikipedia — The Intelligence of Dogshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Intelligence_of_Dogs
- S45British Journal of Sports Medicine (2018) — Tudor-Locke C. et al. How fast is fast enough? Walking cadence (steps/min) as a practical estimate of intensity in adults. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2017-097628https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6029645
- S721FCI — FCI breeds nomenclature — COTON DE TULEAR (283)https://www.fci.be/en/nomenclature/COTON-DE-TULEAR-283.html
- S722FCI — FCI-Standard N° 283 — Coton de Tuléar (English PDF, 04.02.2000/EN)https://WWW.FCI.BE/Nomenclature/Standards/283g09-en.pdf
- S724The Royal Kennel Club — Breeds A to Z — Coton De Tulearhttps://www.royalkennelclub.com/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/toy/coton-de-tulear/
- S725PDSA — Coton De Tulears breed informationhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/small-dogs/coton-de-tulear
- S726PetMD — Elise Schmelzer, reviewed by Barri J. Morrison, DVM (updated May 16, 2023) — Coton de Tulearhttps://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds/coton-de-tulear
- K1PDSA — Getting a puppyhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/getting-a-puppy
- K2RSPCA — Buying a puppyhttps://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/puppy
- K7FCI (copy hosted by Norsk Kennel Klub) — International Breeding Rules of the FCIhttps://nkk2023.stage22.coretrek.no/getfile.php/131987377-1520848467/Dokumenter/Registrering/FCIs%20avlsregler%202013.pdf
- K9British Veterinary Association — What should you consider when buying a puppy?https://www.bva.co.uk/news-and-blog/blog-article/what-should-you-consider-when-buying-a-puppy/
- K10FOUR PAWS UK — Questions to ask when buying a puppyhttps://www.four-paws.org.uk/our-stories/publications-guides/questions-to-ask-when-buying-a-puppy
PetPrep is a simulation for families. This page is not veterinary advice — for a real animal, ask a vet or the breed club.
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