Strictly European Lineages
Preservation Hobby Breeders of the Rare Coton de Tulear Breed!
**Giulietta, a beautiful female Coton de Tulear, is expected to arrive (approximately) in late September 2026 and be available for adoption. ** Giulietta to be our farewell [last] Coton de Tulear puppy.
Adopting a Coton for a lifetime is a serious commitment.
Our puppy agreement is designed to protect the Coton and help create and ensure a healthy and secure life.
A Farewell to Our Journey with the Coton de Tulear
We will be retiring in the fall of 2026 after many years of dedication to the Coton de Tulear as hobby breeders. Throughout our involvement with this remarkable breed, we typically produced only one or two litters per year, and in some years, due to Mother Nature, we had no puppies at all. Our journey has been both rewarding and fulfilling as we shared this extraordinary original breed from Madagascar with families across the United States.
Unfortunately, the breed community has changed dramatically over the years. What was once healthy competition among breeders committed to preserving the traditional Coton de Tulear has, in many cases, become a movement toward altering the breed’s original characteristics. We have always imported our breeding stock from Europe, maintaining exclusive bloodlines tracing directly to Madagascar and registered through the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI). Over time, we have witnessed increasing efforts to modify the breed through changes in size, coat texture, color, and other characteristics that differ significantly from the historic breed standard.
When we began our involvement with the Coton de Tulear, we never imagined that maintaining an attorney on monthly retainer and retaining the services of a certified public accountant would become part of the support team required to navigate the breeding world. Yet, that is the environment that has evolved over the years. Counsel with our attorney could easily exceed a couple thousand dollars a month. We have always had a CPA compiling our taxes; we have been with him for over 25 years –regardless of whether we had puppies at the time.
As preservation hobby breeders, our goal has always been to protect and maintain the qualities that make the Coton de Tulear such a unique, cherished, intelligent, and long-lived companion. We have been fortunate to see members of our own breeding family live well into their senior years. Several reached 18 years of age, and one beloved male passed peacefully in his sleep just three weeks before his nineteenth birthday.
Regrettably, there is now very little meaningful competition among breeders who share the philosophy of preserving the traditional Coton de Tulear. Instead, we have observed the growing popularity of dogs that, in our opinion, no longer reflect the breed as it originally existed in Madagascar.
Over the years, we have also experienced hostility from individuals within the breeding community. We have received threatening communications and emails from breeders within the United States that were sufficiently inappropriate and defamatory to require legal consultation. We have been subjected to personal attacks and criticism unrelated to responsible breeding practices or breed preservation. One well-known breeder publicly on FaceBook suggested that we “live in a glass house and should watch our breeding practices”. Such comments contributed zero constructive discussion and did nothing to advance the welfare or preservation of the breed. The woman is a well-known Coton de Tulear breeder in West Virginia. Our attorney was appalled at her slander and the discord she displayed towards us. The funny part is I had never heard of the breeder before her horrendous slander, as we only work with breeders from Europe. That was an expense incurred in defending ourselves.
Despite these challenges, we remain proud of our contributions to the Coton de Tulear. We have always conducted ourselves with integrity, placing the health, welfare, and preservation of our dogs above politics, personal agendas, or financial gain. Every breeding decision was made with careful consideration for the future of the breed and the well-being of the puppies entrusted to our care.
As we enter retirement, we do so with gratitude for the many wonderful families, friends, puppy owners, and fellow preservation breeders who have supported us throughout this journey. The relationships we have built and the lives we have touched through these remarkable dogs will remain among our most treasured memories.
Our hope—perhaps even by some miracle—is that future generations of breeders will continue to honor and protect the authentic Coton de Tulear, preserving its unique history, temperament, structure, health, longevity, and heritage for years to come. If that happens, then our efforts, and those of many dedicated preservation breeders before us, will not have been in vain.
All of our adults are clear of these diseases, not a carrier, nor do they have the gene.
- BNAt, also known as Neonatal Ataxia (NA) or Bandera’s Syndrome (BNAt), is a genetic mutation that affects the nervous system of Coton de Tulear dogs. The mutation damages the cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls coordination and movement.
- CMR2 mutation is associated with the Coton de Tulear breed. Phenotype: Affected dogs typically present with multiple, discrete circular areas of retinal detachment around 15 weeks of age. Fluid accumulates under the detached retina resulting in gray, tan, orange or pink “blisters” in the eye.
- DM, also known as Degenerative myelopathy, is a neurologic disorder that can affect the spinal cord of Coton de Tulear dogs. It’s caused by a mutation in the SOD1 gene, which is found in many dog breeds.
- HU, also known as Hyperuricosuria, is a genetic condition in dogs that causes high levels of uric acid in the urine, which can lead to the formation of stones in the bladder or kidneys.
- PH, also known as Primary hyperoxaluria (PH), is a rare, inherited metabolic disorder that affects the kidneys of Coton de Tulear dogs. It’s caused by a mutation in the AGXT gene, which prevents the body from breaking down glyoxylate, an organic compound. This leads to a buildup of oxalate and calcium oxalate crystals in the kidneys and other tissues, such as bones, joints, and muscles.
- vWD1, also known as Von Willebrand disease type 1 (vWD1) is a genetic bleeding disorder that can affect Coton de Tulears and other dog breeds. Symptoms with vWD1 include low levels of von Willebrand factor (vWf), a protein that helps blood clot.
Training is what it is all about — to create a relaxed puppy and well socialized.
International & World Champion 2023 from Italy: Cotonbrie Hasta la Vista is the grandsire to our Coton puppies. Owned by Eli at Cotonbrie in Italy.

Did You Know?
“The Rare Breed Canine”
The Coton de Tulear is a rare dog breed due to its history and origins.
The Coton de Tulear was recognized by the FCI Kennel Club in Europe in 1970, long before the AKC in the USA in 2013. For a long time, the only people who owned the Coton were members of the Malaga royal family in Madagascar and the only country they were found in was France, then the breed was imported into Europe in the 1950s.
Coton de Tulear’s make excellent Therapy Dogs. From their gentle temperament to their remarkable intelligence, the Coton de Tulear offers invaluable assistance and support to those with physical or emotional challenges. Their small size and non-threatening demeanor both work well to reduce anxiety or trepidation.
Our adults are trained, two are certified pet therapy dogs. About 80% of our puppies have gone on to become Certified Pet Therapy and Medical Service Assistant Canines!
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