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 years with this remarkable breed, we typically raised only one or two litters annually, and in a numerof years, due to Mother Nature’s plans, we were not blessed with puppies at all.
Our journey has been both rewarding and fulfilling as we shared this extraordinary breed, originating from Madagascar, with families throughout the United States.
Nearly 80% of our offspring’s went on to become certified/trained pet therapy canine.
Unfortunately, the breed community within the United States 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 an effort to redefine and alter many of the breed’s original characteristics.
We have always imported our show and breeding-quality foundation stock from Europe, maintaining bloodlines that trace directly to Madagascar and are registered through the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI). Throughout our involvement with the breed, we have witnessed increasing efforts to promote variations in size, coat texture, coat color, and overall appearance that differ substantially from the historic breed standard. In our view, many of these changes move the breed further away from the dog that was originally documented and treasured for centuries.
Historical accounts described in the 1600’s from journals of merchant seamen, the Coton de Tulear was described as a small dog with a distinctive appearance, temperament, and structure, and a body similar to a fox.
Yet we frequently found ourselves attempting to educate prospective owners who had been given information that conflicted with the breed’s documented history and established standards. Often regarding the “tall Coton” or long legged Coton de Tulear that stands as tall as a bird dog. Too often as a preservation breeder we were forced to defend the traditional breed while those promoting newer interpretations were accepted without question. One subject matter I will never understand, as people were brain washed.
My own experience in the dog world began long before the Coton de Tulear entered my life. I grew up with Labrador Retrievers and later participated in AKC conformation events. During those years, I witnessed increasing pressure to promote colors and traits that departed from long-established breed standards. I eventually walked away from the AKC show ring, despite considerable success, because I believed preservation should always take precedence over novelty. Years later, I found myself witnessing many of the same trends within the Coton de Tulear community.
When we first became involved with this breed, we never imagined that attorneys and accountants would become necessary members of our support team. Yet that became the reality. The financial and legal pressures associated with breeding often reached thousands of dollars monthly and sometimes much more, regardless of whether puppies were on the ground, or even having a litter due. At times we questioned ourselves as why we continued to pay expenses — but we love the breed and the joy we encountered when babies arrived and we would begin to train them and prepare them for life with a new family.
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 many dogs from our breeding program enjoy exceptional longevity. Several lived to 18 years of age, and one beloved male passed peacefully in his sleep just three weeks before his nineteenth birthday.
Regrettably, there are now relatively few breeders dedicated solely to preserving the traditional Coton de Tulear. Instead, we have watched the growing popularity of dogs that, in our opinion, no longer fully represent the breed as it originated in Madagascar. Preservation has increasingly been replaced by modification.
Over the years, we also experienced hostility from individuals within the breeding community. Some communications and accusations became serious enough to require professional legal representation. One breeder from West Virginia threatened to report us to federal authorities based solely upon assumptions and allegations that proved to be unfounded by Ralph and I. Protecting ourselves required retaining legal counsel and investigating the claims. Such experiences revealed how far portions of the breeding community had strayed from respectful disagreement and professional conduct.
Following that ordeal, we seriously considered ending our breeding program. The personal and financial costs of defending our reputation had become exhausting. Ultimately, we chose to continue because we believed the breed was worth preserving and because many wonderful families placed their trust in us. Looking back, we are grateful that we persevered.
Despite these challenges, we remain proud of our contributions to the Coton de Tulear. We have always placed the welfare of our dogs and the preservation of the breed above politics, personal agendas, popularity, and financial gain. Every breeding decision was made with the future of the breed in mind and with deep respect for the dogs 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 supported us throughout this journey. The relationships we have built and the lives enriched by these remarkable dogs will remain among our greatest blessings.
We leave the breed with mixed emotions. We are proud of what we accomplished, yet concerned about the direction in which the breed is heading. Our hope—perhaps even by some miracle—is that future generations of breeders will return their focus to preservation rather than reinvention and will continue to protect the authentic Coton de Tulear, preserving its history, temperament, structure, health, longevity, and heritage for generations 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!
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.