Questions, answered
Short answers to what families ask us most about the Coton de Tulear and about applying. If your question isn’t here, write to us.
What is a Coton de Tulear?
A small, white companion dog from Madagascar, named after the port town of Tuléar, now Toliara. Coton is French for cotton, after its soft coat. The FCI recognises it as a companion breed under standard no. 283. Cotons are affectionate and like to be wherever their people are.
How big does a Coton get?
By the breed standard, males stand 26 to 28 cm at the shoulder and weigh 4 to 6 kg. Females stand 23 to 25 cm and weigh 3.5 to 5 kg. Many live 14 to 16 years, so a Coton is a long commitment.
Does a Coton shed? Is it good for allergies?
The coat sheds little, but it needs brushing down to the skin several times a week. No dog is proven allergy-free, so we don’t call the Coton hypoallergenic. If someone at home has allergies, spend time with a Coton before you apply.
Can a Coton live in a condo in Bangkok?
Yes. Most Cotons settle well in a flat or condo, as long as they have daily walks and company. They are happiest near their people, so a home where the dog is often alone is not a good fit. If you rent, get written permission to keep a dog.
How does a Coton cope with the heat?
Well, with a little planning. Walk in the early morning and after sunset, when pavements have cooled. Keep the house cool in the hottest months; air conditioning helps. A shorter trim in the hot season is kinder and easier to keep clean.
How much grooming does a Coton need?
Brush down to the skin several times a week, and more often in the rainy season, or the coat mats. Plan a bath and trim every six to eight weeks. If you want a dog that needs little grooming, a Coton isn’t the right dog, and we’ll tell you so.
Are you a farm?
No. Maison Tulear is a small home-based maison in Bangkok. Our dogs live in the house with the family, sleep indoors and spend their days with people. When puppies come, they will be raised in the same rooms.
Where are you? Can I visit?
We are in Bangkok. To protect the dogs and the family, we share the address with applicants once we have talked. Getting to know us starts with an application and a conversation.
When will you have puppies?
Not yet. Yuzu and Zuma are still growing, and our first litter is planned for 2027. Families on the early list hear first.
How do I apply, and what happens next?
Fill in the three-step application on our Apply page. It costs nothing and isn’t a reservation. We read every application ourselves and reply by email, and we get to know each family before we match a puppy.
What health tests do your dogs have?
Each result is published on the dog’s page with the test, the result, the laboratory and the date, as written on the report. A test not yet done is marked as next. We don’t describe results we can’t show.
How much does a puppy cost?
We haven’t published a price yet. Applying to the early list costs nothing, and we talk it through with each family before any puppy is matched.
Will you place a puppy with anyone who can pay?
No. Puppies are placed by application only, and we never list puppies for sale. We decline applications for reselling or breeding for sale, for surprise gifts, and from homes where the dog would be alone more than eight hours a day.
Still wondering about something?
Write to us. We’re happy to talk before you apply.