has anyone any experience of a Coton de Tulear?

debtfreein4years

Am looking at getting a small dog. I like the bichon frisse dogs as my great aunt has these and I think they are gorgeous. However the coat needing trimming puts me off a little. Have done a little research and found that a Coton de Tulear might suit me better, although them prefering you to be around most of the time could be a problem with me going to work. I would be willing to get a dog sitter to come in during the day for an hour or so to give the dog a bit of company and let the dog out for a walk and to be able to go to the toilet.

Ive never owened a dog before and have had cats in the past, ideally I would love a german shepard or a new foundland as i think they are both stunning breeds, but realise that a large dog like that wouldnt suit a small 2 bed house and my lifestyle at the moment.

If anyone has any advice I would be grateful. Please also note this is not something I am going to rush into (contrary to my usual style) as it wouldnt be fair to any animal if I wasnt 100% ready for a dog and hadnt done the research fully into what having a dog entails. Would probably be looking at getting a dog this time next year or if I have to go on a waiting list for a Coton then I would be willing to wait as I think this is the dog for me.

Thanks

welshmoneylover

Hi
I got a bichon, quite similar to a coton. First things first, they don't like being on their own all day. You will come home to piles of poo and p!ss as they get stressed about it. Can you face cleaning that up every time you come home from work? They need more than a hours company during the day to keep them company.

Secondly, bichon's coats can be time consuming to brush and trim. But I get immense pleasure from the touch of my dog and I know he enjoys his massage.
Even a coton's coat (or any dog) needs time spent on it everyday. Whether it's brushing, trimming hair out of eyes, checking the hair growing in the ear canal.

Sounds to me as if you fancy a dog, but maybe won't have the time the animal needs.

I;m not trying to put you off, but is if fair on a dog if you are in work all day. They need physical and mental stimulation, lots of it, if they get bored they can start to soil and get destructive.

debtfreein4years

thats the kind of advice im after. practical

the me being at work sounds like it will be a problem as for approx half the year there would be no one home during the day. I dont mind cleaning up mess, but if it was to happen every day then I think it would start to annoy me. the work thing would be the dog being alone 8 to 12 and then 1 to 6 although i could probably pay the dog sitter to come in twice a day for an hour but again its not the same as haivng someone home all day.

The coat thing, i've read that a bichon needs to have their coat trimmed regularly as well as being groomed daily, but my understanding is that a coton doesnt need to have their coat trimmed, but does need grooming every day which wouldnt be an issue. I dont want to commit myself to a dog that needs regular coat cuts as i wouldnt want to judging when it needs doing as a dog cant say it needs done wheras a human can.

I really dont want to commit to any animal (well maybe a goldfish) without having all the research done and as i've said i wont be rushing into anything as its not fair on the dog.

welshmoneylover

debtfreein4years wrote: »

thats the kind of advice im after. practical

the me being at work sounds like it will be a problem as for approx half the year there would be no one home during the day. I dont mind cleaning up mess, but if it was to happen every day then I think it would start to annoy me. Yes, I think it would especially when your carpet starts to smell of p!ss and your visitor's noses starts twitching at the aroma the work thing would be the dog being alone 8 to 12 and then 1 to 6 although i could probably pay the dog sitter to come in twice a day for an hour but again its not the same as haivng someone home all day.

The coat thing, i've read that a bichon needs to have their coat trimmed regularly as well as being groomed daily, but my understanding is that a coton doesnt need to have their coat trimmed, but does need grooming every day which wouldnt be an issue. I dont want to commit myself to a dog that needs regular coat cuts as i wouldnt want to judging when it needs doing as a dog cant say it needs done wheras a human can.

I really dont want to commit to any animal (well maybe a goldfish) without having all the research done and as i've said i wont be rushing into anything as its not fair on the dog.

I got fish too, I find they're relaxing to look at. However, I find cleaning the tank and filter a right PITA sometimes! :rotfl:

BitterAndTwisted

It's only my personal opinion but I'd never get a dog while I was in full-time work. Dogs are pack-animals and to be left on their own causes them stress, and that's terribly unkind imo. I think it's just great that you're doing research before making a decision, so top marks to you.

One day, when you're not working I hope you might entertain the idea of looking into rehoming a greyhound: which is my long-term plan

debtfreein4years

thank you. well done to you for planning on taking in a retired greyhound. i couldnt take one in as they freak me out. another great aunt used to take them in and my mum has told me that when she was younger she had to be locked in a room whilst her aunt called the vet to have the dog pts as it suddenly snapped and was going for everyone. my aunt has said its a common occurence due to the nature of the way these dogs were treated when they were racing.

defo needing to think more about the nature of working and having a dog even if i do pay someone to come in a couple of times a day as its starting to sound more unfeasable with the more i am reading up on the breed.

foreign_correspondent

I have never met a snappy greyhound yet! - they tend to be gentle souls. In fact, I met some today, at an event where the retired greyhound trust were standing, and they were lovely, gentle, quiet and so beautiful, and for some reason my small-ish dog adored them! (she is pretty good at sussing other dogs out!)

The messing in the house is not just a problem for you from a cleaning point of view, it often indicates a distressed and unhappy dog, which may also bark and destroy things. I would certainly not advise a pup in your circumstances, but an older, steady and settled rescue dog may be able to cope, with a lunchtime walk, and more and more nice family dogs are ending up in rescues this year for financial reasons.

Or maybe a cat would be better suited to your lifestyle - they are far more independant and do not pine in the same way that dogs do.

BitterAndTwisted

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

I have never met a snappy greyhound yet! - they tend to be gentle souls. In fact, I met some today, at an event where the retired greyhound trust were standing, and they were lovely, gentle, quiet and so beautiful, and for some reason my small-ish dog adored them! (she is pretty good at sussing other dogs out!)

Oooh! Foreign Correspondent, you're talking my language! Did you take any photos?

welshmoneylover

When my kids [STRIKE]bogger off[/STRIKE] leave home :jthe 2 dogs on my list to own are:
standard poodle
retired greyhound

I have told them once they leave, they cannot come back :rotfl:

devotee

Actually I have a Coton and happy to give any advice you might need!

Mine is 9 months old now and is absolutely adorable.
They are very loyal, sociable, mine loves to play, loves other dogs, kids, but can be a bit suspicious of strangers, but once he gets to know people he's over the moon to see them. Lovely temperament and extremely intelligent and easy to train.

They are a very rare breed and quite healthy and free of diseases - and they can live up to 19 years apparently. Even though they are small dogs they love exercise and are very energetic and playful and they stay like that always (I have two friends in USA who have them). Girls can be little madams sometimes - I have a boy.

First, they hate to be alone. Like really hate. So much that I'm considering getting another Coton so the pup has company. I'm fortunate enough that I can take him to work most of the time but even leaving him for a short while he's not happy as in won't even touch his Kong toy while I'm gone!

Second, they do need brushing every day. Mine is going through a change of coat so is very prone to matting, so I tend to do a quick 5 mins brush in the morning and evening. If you keep the coat short it's easier to manage.

Third is the cost - they are just over 400 Coton dogs in the UK and they cost over £1k, the usual prices are 1.5 for a dog and 1.75k for a female, I'm sure some prices are coming down due to credit crunch, but that's the ball park figure.... But they don't eat much so you wouldn't be spending as much on food
Like all dogs they bark - mainly to alert you to someone being at the door etc. They are not yappy though.

There are only about 10 breeders in the whole of the UK and most of them are devoted to the breed and you would be getting the well looked after puppy who is well socialised and healthy. But be prepared to travel to get one.... if you are really interested I can put you in touch with breeders as I'm a member of the Coton club.

And the last... They are unbelievably cute!!!!!

foreign_correspondent

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Oooh! Foreign Correspondent, you're talking my language! Did you take any photos?

aah, sorry, I didn't think to - lovely, lovely dogs though, and so steady, placid and gentle, with the softest silkiest coats... I could have brought one home with me! ... Maybe in the future, when (if!) I have a bigger house.. hopefully!