The Coton de Tulear is shown in Non-sporting Class in various North
American shows and the FCI Companion Class [FCI Group 9] in Europe.
The Coton is not a toy dog. In the Western Hemisphere, the Coton de
Tulear is registered by the Coton de Tulear Club of America [CTCA].
The CTCA was formed in 1976 to maintain the Official Breed Standard,
Stud Book, Pedigree, History, and owner's Registrations. The CTCA's
registry is the oldest, continuously active Coton de Tulear registry
in the world.
Grooming
Well-brushed but not scissored. As for
any long-haired breed, eyes and ears should be kept clean. The show
dog's coat must be natural. Adulteration of the coat (e.g., powdering) is not
permissible. Owners are encouraged to insure that hair is kept
trimmed on the feet (between pads and toes), in the ears, and around
the anus. Since few Cotons are shown, owners should consider trimming
the hair that falls down over the eyes if it is apparent that the
Coton's vision is impaired.
Movement
Free, balanced, effortless.
Good reach
in the forequarters and good drive in the hindquarters. Slight
lateral roll at low speed. Legs move straight fore and aft along the
line of travel; as speed increases, there is a slight convergence of
legs toward the center line.
In almost every case, a Coton de Tulear that meets the FCI Standard
will also meet the CTCA Standard. In contrast to the FCI's standard,
the CTCA Standard, designed by professional biologists, reflects a
desire to maintain the breed's natural genetic soundness by
preserving and protecting a controlled amount of variability. The
French standard strictly bans color in Cotons; the CTCA welcomes the
breed's three color varieties. The CTCA does not promote a "cookie
cutter look" for this breed. Such conformity inevitably results in a
breed that is highly inbred, that has no genetic variability and
hence poor viability and health. The CTCA promotes the original three
color variaties of Coton de Tulear -- a position that preserves
essential color-producing genes that may also be responsible for the
Coton's calm, laid-back demeanor. In contrast with the Malagasy and
the North Americans, the French despise Cotons that have persistent
color on their coat and as recently as 1996 have asserted again that
the Coton is a "pure white breed."
It should be noted that excessive inbreeding is required to create a
breed in which every dog looks and acts exactly like every other dog
in the breed. Excessive inbreeding to conform to the currently
fashionable "show ring" look has, in our opinion, ruined the genetic
soundness of many AKC breeds. The CTCA remains determined to protect
the soundness of the Coton de Tulear.
