| The Coton de Tulear developed on the Island of Madagascar and
is still the island's national dog. The Coton's ancestors were brought to
Madagascar in the 16th and 17th centuries aboard pirate ships. Madagascar
was a haven for pirates, and pirate graveyards can still be seen there.
Pirates established the only democratic kingdom for themselves on St.
Mary's Island, Madagascar and took Malagasy wives. Whether the dogs were
brought along to control rats on the ships, as companions for long
voyages, or were confiscated from other ships as booty no one knows.
Tulear is a port now also known as
Toliara.
The Coton is of the
Bichon
dog type, linked most closely to the now-extinct
Bichon Tenerife, and Tenerife Terrier. There have been many stories
circulating about the history of the Coton in recent years. Most of them
are untrue. The Coton de Tulear was never feral on Madagascar. It did not
hunt wild boar or alligators, as its size, strength, and demeanor can
disprove easily. It was a companion dog of the Merina (the ruling tribe)
in Madagascar. It has very little prey drive, and is not a hunting dog.
The Coton is a playful, affectionate, intelligent breed. It loves people
and as a result can have
separation anxiety. It loves life and is enthusiastic and lively. It
is a very vocal breed, grunting and making other noises when having fun.
Some Cotons have a habit of jumping up and walking on their hind legs to
please people. Some Cotons may exhibit shyness or cautiousness in new
situations, especially around strangers, but this can usually be overcome
with training. Most Cotons love meeting new people and are very curious in
new situations. The dogs are very trainable with praise, instead of
punishment. They can be great with other dogs.
From
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
