According to the Federation Cynologique Internationale (the FCI) breed standard, the height of the male at the withers varies between 25 cm to 32 cm (approximately 9.8 in. to 12.5 in.) with the ideal being 28 cm (11 in.) and the height for the female at the withers varies between 22 cm to 28 cm (approximately 8.5 in. to 11 in.) with the ideal being 25 cm (11 in.) The male weighs between 4 to 6 kg (approximately 8.8 to 13.2 pounds) and the female weighs between 3.5 to 5 kg (approximately 7.7 to ll pounds).

The Coton de Tulear is a small, sweet “cottony” long-haired dog with a big dog’s heart. The coloring is white, champagne and white and also tricolor. It is a happy, somewhat boisterous little companion, often acting like a clown, very eager and intelligent, and forms very strong bonds with his/her masters. The dark brown eyes are round, well spaced, rimmed with black, showing a lively and intelligent expression. The nose is black the lips are thin and rimmed with black. The ears are dropped, thin, triangular and covered with long hair. The ratio of the height at the withers to the length is 2:3. The Coton de Tulear has a slightly curved top-line which in part differentiates him from other members of the Bichon family.

The Coton thrives on love, food, human companionship and protection from his family. It will never tire of too much TLC! Pet him, carry him, talk to him and you will see great results. He will shower you with kisses since he is so affectionate and, being a good listener, will cock his head to the side while you talk to him. Being a lively companion, he is always ready to play, seldom tires and will clown around and jump to attract your attention. He will happily trot next to you in the house, observe your gestures and vocalize to you with a particular sound that does not resemble barking, but more like grunting or growling, so go ahead, make his day, and answer him in the same fashion.

The Coton gets along well with other dogs, cats and children. He is a good traveler, is easily trained and housebroken. He will love taking walks with you (on a leash of course).

The Coton is seldom sick and has an approximate life span of l5 to 19 years. Although he is very hardy, and does not mind to playing in the rain and the snow, he still is an indoor dog. While not known as a"guard dog" the Coton is an excellent alarm dog. He is very protective of his house and master and because of his keen hearing he will alert you right away to strange noises.

Puppies are born either all white or with spots, mainly around the head and the ears, but also sometimes on the body. These spots which are yellow, brown, rust or black, disappear as the Coton matures and can leave behind a light to medium champagne and/or grey coloring.

The hair is shorter as a puppy but reaches approximately four inches or so in adulthood. Because the Coton has minimal shedding (mainly springtime) and has hair and not fur, he is a good choice for people with allergies.

The Coton de Tulear's hair is soft and fluffy to the touch, non-oily, and light as the cotton flower. Gentle brushing 3 or 4 times a week with a special pin brush (without balls at the end of the pins which tear and damage the coat) will help alleviate matting that can occur especially behind the ears, legs and elbow region. Particular attention will be needed with the coat between the age of 9 to l4 months when the adult hair is coming in. Matting can be at its highest during that time. Besides the fact that the dog will love the attention if introduced to grooming as a puppy, less bathing will be required. If you need to bathe the dog, make sure to use an appropriate shampoo for the Coton coat and its hair. How often to bathe depends upon many factors and your own individual choice. Please remember that, when it comes to advice, your breeder and veterinarian can offer you invaluable help. You can also get a lot of help from other members of the USACTC, which is a great source for all Coton owners.