The Coton de Tulear is high maintenance when it comes to keeping their coats tidy and in good condition. Although they are considered to be non-shedding dogs, they still need to be brushed on a regular basis to prevent any tangles and matts from forming. Ideally a daily brush is needed to keep their coats and skin in good condition. However, they should be taken to be professionally groomed several times a year which makes it that much easier to keep things tidy in between visits to a grooming parlour.
Their coat is more cotton-like in texture which is why knots and tangles form more easily in a dog's coat and although they do not shed, it's the dander that could trigger an allergic reaction in anyone who is sensitive to dogs which is something to bear in mind if anyone in a household suffers from any kind of allergy that’s connected to dogs.
It's also important to check a dog's ears on a regular basis and to clean them when necessary. If too much wax is allowed to build up in a dog's ears, it can lead to a painful infection which can be hard to clear up. In short, prevention is often easier than cure when it comes to ear infections.
The Coton de Tulear is an active, intelligent little dog and as such they need to be given the right amount of daily exercise and mental stimulation for them to be truly happy, well-rounded and obedient dogs. Ideally, they need to be given at least 30 minutes exercise a day, and more if possible because they love being out and about doing something.
A shorter walk in the morning would be fine, but a longer more interesting one in the afternoon is a must. These dogs also like to be able to roam around a back garden as often as possible so they can really let off steam. However, the fencing has to be extremely secure to keep these active little dogs in because if they find a weakness in the fence, they will soon escape out and get into all sorts of trouble.
With this said, Cotie puppies should not be over exercised because their joints and bones are still growing and too much pressure on them could result in causing a dog a few problems later on in their lives. They should not be allowed to jump up or off furniture nor should they be allowed to run up and down the stairs for this very reason.
If you get a Coton de Tulear puppy from a breeder, they would give you a feeding schedule and it's important to stick to the same routine, feeding the same puppy food to avoid any tummy upsets. You can change a puppy's diet, but this needs to be done very gradually always making sure they don't develop any digestive upsets and if they do, it's best to put them back on their original diet and to discuss things with the vet before attempting to change it again.
Older dogs are not known to be fussy or finicky eaters, but this does not mean you can feed them a lower quality diet. It's best to feed a mature dog twice a day, once in the morning and then again in the evening, making sure it's good quality food that meets all their nutritional requirements. It's also important that dogs be given the right amount of exercise so they burn off any excess calories or they might gain too much weight which can lead to all sorts of health issues. Obesity can shorten a dog's life by several years so it's important to keep an eye on their waistline from the word go.
