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Looking for a Coton de Tulear
Questions to Ask a Breeder
The Importance of Buying from an Ethical Breeder
The Importance of Buying from an Ethical Breeder
Questions to ask
- Are your dogs registered and who are they registered with? please provide proof or registration.
- What do you do for health testing?
Please provide proof of Hip, Elbow, Eye, Cardiac, Patella, and Genetic testing (Click here to view complete list of health testing recommended for the coton)
- Do you belong to a breed club and do you follow a code of ethics?
- Do your dogs live in your home?
- Do you provide registration/pedigrees with you pups?
- What do you do for socialization?
- Is your female having puppies over 18 monts ans under 7 years old?
The Coton de Tulear is registered through the Canine Federation of Canada. You can look up pedigrees in all dogs that have been registered in Canada through the CLRC. All you do is type in their full, registered name and search. Click here for a link.
Many breeders publish health testing results through the OFA, the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. You can look up dogs there as well, you just need to type in their official name into the search bar. It also has lots of information on health.
Here is a link to a video of a Coton parent on the ins and outs of getting a Coton. Click here to view.
The Importance of Buying from an Ethical Breeder
The Importance of Buying from an Ethical Breeder
The Importance of Buying from an Ethical Breeder
The Canadian Coton de Tulear Club is vehemently against Back Yard Breeders (BYB), Puppy Mills, and Puppy Brokers. The best way to combat this animal abuse is through educating puppy buyers.
The information below is meant to draw your attention to the differences between ethical and unethical breeders. This information is by no means exhaustive. Your responsibility as a puppy buyer is to do your homework before buying your new family member. Ask questions and investigate. You owe it to yourselves and to the helpless animals.
If you need any help in finding a reputable breeder or need some advice as to whether the breeder that you are buying your puppy from is an ethical breeder, then you simply need to call or get in touch with our club and one of our members will be more than willing to help you. Please don’t be fooled by the fancy website that some BYB, Puppy Mills and Puppy Brokers have.
Good Breeders
- Screen potential homes
- Breed no more than 2 breeds
- Register their dogs with the official registry
- Follow a code of ethics, which limits breeding ages and amounts
- Breed to the breed standard
- Health test their dogs
- Have a contract that clearly outlines the agreement
- Have a spay/neuter clause in their contract
- Provide a written health guarantee typically in the contract
- The pups will have had a vet check, microchips and first vaccines before going to their homes
- The pups are raised in a loving, clean environment
- Socialize their puppies and provide stimulation
- Do not sell for profit as main objective
- Available for lifetime support
- Don’t let pups leave until 8 weeks
- Will take pups back and/or support to re-home
- Allow you to meet the parents
- Often involved with clubs and showing
Back Yard Breeders
- Breeding animals are not tested for health issues or genetic problems
- Offers no health guarantee
- Prices are often below the local range
- May not ask for a spay/neuter contract
- Does not ask that dogs be returned to them if the buyer cannot keep them
- Will post “Puppies for Sale” on bulletin boards
- Often let puppies go to their new homes before 8 weeks in age.
- No references available
- Dogs are often kept in yards, barns, sheds, basements and are often dirty and unkempt
Puppy Mills:
- Frequently sell to brokers who in turn sell to pet stores
- Have unsound breeding practices with no health testing
- Dogs usually do not have full vaccinations (often not vaccinated against parvo or distemper)
- Females are bred on every heat cycle from first heat until they cannot breed anymore
- • Animals are kept in substandard to deplorable conditions and may be deprived of shelter, food, water, and proper medical attention.
- • Dogs often living in small pens, no grooming, poor health, infections, and rotten teeth
- • Owners will not take you to see the squalor that the puppies are raised in
Warning Signs
- Breeder does not let you into their home
- Won’t let you see where puppies are raised
- Won’t show you either parent
- Don’t ask you questions to determine if you will provide a good home.
Do your homework! Research more about puppy mills, back yard breeders, and ask questions. If something doesn’t seem right, it likely isn’t. Keep searching for a breeder that “feels right” as you are going to be working with them for the life of your puppy.
Please know that some BYBs and puppy millers actually have a secondary house where they meet potential buyers to make it look better than it really is.
Just because a dog is a purebred and is registered does not mean that it has come from a reputable breeder or that the puppy is healthy.
- For more information: Cotons Against Puppy Mills
FAQs
The Importance of Buying from an Ethical Breeder
FAQs
Should I get a male or female?
We feel the individual temperament is most important. The basic differences are that the girls love you and the boys are “in love” with you. Boys tend to follow you around more and the girls are a little more independent. The girls are more likely to sit on your lap than the boys, yet the boys always want to be near you. It does vary with the individual dog.
Both are wonderful, so the bottom line, one of each is perfect! Actually, the best way to choose is to go with whichever individual temperament suits you best. This is far more important than sex although if you already have a dog of one sex, it is generally better to get the opposite sex. Opposites typically get along better. It’s also best to rely on your breeder to ensure a good fit. They know their puppies very well and can help guide you.
Should I get two?
It is wonderful to have two, however, it is better to get one first, then add another once the first one is trained. The first will help train the second. Litter mates are not recommended. Training two pups at once can be very challenging. Two are great if they are spaced apart. Click here to read an excellent article on it.
Can a Coton be alone all day?
No, Cotons need their people around. They are a very dependent breed, that is both their greatest strength and greatest weakness. Because they are bred for companionship, they are very attached to their people. They are very likely to not be well adjusted if left alone all day. If trained to be alone, they can be left a maximum of 3 to 4 hours. Young puppies can't be left that long. If you work all day, this is not the breed for you, unless they can go to a good, safe doggy daycare.
How much grooming does a Coton need?
If you like to maintain a long coat, frequent brushing, combing and bathing is required in order to keep them mat free. If you opt for a teddy cut, you can expect to have a full groom done every 6 to 8 weeks. Check out our grooming tutorial for detailed information on how to groom a Coton.
Are Cotons easy to train?
Cotons are very smart and learn quickly. Positive reinforcement is the best way to train. It is kind, scientifically proven and will help deepen your bond. If you are consistent and watch your puppy, training goes very quickly.
Are Cotons good for allergy sufferers?
Allergies are a tough one. They are considered hypoallergenic, however, lots of people are still allergic. It is best to test your allergies before going ahead.
What is the average life span?
Cotons typically live for 13 to 15 years.