History and Background of the Coton de Tulear

     The Coton de Tulear originates from Madagascar, the world's fourth largest island. Madagascar is located in the Indian Ocean, southeast off the coast of Africa. The Capital of Madagascar is Antananarivo.

     Tulear is a port city on the southwestern coast of Madagascar. Historically, the Coton's arrival to Madagascar dates approximately to the 15th century. Ships frequently sailed to the West Indies, around Africa's Good Hope Cape, into the Mozambique Channel to the Indian Ocean.

     Sea voyages were often long and boring and sailors quality of life was very poor. To offset these hardships and the loneliness of the ladies also traveling on these ships, little, spirited dogs accompanied them. The same little dogs were also used to rid the ships of unwanted mice and rats which were consuming sailors and passenger's food.

     During a violent storm, a shipwreck occurred in proximity of Madagascar. No one knows the name of the ship or its flag, but all the sailors perished in the Ocean. The fact of the matter is that some little white dogs swam ashore around the southwestern coast of the island. It is assumed that they are the ancestors of the Bichon family of which the Bichon Frise and the Coton are members.

     These dogs settled on the island, became wild again, and met eventually with the local terriers. The Coton de Tulear resulted from this relationship.

     Another story tells us that the dogs wanted to cross a river infested with crocodiles. These reptiles with wide open mouths, were patiently waiting for their feast!! Since swimming across was sheer suicide, our dogs looked first for the narrowest passage, ran to the widest part of the river, then started barking ferociously the the racket allured all the crocodiles to that spot. Slowly, and clumsily the reptiles started climbing the bank, and our sly dogs sprinted back to the narrowest passage, jumped in the water and swam across.

     The natives fell in love with these little dogs, domesticated them and then offered them as gifts to the King and the Merino nobles. Due to their charming personalities, and adorable appearance, the Coton soon became a favorite of Kings and nobles. For many years, only people of the ruling cast were allowed to own a Coton.

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