History Of
The Coton de Tulear

The Coton de Tulear is a member of the Bichon family of dogs which, in addition to the Cotons, includes the Bichon Frise, the Havanese, the Maltese, the Lowchen, and the Bolognese.

It is believed that the Bichons are descendents of the Barbet, an ancient European breed. Later, a smaller descendent of the Barbet, the Bichon Tenerife, also now extinct, was introduced to the Indian Ocean Islands of Mauritus and Reunion by sailors and trade ships in the 16th and 17th centuries. On Reunion, the breed developed a long, cotton-like coat, and was called the "The Coton de Reunion."
("Coton" means "cotton" in French). This highly prized breed accompanied government officials, French troops, merchants, and even pirates on their voyages in the area. While some traveled as beloved companions, many were also valued as exotic trading commodities. The Coton de Reunion eventually became extinct.

The descendents of the Coton de Reunion that were imported to Madagascar had a different fate. During the 17th century they became popular at the port of Tulear in southern Madagascar, a place frequented by pirates and slave-traders. Here the Coton was protected as a valued companion of the wealthy, ruling tribal monarchy of Tulear, the Merina. The breed soon became known as "the Royal Dog of Madagascar".

It is speculated that during the long development of the Coton on Madagascar, a native hunting dog, the "Morondava" may have been added to the ancestry. If so, this may have contributed to the extraordinary soundness and stamina of this breed of Bichon.

The ruling Merina controlled the breed very closely, forbidding both coastal tribesmen and any non-noblemen to own a Coton. However, at the beginning of the 1900s the conquering French colonists also became enamored with the breed. In more recent times here, this type of Bichon has been owned primarily by the socially upwardly-mobile Malagasy and the French.

The Coton de Tulear has been proclaimed the "Official Dog of Madagascar," In 1974 the Coton was honored on a postage stamp there. Unfortunately, however, the current political and economic crises on Madagascar threaten the continuation of the Coton breed in its native land.

The Coton de Tulear first came to America in 1974. Dr. Robert Jay Russell, a biologist studying Madagascar's lemur population at that time, sent some Coton breeding stock to his father. As a result, Oakshade Kennel was established in New Jersey with the Cotons sent by Dr. Russell.

The standard for the breed was created in 1974 and the Coton de Tulear Club of America was formed by Dr. Russell in 1976. The club's purpose is to maintain the established breed standard, the pedigrees, the stud book, the history, and the registration for all Cotons in the Western Hemisphere.

The Coton de Tulear is one of the rarest breeds in the world today. It is currently recognized by the CKC (Continental Kennel Club), the FCI (Federation Cynologique Internationale), and the NKC (National Kennel Club).