Page 29 - ShowSight Presents - The Coton De Tulear

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!irates, shipwrecks, sur- vival in harsh climates, tales of encounters with crocodiles!”Yes”, we’re describing the origins of the Coton de Tulear! Oh,
you thought this was a “French” breed, sit- ting in Royal Courts in the laps of nobil- ity! The reality is, this elegant, dynamic and robust white dog, with a beautiful long, flowing coat, finds its roots on the Island of Madagascar.
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The sixteenth century European courts were enamored with the small white dogs of the Bichon family. Their size, sturdi- ness, and pleasing character made them the perfect companion. Ancestors of the Coton de Tulear (pronounced: KO-tone Dih TOO-LaY-ARE) began to accompa- ny fine ladies on long sea voyages as lap dogs. Sailors, however, discovered that they possessed great skills in control- ling vermin onboard. Several varieties of Bichons, scattered throughout the Medi- terranean region, soon found themselves as highly valued crew members, among them the Bichon Tenerife, considered by
many to be the closest relative of today’s Coton de Tulear.
Ships navigating the Cape of Good Hope and the Indian Ocean, led to the arrival of the Bichon Tenerife on the Island of Reunion, located 500 miles east of Mad- agascar, where matings with other breeds already inhabiting the Island, resulted in the Coton De Reunion. (Now extinct)
The prospect of acquiring treasure from merchant vessels traveling along the East Indies trade route made the region a haven for pirates. Legends spin a tale of a merchant ship that became engaged in a furious battle with a pirate ship. Fol- lowing this battle, a violent storm arose and both ships sank. There were no sur- vivors, except the strong white dogs they were carrying, the Coton de Reunion, the Bichon Tenerife and other Bichon type dogs that accompanied these sail- ing ships, who swam safely ashore in close proximity to the Madagascar Seaport of “Tulear”. It was there that the adaptation of these original Bichon type dogs begins and continues for over four centuries (300 to 400 generations) of rigorous natural selection, accompanied by some selective breeding with local and imported dogs.
The remarkable result is todays extraor- dinary beautiful, charming, intelligent, robust and adaptable “Coton de Tulear”!
On Madagascar, The Coton was forced to hone survival skills in a harsh, rugged and diverse environment. Conditions range from tropical temperatures along the coast to the much cooler temperatures of inland rain forests and rugged moun- tains. One of the main adaptations is the surviving strains of long, fluffy, white hair that provided thermal insulation in this varied climate.
Beneath this beautiful and practical coat, lies a well built, robust and muscular dog, of keen intelligence that possesses the essential tools for survival.
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SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, JUNE 2014 • 217