On a blustery Chicago winter day, our love affair with the Coton de Tulear began with a chance encounter in 1996. Two years later when our children were old enough to responsibly handle a small breed dog, we welcomed home our first Coton-Tiger Lily. Now our family includes four lively Cotons.

Gayle at Mother and Son Reunion

Here at Windy City Coton, we occasionally bring puppies into the world as a passionate hobby rather than a business. We care deeply about the future well being of our Coton puppies so placement is reserved for qualified home situations. Our focus is to produce Coton pups with a loving nature, robust health, and a charming appearance. Therefore mates are selected for their friendly temperament and beauty. Our parents are extensively tested for good health prior to breeding. These health tests include CERF eye examinations, orthopedic evaluations of hips and patellas, OFA Cardiac Screening, OFA Thyroid, DNA genetic analysis, and comprehensive annual blood panels. We firmly believe that health testing is a key component in continuing the hardy legacy of the Coton de Tulear breed.

Puppies are nurtured inside our home and cherished as members of our family. Socialization begins from the first day of birth with gentle touching and soft voices. When the newborn pups’ ears and eyes begin to open, music and a colorful mobile are introduced. As puppies begin to walk, new opportunities to explore and play become available. At 7 weeks of age, a Puppy Temperament Test is performed to assess personality traits. By the time our pups are ready to leave for their forever homes between 10 to 11 weeks old, their world has greatly expanded and they have experienced the normal sights and sounds of a household environment, taken car rides, and entertained a variety of visitors. Before going home, puppies are microchipped and have received two veterinary examinations with documented evaluations of good health, and their first set of vaccinations. Our contract includes a two year written health guarantee.

Puppies' Play Toys

Jeff and His Two Harley's

Windy City Coton is a Code of Ethics Breeder affiliated with the United States of America Coton de Tulear Club (USACTC), the American Coton Club (ACC), and the American Association of the Coton de Tulear (AACDT). We provide pedigree registrations for our Coton puppies through the ACC, USACTC and the AACDT—all three are nonprofit Coton de Tulear organizations.

Preparing for the arrival of a new puppy is a cheerful and busy time, brimming with anticipation. We give future owners a shopping list, catalogs, and literature regarding housebreaking, feeding, grooming, and training. It is our wish that Coton puppies and their owners get off to the best possible start. So each new family receives a Windy City Coton Puppy Care Package that includes an appropriate size crate, a Snuggle Puppy with heartbeat, favorite toys and treats, a collar, leash, and halter, puppy food, written puppy care instructions, veterinary records, a vaccination schedule, and CD’s of the music that the puppies have been reared with--to ease the transition to a new environment.

Coton Pups Learning to Eat

A strong emphasis is placed on the value of continuing communication between owner and breeder, to provide ongoing guidance throughout each Coton’s lifetime, and to protect the welfare of the rare Coton de Tulear. If you would like to learn more about the windswept Cotons of Windy City, please contact us. We enjoy chatting about this magical breed!