|
| Several charming legends surround the origins of the Royal Dog of Madagascar. These interesting anecdotal accounts of the Coton de Tulear can be read on the United States of America Coton de Tulear Club's website at USATC. | ||
This page, instead, will focus on the contemporary story of the Coton beginning with the recognition of the Coton de Tulear as a distinct breed. It has been written that during the 1950’s, a small breed dog from Madagascar began to appear in Europe. This occurrence would seem logical since Madagascar was a colony of France at the time. During the late 1960’s the Societe Canine de Madagascar sought breed recognition from the Federation Cynologique International (FCI). By 1971 the Coton de Tulear was recognized as a separate breed in Madagascar, with the establishment of the first, original breed standard. |
 |
|
The Malagasy Kennel Club held this early FCI Standard. In the same year, another version of the FCI Coton de Tulear Standard was adopted in Europe. The primary discrepancy between these two versions is in regards to coat color. The Malagasy Kennel Club’s published FCI Standard allowed for some coat color, including white with black markings in its Coton description. |
||
 |
Cotons made their debut in the USA in the mid 1970’s. By the late 1970’s, a somewhat different breed standard was written by Dr. Jay Russell. However the FCI description of a Coton de Tulear has remained the standard by which Cotons are judged at shows worldwide. |
|
During the latter part of the 1980’s, legislation was proposed to preserve and protect the Coton de Tulear as a purebred dog in Madagascar. The future law restricted the exportation of Cotons. Only two Cotons may be taken out of Madagascar by an individual with Malagasy residency. Due to political instability in Madagascar, European residents, prior to the enactment of the legislation, brought many of the best examples of the Coton de Tulear breed back to Europe. |
 ©Haroldo Castro/CI |
|
 ©Haroldo Castro/CI |
Eventually without the presence of the European community within Madagascar, market interest in the development of the Coton de Tulear collapsed. Malagasy breeders gave their puppies to friends, neighbors and relatives. Neuter and spay procedures were life-threatening surgeries in underdeveloped Madagascar. Thus the Cotons bred freely with other native dogs inhabiting the island. Unfortunately today, it is quite difficult to find a purebred Coton de Tulear in Madagascar. |
|
| We gratefully acknowledge Henry Kaiser for permission to use Malagasy music from A World Out of Time, Vol. 2 and Conservation International for their Madagascar photographs by Haroldo Castro. | ||
Sources: Coreen Savikko who lived and worked in Madagascar from 1987 to 1991 Note: An explanation of the Coton de Tulear breed standards can be found on the American Coton Club website. |
||
© Tiger Lily and Harley Watercolor Portrait by Carol Lee Porter |
||
 |
||
Home | Welcome | Our Cotons | Puppies | About Us | Puppy Update | Breed History | Contact Us | Links |
||
