6-15 lbs
8-12"
United States
The Cotonese is a mix between the Coton de Tulear and the Maltese. While names are very complicated, the hybrid dog itself is quite easy to understand. The Cotonese is an energetic, eager to please, loving little ball of white fluff who wants nothing more than to be right by your side at all times. Now, as a hybrid breed, it’s hard to tell exactly which personality traits will be the most dominate.; however, it is safe to say that the Cotonese is a great blend of both an energetic side and a loving cuddly side. His appearance is that of a cotton ball, white and fluffy with a dense and curly coat. The coat may appear as a cream color on most dogs, but usually white is the most common color. Dark black eyes and a little black nose are nestled in the fluffy nest of a face and are full of life with a little bit of a sleepy, cozy feeling. This hybrid dog will make a wonderful companion for any home with children and other pets as they get along well with everyone. Just keep in mind that even though they are small, they will still need to get their energy out in one way or another, so a yard or close by park would be great to have on hand.
Although we don’t have much information about the Cotonese’s origin story, due to it being a relatively new hybrid breed, we do know quite a lot about his parent breeds and where they came from. The Coton de Tulear, for instance, originates from Tulear in Madagascar. Just like many of his Bichon cousins, the Coton de Tulear was much loved for his portability and wizened old man expression. These little dogs were used as companions for decades and even as ratters on ships at sea. It wasn’t until the 1970’s when a Frenchman who was visiting Madagascar discovered the Coton and brought a few back to France. He then set out to establish the breed and it wasn’t long until the white dogs were brought over to North America. He is now a faithful companion who will follow you anywhere, whether that place is just lying by your feet or to your local Starbucks, it doesn’t matter to him. The Maltese, who are named after their home in Malta, actually has many different names. A few examples of such names would be the Melitae dog, Ye ancient Dogge of Malta, Roman Ladies dog, the Comforter, the Spaniel Gentle, and the Maltese Lion Dog. Each of these unique names do a wonderful job of reflecting the personality of these dogs. One of the most well-known duties of the Maltese was as a “comforter” to the sick people of Egypt and later, the Europeans. People believed that they had healing properties and would even go so far as to lay the little dog on the pillow of an ill individual. Nowadays, the Maltese still make excellent comforters and companion dogs as well as partake in shows all over the world.
As a hybrid breed, the appearance of the Cotonese may vary greatly even within the same littler. While the pups may be very close in color, being that the Cotonese coat is only ever in a white or cream color, the length or the coat and amount of curl may be different. Both parent breeds have very long, beautiful, and soft white fur that takes a lot of grooming to keep looking fabulous. Their ears are hidden within the longer fur and their dark eyes and nose are the only thing that really stands out in all the white. The Cotonese is no different, having dark eyes and a little dark nose in a sea of white; however, this breed does tend to have the ears more visible as the hair is not as long. The dense coat of the Cotonese is great for keeping him warmer in cold weather, but he may overheat easily, so a mild temperature is preferable.
Because both parent breeds of the Cotonese require quite a bit of maintenance in order to keep their coat in check, you can expect that the Cotonese is going to need a bit of upkeep. Thankfully, this breed does not shed often and is hypoallergenic; so he is a perfect fit for anyone who doesn’t want to deal with a lot of loose hair! Brush your dog at least three times a week with a metal comb to remove any knots that may be forming in the hair and any dirt that may be trapped in the coat. This frequent brushing will keep your Cotonese’s fur looking great. As this is a white-haired dog, bathing is going to need to be frequent if you want to keep that gorgeous white color clean. You may want to take the Cotonese to a professional groomer for this if you have the money, as a good grooming job every few weeks will do wonders for keeping their dense, curly coat in great shape. Besides brushing and bathing, be sure to clean your dog’s ears often and always dry them thoroughly, as trapped moisture within the ear can lead to ear infections. Trim the nails of your dog’s paws every few weeks or whenever you hear the nails clicking against the floor. This will help to ensure that the feet stay healthy and free of any tears that might snag and cause injury.
There is no doubt that with parent breeds like the Coton and the Maltese, the Cotonese is bound to be a total sweetheart. While he can be energetic and playful at times, this breed is really great at being a constant silent companion who is perfectly happy to lay at your feet while you work. Even-tempered and down for anything, the Cotonese is happiest when he gets to be with you; being left alone is very difficult for this breed, so because he is really small and portable, it may just be a good idea to take him with you when you can. Thankfully, due to his intelligence and laid back attitude, the Cotonese is very easy to train and his eagerness to please you will just make the entire experience really enjoyable. This breed doesn’t have a tendency to bark, but you may hear a few little yips from him when excited or noticing something new. This is a great dog to consider if you are someone looking for a companion dog. They are excellent with children and other pets, but may be a bit wary of strangers. The Cotonese will do really well in any size of home due to the fact that he is happy wherever you are, however it would be a good idea to have a location where he can get a bit of exercise outside just to keep him in shape.
While the Cotonese is a great apartment dog that doesn’t mind being inside, he will still need to release some of his energy from time to time. A great way to do this is through training, a long walk, or through playing with toys in the yard. Being tired both mentally and physically is a great way to keep a dog from being destructive in boredom, so always be sure to pair training with playtime in order to use the energy positively. Early socialization is key to being able to take your dog to places like parks in order to play with other dogs and not have any aggression towards strangers, so be sure to socialize your Cotonese at a young age. Forty-five minutes to one hour, a couple times a day should be enough physical activity to keep your Cotonese healthy and happy and walks don’t need to be more than a couple of miles at a time. Be sure to bring water along if it is a hot day, as this breed may overheat easily due to his dense coat.
Written by Loreziel Ortega
Published: 10/17/2017, edited: 02/24/2021
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