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From its glorious name Coton de Tulear, one can readily assume a cottony soft and silky smooth fluffy coat for this dog. But that's not all there is to it because this miniscule canine creature is also very funny, charming and every bit an entertainer. Though this dog has only been introduced to the West two decades ago, this royal dog of Madagascar is undoubtedly one of the newest breeds to watch out for.

It was a visiting doctor whom discovered the existence of this cuddly little dog in the island of Madagascar. Before long, the breed was traveling towards United States and Europe. During the many decades of seclusion in the island, the Coton lived among the rich people of the society.

This fluffy little breed, like other Bichons, is adorable and aristocratic in its stance and is every bit French in its facial expressions. Its standard colors are white and black, pure white, and tri-color which is a combination of white, black and brown. Its body is covered with long, soft-as-a-cotton fur all over, even its little agile feet.

The Coton is one breed that commands regular grooming and cleaning in order to maintain the health and beauty of its low-shedding hair. The hair should be constantly brushed and combed in order to remove the dead ones and the excess growth on the inner ears and foot pads should be trimmed. Once or twice a year, the Coton should be bathed.

Having a Coton for a pet is certainly a great joy because this breed loves to entertain and please its master and other people. Often, it performs tricks which are self learned including standing, walking and jumping with its two feet. It is also a very amiable dog as it gets along quickly with other dogs and animals especially children.

This dog is always happy, gentle and affectionate and rarely whines or complains. It is very devoted and attached to its master that's why it is prone to separation anxiety when the master has to be away. But even though this dog is small, it is smart, independent and very trainable.

It is also alert and in fact is good as a watchdog. This dog has an innate stubbornness thus sometimes it won't listen to commands much. Moreover, this breed is also very vocal as it tends to give out a grunting sound whenever it is displeased or a cheerful noise whenever it is having fun.

The ancestors of the Coton are said to have been brought to Madagascar by pirates, the common inhabitant of the island then. Madagascar is a famous pirate island and these sea bandits usually come to this island to hide and stock their stolen treasures and this includes the Coton ancestors. The Coton lived in the island for centuries as a companion dog of the Merina tribe and is considered the island's national dog.