The Coton de Tulear Breed Standard 

Utilization

Companion Dog

Classification FCI

Group 9 Companion and Toys, Section 1.2 Coton de Tulear without working trial.

Brief Historical Summary

Brought in France in 1977, this new-comer of the exotic origin has rapidly won a place amongst the small dogs; nowadays his fame has spread all over the world.

General Appearance

Small dog, suitable  for apartment, with long cotton-like coat and round expressive eyes.

Important Proportions

Ratio height at the withers to length of the body = 2 to 3    

Ratio length of the head to the length of the body = 2 to 5

Ratio length of the skull to length of the muzzle = 9 to 5

   Behavior/Temperament

A bit boisterous, merry and even a bit of a clown, very attached to his master.

Head: Description of the Whole

Seen in profile: short. Seen from above: triangular

Cranial Region

Skull: Upper profile convex. Width about 8.5 cm (3 3/8"), Superciliary arches slightly developed. Slight frontal furrow, occipital protuberance non existent. Occipital crest only slightly perceptible  Stop: Only slightly accentuated.

Facial Region

Nose: Small. Black, dark tobacco color tolerated. Open nostrils. Muzzle: About 6cm (2 3/8") in length, about 4.5cm   (1 3/4") in depth and about 5cm (2") in width. Nasal bridge straight. Lower jaw in straight line. Lips: Fine, tight, pigmented as the color of the nose. Teeth: Perfect, small and white; the lower incisors placed just forward, just behind, or level with the upper incisors. Eyes: Round, dark, bright, well set apart, pigmented with the color of the nose, eyelids fine. Ears: Hanging, about 6cm (2 3/8") in width, about 7cm(2 3/4") in length, thin, triangular, set high on the skull. Fine at the tip, bent at the base, covered with white hairs or with tints in the following three possibilities: 1)Yellow patches more or less dark. 2)Mixture of yellow and black hairs. 3)Some black hairs giving the impression of a light gray patch.  

  Neck

Profile: Straight. Slightly curved at the top. Ratio neck/body = 1/5. Length: About 8cm (3 1/8"). Shape: Bulging, muscular; width about 7cm (2 3/4") Skin: Tight

Body

Seen as a Whole: Upper line very slightly convex. Withers: Only slightly accentuated; set of neck, strong. Back and Loins: Very slightly arched, well muscled. Ratio thoracic lumbar part = 10/6. Belly and Loins: Round, less broad than the chest, belly hardly tucked up.

Tail

Set low, length about 18cm (7 1/8"), thick at the base, fine at the tip. When at rest goes down to below the hock with the tip curving upwards. 

 Forequarters

Seen as a Whole: Legs vertical seen from the front and in profile. Proportions: 1/1 Shoulder: About 10cm (4"), oblique, muscular. Upper arm: About 9cm (3 1/2"), oblique front to rear, muscled. Shoulder Blade Upper Arm Angle: 120 degrees. Forearm: About 10cm (4").Vertical. Powerful bone structure. Upper-Forearm Angle: 120 degrees. Pastern Joint: About 3cm (1 1/8"). Pastern: About 3cm (1 1/8"). Front Feet: About 3cm (1 1/8"), round shaped, small. Toes tightly closed., well formed, well centered and pigmented pads.  

Hindquarters

Seen as a whole: Legs vertical seen in profile an from behind. Proportion: 1/1 Upper thighs: About 10cm (4"), muscular. Coxal-Femoral Angle: 80 degrees. Lower Thighs: About 10cm (4"), oblique from front to rear. Femoraltibial Angle: 120 degrees. Hock Joint: Length about 2cm (3/4"), thickness about 3cm (1 1/8"). Angle of Hock: (tibial-tarsal); 160 degrees. Hock: Length about 7cm (2 3/4), width about 2cm (3/4"), vertical position. Hind Feet: Round shaped, toes with only slight accentuated curve, tightly closed, pads flat and pigmented.      

Movement

Walk: Normal. Trot: Shortened. Preferred pace: The trot.

Skin

Fine, well adherent in each part of the body. May be pigmented with gray, more or less dark patches.

Coat

Hair: Fine, about 8cm (3 1/8") log, slightly wavy, of cotton texture. Color: White, a few yellow or gray more or less dark patches, notably on the ears, are tolerated.  

Size and Weight

Size: MALES: 28cm ( 11"), tolerance up to 32cm (12 5/8") maximum and 25cm (9 7/8") minimum. FEMALES: 25cm (9 7/8") tolerance up to 28cm (11") maximum and 22cm (8 5/.8") minimum.  Weight: MALES: From 4 to 6kg maximum (8.8 to 13.2 pounds maximum). FEMALES: From 3.5 to 5kg maximum (7.7 to 11 pounds maximum)   

The weights are proportional in relation to the size but must not exceed the maximum. Example: A male of 28cm (11") at the withers should weigh approx. 5kg (11 pounds). A male of 32cm (12 5/8") at the withers approx. 6kg (13.2 pounds)

Type

The description from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.  

Faults

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree. 

Serious Faults

Muzzle: Too small or too thick. 

Skull: Flat or too bulging. 

Stop: Too marked or non-existent.

Nasal bridge: Arched.

Teeth: Not regularly aligned (incisors), carious teeth, serious prognathism (more than the thickness of the incisors.

Eyes: Light, set too close, entropian, ectropian, prominent, vicious look.

Ears: Too short, hairs too short, attachment narrow or too thick, straight. 

Back: Saddle back, too long

Rump: Horizontal, narrow

Chest: Badly developed

Neck: Too short, or too long, thin

Tail: Too long, too short, or rolled up, not enough furnishings, cylindrical. 

Shoulder: Straight

Legs: Turned in or out, close together or loose, too wide apart, barrel hocks or cow-hocks, bad angulation.

Thighs: Insufficient muscle, insufficient hair. 

Skin: Wrinkled, thick

Coat (hair): Too short, too long, curly, silky texture. 

Eliminating Faults (Disqualifications)

Nose with pink spots or patches, too light.

De-pigmented lips, pink spotted, lips heavy and drooping. 

Eyelids white, insufficiently pigmented, pink spots.

Tail rolled up or carried straight up (candle or flagpole), tail less.

Neck too long

Height and weight over the maximum.

Coat strongly marked with brown or pure black. 

N.B.

Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.