General Grooming Information

These non-shedding, hypo-allergenic dogs have a beautiful fluffy long white coat which is its trademark. Its coat looks more daunting than it actually is. With regular care, the Coton coat is easy to maintain and grooming time can actually be a great bonding time for you and your dog.

If you start grooming your puppy as soon as you get him home, he'll get used to it at an early age and it will become a welcome time for the two of you to share.  Make sure to keep the sessions short and fun with rewards for good behaviour.

Since its coat is one of its most striking characteristics, maintaining good grooming habits is very important for the Coton de Tulear whether you do it yourself or choose a professional groomer.  Cotons that are kept as pets (not show dogs) are frequently trimmed into a “puppy cut” to keep the coat more manageable.  How ever you choose to keep your dog’s coat, keeping it clean and matt free will help the dog, and the owner, feel better. 

Grooming your dog allows time for noticing potential problems with the skin before they become serious.  It allows you to check for fleas, mites, ticks, and injury.  Grooming your dog can provide a soothing connection just as petting a dog has been proven to reduce stress in people.  You will also be able to find and clear matting hair while the problems are small before the mats increase in size to a point where shaving or cutting them out is the only resolution.  This is not something you want to do if you plan to keep their coat long as the short hairs as they grow out become a breeding ground for more matting.

Tools and Products

Before you choose the products you will use with your Coton, do your homework.  A responsible breeder will provide you with their recommendations of tools (brush, comb, pluckers, scissors, and clippers for hair and nails) and products (shampoo, conditioner, and grooming spray) for your consideration.  You need to know up front before you decide that this breed is right for you, that this breed’s coat is on the upper scale of maintenance.  If you are not willing to be dedicated to keeping their coat clean and free from tangles for YEARS, then you should check out another breed that would be more suitable to your needs.  

Bathing and Brushing

The frequency of bathing will be dependent upon the type and length of coat of your particular dog, the weather or season, and where the dog spends its time.  If you walk your dog in a more “wild” area, you need to beware of thistles, burrs, tag-a-longs, or “hitch-hikers”.  Also pine or spruce needles, twigs, and sticks will “hang out” in their coats and need to be carefully removed so as not to pull the coat or hurt the dog.  Dogs which are not being shown in the conformation ring will not require the same intense grooming regimen

As a rule of thumb, you should plan to spend about 3 hours every 2 weeks on an adult Coton's coat.  Considerably more time and frequency is required through the coat change time which begins around 9 months of age.  Even if your dog goes to the professional groomer, you will need to tend to some grooming in between visits.

Cotons are a breed whose grooming needs can be completely met by the owner if they choose.  If it is preferred, a dog groomer may be a lifesaver as well.  You will simply need to weigh out what is best for you.  Often time and money are the deal makers or breakers in this decision process.  If you opt to use a groomer, it will be worth your time to research and find one that is familiar with the Coton breed if you are aiming to retain a specific appearance.  Your breeder may be able to assist you in finding a suitable groomer in your area for your consideration.  If you opt to do the grooming yourself, talking to other Coton owners will give you some tips and there are books or videos available on grooming that may help as well.

Where did that tangle come from?  The more you get to know your Coton, the more you will know how those tangles are created.  Leaving anything on the dog such as a collar or coat will cause the hair to tangle in itself.  Put the collar on the dog only when you are going for a walk or need to leash them.  The places where people like to scratch or pet the dog may be an area of tangles too.  Check carefully behind their ears and around their neck.  Under their front and rear legs in the “arm pits” where the legs rub close to the body are other areas where the hair will tangle.  These are also very delicate areas on the dog and they will certainly complain if you pull at them too hard with a comb or brush.

Ears, Teeth, and Nails

Make a point of ensuring your dogs’ ears are kept clean, free of wax, and the internal ear hairs plucked.  The toe nails need to be kept short for the comfort of the dog walking.  Get your puppy used to having their feet touched at a young age to make nail trimming easier through their entire life.  Don’t forget their teeth!  Brushing their teeth does not need to take a long time, but it is important to the health of their teeth, gums, and overall health to maintain them.  It will also make those puppy kisses less stinky!

Stains

What are those dreaded reddish-brown stains???  If your dog was naturally reddish-brown, you wouldn’t notice them as much, but on a white dog?  Oh my!  You will find varying degrees of colouration around their eyes, beards, and paws (usually between the pads on their feet).  There is a ton of theory and reading out there on this issue and many products available to help treat or prevent this staining. 

Your first course of action should be to use stainless steel or glass bowls for their food and drinking water (not plastic).  Their food should not contain any added colouring and their water should be free from contaminants that would contribute to staining (such as high levels of iron).  Depending on your water supply, it may be worthwhile investing in a filtration system.  This can be as simple as a “Britta” water jug or tap attachment. 

Other natural remedy suggestions include using a little raw apple cider vinegar in their drinking water or feeding them small amounts of yogurt each day may to help neutralize the acids in their gut which can cause the colour. 

Washing around their eyes and mouth daily with clear water and combing out the “goop” from the corners of their eyes is also a good idea.  An easy way to get the goop from their eyes is to use a flea comb, clean/new mascara brush, or an eyelash comb.  If it is really wet, you may also try applying a little cornstarch using a small makeup brush to dry it before removing it (taking extra care to not get any directly into the dogs eye).

A common theory is the redness is a yeast fungus and you may notice it more when your dog is teething than when they are an adult.  If the stains are very bad and you are concerned about getting rid of them (remember the stains are not physically harmful to the dog), it is suggested that you speak to your vet, an ophthalmologist, or other Coton owners about what else can be done.  The colouration may be due to plugged tear ducts which would require medical assistance to clear them.

Some over-the-counter products may be helpful, and some work better on one dog than another.  If you choose this route, it could take some trial and error to get it to the point where you are content with it.  Just keep in mind that the Coton coat is fragile and use of harsh products or chemicals may damage their coat or their eyes.  Always err on the side of caution.

Alika Tia Dogs

Grooming assistance is one of the benefits we offer to our puppy buyers.  Whether it's some direction and advice you need, some hands on training, or someone to take care of the grooming a few times to help keep the coat on the road to beauty.  If you are one of the Alika Tia family and need my help, call or email me and we will get what you need done.

For puppy buyers we include an extensive Grooming Kit.  This kit is filled with my favourite shampoos, conditioner, brushes, combs, a shammy, mixing bottles, nail clippers, toothbrushes, hair elastics, and other bits.  Since the items that I love and use come from a variety of stores, show sites, e-stores, and even overseas, this makes it an easy way to get the tools that every Coton owner needs.