This cache is placed in honor of my Coton de Tuléar dog, Delilah who is my constant companion. It is placed near a self-service dog wash and can hold small TBs.
The Coton de Tuléar is a breed of small dog named for the city of Tuléar in Madagascar and for its cotton-like coat. The coton is a non-shedding breed with low dander. It generally has very soft hair (as opposed to fur), comparable to a cotton ball (hence its name in French, coton meaning cotton), a prominent black nose, large expressive eyes (usually covered by bangs), and somewhat short legs. The Coton de Tuléar's tail should curl over its back like some other dog breeds. The average life span of a Coton de Tuléar is 14 to 19 years.
The Coton is a playful, affectionate, intelligent breed. Although generally quiet, it can become very vocal -- grunting, barking, and making other noises when having fun. Cotons are known to have a habit of jumping up and walking on their hind legs to please people. Most Cotons love meeting new people and are very curious in new situations. Cotons are easy to train as they are very eager to please. Cotons are great with kids and other animals. The Coton de Tuléar has a large-dog personality much like the Lab. Cotons love to swim, run, and play.
They adapt well to any kind of living environment. A common trait of the Coton de Tuléar behavior is to come alive in the evening. The Coton de Tuléar has few health issues compared to many other breeds due to being rather generic in type. It is a fairly rare breed. The Coton de Tuléar developed on the island of Madagascar and is still the island's national dog. It is believed that the Tenerife dog was brought to Madagascar and mated with a dog of the island, creating an unexpected result.
The Coton's ancestors were possibly brought to Madagascar in the 16th and 17th centuries aboard pirate ships. Madagascar was a haven for pirates and pirate graveyards can still be seen there. Pirates established a base on St. Mary's Island, Madagascar and some of them took Malagasy wives. Whether the dogs were brought along to control rats on the ships, as companions for long voyages, or were confiscated from other ships as booty, no one knows.
Congrats go to NC DAV GUY for FTF!