Grooming Information

Coton de Tulear Grooming

This page provides comprehensive information on the grooming needs of the Coton de Tulear, including tips on hair care, nail care, and eye care. Regular grooming is crucial to maintain their appearance and prevent health problems, and this article emphasizes the importance of positive reinforcement and regular check-ups.

Grooming your Coton de Tulear

Grooming your Coton is an important part of their daily care. A quick brushing each day will allow your Coton to maintain his beautiful trademark coat with little or no hassle. Although the Coton is considered a non-shedding dog, the hair in their undercoat does come loose and will mat together if not brushed out frequently. Using the proper grooming tools that will reach down into the undercoat to remove loose hairs is key to keeping your Coton free of mats.

Brushes

Brushing is the most important aspect of grooming your Coton de Tulear. It helps to remove tangles and mats, and distributes the natural oils throughout the coat. You should brush your Coton’s hair at least once a day using a slicker brush. You can purchase my favorite slicker brush on this page. I love slickers because they make it easy to remove a mat without causing pain to your Coton. Start brushing the undercoat at the tail and work your way up. Be gentle and avoid pulling on the hair, as this can cause discomfort to your dog. Pay extra attention to the areas around the ears, legs, and underbelly, as these areas are prone to tangling. Use a comb to finish, just to make sure that you have gotten all the tangles in the undercoat.

We use a variety of tools to groom our dogs. Our first brush was a Mason Pearson nylon brush. That was back in 2004 and it is still in great shape. We have discovered that buying quality products may require quite an investment in the beginning but it is worth it in the long run. Currently, I’m using a boar’s hair/nylon brush. They are a must when blow drying your Coton after a bath.

Trimming

Coton de Tulear dogs have long hair around their eyes, which can obstruct their vision. You should trim the hair around the eyes using scissors or a clipper to prevent this from happening. Cotons are prone to eye infections if you don’t provide proper eye care, so it is important to check for signs of infection regularly. If you notice redness, swelling, discharge, or excessive tearing, take your dog to the vet to ensure that it is not an eye infection. You should also trim the hair on the paws, around the anus, and the tail to keep it clean and tangle-free.

Eye Care

Use a damp cotton ball or a soft cloth to clean around your dog’s eyes. Make sure to remove any discharge or debris that may have accumulated. You can also use a tear stain remover to prevent tear stains from forming around the eyes. Check out our Shopping Page for a good Tear & Saliva Stain Remover. There is a solution to help remove stains as well as a daily chew that will help prevent further staining. See a link on the right of this page.

Grooming Information