Coton Tzu Breed Information & Characteristics

While no dogs are truly 100% hypoallergenic, Coton Tzus are about as close as it gets, making them an ideal pet if you are an allergy sufferer.

Active
Playful
Happy
Courageous
Intelligent
Friendly
Outgoing
Affectionate
Lively
Gentle
Trainable
Vocal

Coton Tzu dogs are low shedders. The coat sheds an average amount and doesn't require much care.

The Coton Tzu dogs are average watchdogs. If they sense something different, this breed will alert their owner.

​United States

Coton De Tulear, Shih Tzu

ACHC = American Canine Hybrid Club
DDKC = Designer Dogs Kennel Club
DRA = Dog Registry of America, Inc.
IDCR = International Designer Canine Registry®

Unknown

Brown

Black

White
Black
Cream
Brindle
Brown

The coat of a Coton Tzu is longer than that of the typical dog.

Straight

A Coton Tzu can have a litter of 4-6 puppies on average. However, it's worth noting that the size of the litters can vary greatly. Factors that can influence litter size include the health of the mother, breeding history, and genetics.

Coton Tzus are known for their adaptability and versatility, they are capable of adapting well to a wide range of lifestyle changes and living environments. They are a highly adaptable breed, and make great companions for families and individuals of all lifestyles.

The Coton Tzu is generally considered to be healthy. However, like all breeds, they are susceptible to certain health issues and it is important to keep an eye out for them and address them with your veterinarian as needed.

Patellar Luxation
Progressive Retinal Atrophy
Hip Dysplasia

Bladder Stones
Heart Disease
Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease
Liver Shunts

X-Rays
MRI
CT Scan
Physical Examination
Blood Work
Ophthalmic Examination

For those who lead a balanced lifestyle, Coton Tzus may be a good choice as they have an average energy level.

Coton Tzu have very high social needs. These needs include regular mental and physical stimulation, a job or purpose, and companionship. They thrive in environments where they have a lot of interaction with humans and other dogs.

The Coton Tzu dog requires a moderate amount of physical activity to maintain a healthy lifestyle. These breeds are ideal for people who have a moderate amount of time to devote to their pet and enjoy regular physical activity themselves. They also make great family pets as they have the energy to keep up with children and the temperament to be great companions.

The Coton Tzu breed is known for their relaxed and calm nature and tendency to sleep for long periods of time.

Coton Tzu dogs tends to bark less frequently than most other dogs. They tend to be quieter and less vocal than other breeds. They may only bark when necessary, such as to alert their owner of something or to communicate something. They do not bark excessively, and may not bark as much as other dogs in certain situations, such as when they are left alone.

Tug-of-war, Walk, Fetch, Nap

Coton Tzus are medium-energy dogs and typically enjoy socializing and playing casual or even sustained games of chase with other dogs. They may also have occasional periods of barking or racing around the house.

There's really no limit to how far you walk your dog as long as they're comfortable. For Coton Tzu, it's at least 9 miles / week. Just remember to build distance and stamina gradually over time.

In general most Coton Tzus usually need at least 35 minutes of exercise daily. This can be spread across the day and include all sorts of high-energy activities, like walking, running and playing.

This breed is known for having high grooming needs.

Ideally, Coton Tzu should be brushed at least 2 or 3 times a week (preferably daily) improve shedding.

Pin Brush
Slicker Brush
Dematter
Nail Clipper

For an average 9-16 pound (4 - 7 kg) Coton Tzu feed 1 cups daily. But, keep in mind, the amount you feed is going to be dependent on the quality of the food you are feeding.

The average cost of a Coton Tzu is somewhere $1.00 - $1.40 per day.

The average per month expenses of a Coton Tzu is between $35 - $42. This makes an average of $420 - $504 per year. It will be on the higher side when the dog is still small because it will need more frequent visits to the vet, shots.

Coton Tzus has average obedience intelligence. But, they're also independent thinkers. The Coton Tzu is a breed with an exceptionally high IQ and may get into mischief if left to their own devices.

This dog breed is more sensitive than others and easily overwhelmed by new surroundings and people. They need gentle handling and a calm, stable home environment with positive reinforcement training.

Coton Tzus are known for being excellent apartment dogs. They are fairly active indoors and will do okay without a yard.

Coton Tzus are average friendly dogs towards children.

Coton Tzus are very cat friendly dogs. They generally make good companions for cats.

Coton Tzus are very friendly towards other dogs. This breed typically have a happy and affectionate temperament around dogs.

Coton Tzus are friendly dogs and won't commonly bark at strangers. However, if you wish to change this, training them is easy. With their intelligence, teaching this breed to do anything is pretty simple.

Coton Tzus have an average level of playfulness. The Coton Tzus, like other dogs, like to play. But they are not the most playful dog breed.

Coton Tzu dogs are usually easy to train, but may require consistency to fully obey commands.