Stop The Madness!

[Moo]

I'm tired of seeing fake cotons de tulear all over the place!

Ah, coton de tulear = small white dog = $$$$$

And that's what happens. You get Bichon Frise, Lhasa Apso, Maltese, Shih-Tzu, Mini-Poodle, Havanese, Westies... Thrown into a pot, and the white ones are now Cotons de Tulear. And they have a price tag on them.

And what's worse? The people who PAY these idiots money! Then what? "This isn't the dog I was expecting." Well, you didn't buy the breed that you were expecting.

If the puppies are all white, they are not Cotons. If they are wiry, they are not Cotons. If the litter is small, they are probably not cotons. Come on! Do the research!

And with Cotons on AKC FSS, it got worse.

Stop ruining our breed!!!!

[Moo]

Breeder in Missouri:

You can't tell me that that is a Coton.

Coton in NY:

I ever see Jack Russel in that dog. How could you fall for that?


Nope.


I'm sorry, but that is NOT a litter of Cotons.

[GermanShepherds]

wow people actually think those are cotons? they look nothing like Kirby at all!
Theres mutts lol

[barnjess]

Those babys look like my JRT's did lol, do you have a pic of kirby to compare them too, I have never met a coton

[rutylr]

Cotons are very nice dogs.I have a friend who shows them here in WI.
It's like any breed.If it looks like one the people can sell it as one.
If it's black and tan it's a Rottweiler.
Donna

[LuvBones]

this might be long...but this post reminded about a nerve hit in me....

my very first post on this forum was about trouble at the dog park.... someone buying what they THOUGHT was one breed and was, most assuredly, NOT that breed!

Bones is dominantly Yellow Lab....a fine fine breed. Because characteristics are bred into dogs, many people choose those dogs based on those characteristics. when we found him at the shelter, we were assuming (rightfully so) that in bringing home a Yello Lab mix we would be bringing into our home (a) a dog that was energetic and needed a lot of exercise and love (b) a dog that was exceptionally smart as evidenced that Labs are working dogs like guide/therapy dogs etc... (c) a dog that had a friendly disposition to both humans and other dogs.... (d) mixed breeds tend to be hearty and not overbred, so we were not at all miffed that he is not a "full" lab....all assumptions have proven correct in our boy.

However, since Labs are so popular, they tend to be overbred, popular in puppymills, unscrupulous pet stores etc.....

At the dog park, we were happily playing along as usual and a lady approached with a dog that was snarling and barking and straining to get in and, well, EAT someone! this dog was a dark brown with a short, muscular build and bright blue eyes....and jaws like the jaws of death......you see where i'm goin' right?

"What kind of dog is that???" I inquired as I reached for Bones' collar..."Oh, it's a Lab," she asserted with confidence as she continued to approach the gate. "That is most certainly NOT a lab!" I groaned back as she assured me that once he got within the gates, he would be "just fine." I had read up on the Lab quite a bit to know my breed.....I would have put money this was NOT NOT NOT a Lab. But that's what the petstore had told her....so it MUST be true.....although that same (reputable???) store had sold a dog to her friend recently that had died within a week....

"You may have a Lab MIX," I answered, "but that Lab is mixed with Pit.....are you sure the dog park is the place for this dog?" But, again, she assured me he would be fine and let him off the lead and opened the gate.....and her dog lunged for my poor, friendly Bones and would have torn his face off had she not grabbed her dog by the tail and pulled him back. Thankfully, they left.....her muttering the whole way that she "just can't figure out what's wrong...Labs are usually so friendly......"

Say what you want about Pits.....they may be great with people, but they are bred NOT to be great with other dogs.....and their jaws are too powerful to take that risk when you are undereducated - as this girl CLEARLY was -

So....how important is being true to your breed...oftentimes VERY important! If a Coton lover is a Coton lover they are a Coton lover for a reason, right? I agree with Moo that people have a right to be educated about their companions and told the truth....that's one of the many factors which help us choose the right dog and cherish them for life....

sorry so long! Bones could have been VERY hurt that day...this really struck a cord.....

[littleLABgirl]

well if you really want a breed you would read up on them and have better sense than others

[whimzikal]

LUVBONES good story. I can relate. Our dog Buddy was a 'black lab' we only saw his chocolate mom who was a sweetheart! In the end, after putting him down at 2yrs of age due to AGGRESSION, we found out his dad was a fighting pit. They sold me and my then 5yr old son a dangerous dog. He was perfect until around age 1 or 1 1/2. The aggression started with unknown animals, then unknown people, then nearly all dogs and nearly all people. He went after my son and I knew what had to be done. Hardest thing I ever did in my entire life. I will have to fix the scanner so I can post his pics.
I do have mixes now, but I saw both parents and know exactly what went into them.

[RoughCollies]

I HATE PEOPLE!!! Those couldn't even pass as cross breeds, just plain mutts!!!!! I'm sure they could make great dogs, but they couldn't make great cotons, because they are not!

[whimzikal]

Oh as for the cotons.... what cotons? I can even tell they are not Kirby's kin!
#1 is a Maltese cross (probably poodle)
#2 is a Jack Russle crosse (probably poodle again)
#3 is a Bichon cross
#4 those are Maltese pups