Coton de Tulear Puppy Checklist

Before Puppy Comes Home

Supplies, Grooming Setup, and Home Prep

The Coton de Tulear puppy is adaptable and easy-going, which makes the transition to a new home relatively smooth. The most important preparation involves grooming — establishing the right tools and routine early sets the Coton up for a lifetime of accepting brushing calmly.

Supplies Checklist

• Medium crate with soft blanket or dog bed (Cotons love to be cozy)
• Small food and water bowls — stainless or ceramic
• Adjustable harness and 4–6 foot lightweight leash
• ID tag with phone number
• High-quality small-breed puppy food (confirm with your breeder)
• Pin brush (the primary tool for the Coton coat)
• Wide-tooth metal comb for checking at the roots
• Detangling spray (diluted leave-in conditioner or commercial spray)
• Moisturizing dog shampoo and coat conditioner
• Enzymatic cleaner for accidents
• Small toothbrush and enzymatic dog toothpaste
• Soft pet facial wipes for daily tear stain prevention
• Durable but small toys — puzzle feeders, soft plush, and chew toys

Home Preparation

• Baby gate off stairs until the puppy is coordinated (small puppies can tumble on stairs)
• Remove or secure cords and small chewable objects within puppy reach
• Set up a designated feeding and sleeping area
• Research local groomers experienced with Bichon or Coton coats and book a puppy introduction appointment at 10–12 weeks

Vet Setup

• Find a vet experienced with small breeds
• Schedule first wellness exam within 48–72 hours of bringing the puppy home
• Discuss dental care schedule — start professional cleanings earlier rather than later
• Enroll in pet insurance immediately

First Week Setup

Routine, Brushing, and First Connections

The Coton is a naturally social, adaptable breed that typically settles into a new home quickly. The first week priorities are establishing routine, beginning grooming habits, and starting the socialization that builds a confident adult dog.

Day 1–2: Arrival

• Show the puppy its crate with a comfortable bed — place a worn article of your clothing for scent comfort
• Establish house-training schedule: outside after every meal, every nap, every play session, and every 2 hours
• Begin brief daily brushing on day one — a gentle, positive session of a minute or two with treats. Build duration gradually.
• Wipe the face, especially under the eyes, with a soft damp cloth to begin the tear stain prevention routine

Day 3–7: Building Habits

• Begin short harness walks in the neighborhood
• Invite 2–3 calm adults for friendly introductions with food rewards
• Handle feet, ears, and mouth daily
• Begin toothbrushing: let the puppy taste the toothpaste, then progress to brief brushing
• Complete first vet wellness visit
• Book puppy obedience class for the upcoming weeks

Socialization Priorities (Weeks 8–16)

• Varied adults and children — the Coton is friendly but benefits from broad early socialization
• Other friendly dogs — the Coton is naturally sociable and usually does well in group settings
• Novel sounds, surfaces, and environments
• Car rides — begin short positive trips to build car comfort
• Being handled by the groomer — introduce the puppy to the groomer for a "puppy intro" visit before the first actual groom

Training

An Easy Breed to Train — But Start Correctly

The Coton de Tulear is one of the easier small breeds to train. It is people-pleasing, motivated by food and praise, and does not have the stubborn independence of terriers or guardian breeds. Short, positive training sessions work extremely well.

Priority Commands

• Sit, stay, come, down: The Coton learns these quickly with consistent positive reinforcement. Work on them daily in short 3–5 minute sessions.
• Loose-leash walking: Begin with treats to encourage walking alongside you. The Coton is small but can pull if not taught otherwise.
• Leave it: Important for keeping the small dog safe from swallowing hazards.

Building Independence

• The Coton is a companion dog by nature and can develop separation anxiety if not taught to be comfortable alone. Build crate time with the dog at home from day one — stuffed Kongs are excellent for this.
• Practice regular short departures and calm arrivals. Do not make a production of leaving or returning.

Fun Training

• Cotons love learning tricks — spin, roll over, high five. This is an excellent breed for trick training and it provides mental stimulation that the breed needs.
• Consider agility or rally obedience when the puppy is old enough — the Coton's combination of athleticism and trainability makes it a natural.

Grooming Acceptance Training

• This is the most important training task specific to the Coton: building calm acceptance of being brushed from day one. Every grooming session should be positive — treats during and after, calm voice, brief sessions that build in duration over weeks. A Coton that accepts brushing gracefully makes the next 15–19 years of coat maintenance genuinely pleasant.