How long does a Coton de Tulear live?

The listed lifespan for a Coton de Tulear is 15–19 years.

How tall is a Coton de Tulear?

The listed height for a Coton de Tulear is 10–11 in (male), 9–10 in (female).

Is a Coton de Tulear good with children?

The AKC good-with-children score for a Coton de Tulear is 5 out of 5.

When is a Coton de Tulear full grown?

The growth size band for a Coton de Tulear is 8–12 months.

Non-Sporting Group

Coton de Tulear

Coton de Tulear is a small dog in the Non-Sporting Group. Adult weight is 9–15 lb (male), 8–13 lb (female), height is 10–11 in (male), 9–10 in (female), and the listed lifespan is 15–19 years. AKC describes the temperament as Charming, Bright, Happy-go-lucky.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Coton de Tulear dog — Photo: Jean · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Lifespan15–19 years

Weight9–15 lb (male), 8–13 lb (female)

SizeSmall GroupNon-Sporting Group

Height

10–11 in (male), 9–10 in (female)

Energy

3 / 5

Shedding

2 / 5

Grooming

4 / 5

Trainability

4 / 5

Good with kids

5 / 5

The breed record

Across 45 single-size small breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 17 years is about 3.4 years longer than the 13.6-year average. A midpoint adult weight of 11.5 lb is about 4.5 lb lighter than the 16 lb average for those small breeds.

The listed origin is Madagascar. The coat is described as wavy, double, long. The AKC energy score is 3 out of 5, 0.5 points below the group average of 3.5 for the Non-Sporting Group. Shedding scores 2 out of 5, so loose hair is limited. Grooming scores 4 out of 5, so a professional schedule is realistic. Trainability scores 4 out of 5, which is a biddable score. Good with children scores 5 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 5 out of 5. AKC ranked this breed number 79 in 2025.

Adult size is usually reached in 8–12 months (size-band statement (Salt et al. 2017): very small dogs reach maturity at 8-12 months). AKC parent-club recommended health screenings: Patella Evaluation, Hip Evaluation, Cardiac Exam, and Ophthalmologist Evaluation. These are screening tests, not a list of diseases the breed is guaranteed to develop.

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