The Poo-Ton is a cross between a Coton de Tulear and a Poodle. Technically, only a mix between a Coton de Tulear and a Miniature or Toy Poodle can produce a Poo-Ton; and not the larger varieties of Poodle.
Poo-Tons make fantastic family pets as well as loyal companion dogs for elderly owners.
These heart-meltingly gorgeous designer pooches are fun-loving, playful pets who weigh between 8 to 15 pounds and stand at no more than 12 inches tall to the withers.
They have medium to long coats which can either be curly or wavy. Poo-Tons have a light-colored coat which is usually white, lemon, apricot, or sable but it can also sometimes be gray, brown, or black.
What Is A Coton De Tulear And Poodle Mix Called?
Since the Poo-Ton is not an officially registered breed with the American Kennel Club (AKC) there is, strictly speaking, no correct name for them!
As a result, although they are usually referred to simply as a Poo-Ton, they also go by several other names:
- Doodle-Ton
- Contondoodle
- Cotonpo
Temperament And Characteristics Levels
Poo-Tons inherit the high energy levels of their Poodle parent and the low to medium energy levels of a Coton de Tulear. Consequently, they have moderate levels of energy.
They love to play in the yard and chase a ball however due to their small stature they really don’t need a huge amount of exercise compared to a larger dog. Even so, they are surprisingly energetic for such a tiny lap dog.
Are Poo-Tons Friendly?
Absolutely! Poo-Tons are extremely friendly, loyal, and affectionate dogs that make wonderful companions. They love to be the center of attention and are quick to accept new dogs and humans into their lives.
In fact, Poo-Tons are so friendly that they suffer from separation anxiety if they are left alone for too long; so they really do prefer to have constant company.
Do Poo-Tons Get Along Well With Other Pets?
Poo-Tons can easily be introduced to other pets and whether it’s a dog, cat or even a parrot, your Poo-Ton will get along great with them!
Of course, just like any puppy, a Poo-Ton needs to be properly socialized when it’s young to ensure that you don’t have any problems with aggression when they grow up.
Are Poo-Tons Easy To Train?
Poo-Tons are highly intelligent dogs; a trait which is inherited from both their Poodle and Coton de Tulear parents.
Due to their intelligence, Poo-Tons are extremely easy to train and what’s more, they enjoy learning new tricks!
To help with their training you should make sure they have a nice range of toys to play with when they’re young.
This helps to keep them engaged with your training sessions and makes it more fun for both you and your puppy.
Are Poo-Tons Playful?
While Poo-Tons make great lap dogs they also have a playful, slightly mischievous streak. This means that they will quickly adapt to their owner’s lifestyle.
If they are brought up with a young family they will be much more playful than if they are living with an elderly owner.
Do Poo-Tons Need A Lot Of Exercise?
Due to their small stature Poo-Tons don’t need a huge amount of exercise. A moderate 20-30 minute walk each day is plenty for them although they can certainly handle more than that!
The minimum exercise that a Poo-Ton should get is between ½ a mile to 1 mile of walking per day. They also enjoy running around in the yard, chasing a ball, or playing with toys in the house.
Are Poo-Tons Hypoallergenic?
Poo-Tons are one of the most hypoallergenic breeds out there. This means they are a good choice for owners who have allergies or sensitive skin.
The reason for this is because both Poodles and Coton de Tulear are hypoallergenic and so Poo-Tons always inherit this useful trait.
How Much Do Poo-Tons Eat?
Poo-Tons are small dogs and so you won’t need to spend a fortune when it comes to food and treats! When you’re buying food for your Poo-Ton, always make sure that you buy high-quality kibble and meat that doesn’t have a lot of fillers or artificial additives.
Each day a Poo-Ton needs between 1 and 1 ½ cups of kibble. It’s best to split their food up into two meals each day, one in the morning and one in the evening.
You can supplement this with healthy snacks and meat treats to give them a more rounded diet. If you buy your pet food in bulk it should cost no more than $25-$35 per month.
How Much Does A Poo-Ton Cost?
A Poo-Ton puppy will usually cost between $500 to $1500.
CotonWiki
The price of a Poo-Ton puppy will vary depending on its parents. If the puppy’s parents are both purebreds then the price will be higher than if it’s a 2nd or 3rd-generation pup.
The reputation of the breeder is the other main factor that will influence the price of a puppy.
The Background Of The Coton de Tulear And The Poodle
Coton de Tulear
Coton de Tulears are originally from the island of Madagascar off the coast of Africa.
A small group of Coton de Tulears are thought to have escaped a shipwreck and swam to safety on the shores of the island.
Once they arrived on the island, they bred with the local dogs and the resulting puppies came to be known as the Coton de Tulear.
Poodle
The Poodle originated in either France or Germany and was bred to be a hunting dog that would retrieve wildfowl from lakes.
Their thick, curly coat helps to keep them buoyant in the water while their slightly webbed paws help them to swim quickly in the waters of lakes and rivers.
This makes Poodles one of the best swimmers in the canine kingdom and they love nothing more than splashing around in the pool!
The Coton de Tulear – What Are They Like?
The Coton de Tulear is a small dog that weighs between 7-14 pounds and stands at 8-12 inches at the withers.
They have fluffy, medium to long coats that are either white, gray, black, tan, or sometimes tri-colored.
Coton de Tulears have short legs, big friendly eyes, and cute little noses.
The Poodle – What Are They Like?
The Poodle breed is divided into four categories based on their size; the Toy Poodle, Miniature Poodle, Medium Poodle, and the Standard Poodle.
Toy Poodles stand at roughly 9-11 inches at the withers while a Standard Poodle is much larger at 18-24 inches tall.
All Poodles have thick curly coats which can be white, black, blue, gray, cream, apricot, sable, or brindle.
What Does A Poo-Ton Look Like?
Poo-Tons are sweet toy dogs that have short to medium-length coats which are either white, lemon, sable, apricot, gray, brown, or black.
Their coats are either wavy or curly and they often have a little mustache over their mouth.
Poo-Tons have slightly stubby noses, floppy ears, and big black eyes. They have a fairly solid stature with short legs and a square head.
Comparison Of Coton De Tulear And Poodle
Coton de Tulear Pros & Cons
Pros
- Friendly, kind, and good-natured.
- Intelligent dogs that are easy to train.
- Extremely loyal.
- Safe around children and other dogs.
- Low maintenance pet that doesn’t need much exercise.
- Hypoallergenic coats – ideal for owners with allergies or sensitive skin.
- Long life expectancy of between 12-14 years.
- A very healthy breed of dog with very few underlying medical conditions.
Cons
- Can often suffer from separation anxiety.
- Their coats require regular grooming.
- Prices for a puppy can be quite expensive.
Poodle Pros & Cons
Pros
- Easy to train and enjoy learning new things.
- Don’t mind being left alone at home (while you’re at work) and they won’t howl or cry while you’re away.
- Poodles are hypoallergenic and don’t shed.
- Loyal, friendly, and trustworthy companion dogs.
- Great with children and other animals – they make ideal family pets.
- Very long life expectancy of up to 18 years.
- Not an aggressive breed.
Cons
- Both puppies and adults can take a long time to initially adapt to a new home.
- Suffer from hereditary medical conditions such as hip dysplasia, gastric torsion, thyroid issues, progressive retinal atrophy, and eyelid & skin problems.
- Their coats need regular grooming to avoid it getting clumpy and knotty.
- Very high-energy dogs that need a lot of exercise.
- Can be sensitive to loud noises and become distressed; for example, by building works or home repairs.
Why Mix Breeds?
Cross-breeding animals has been going on for centuries. In the earliest days, the practice was mainly used in agriculture so that farmers could get the most out of their livestock.
For example, a farmer might mix different breeds of cattle to get more milk from their cows or mix chicken breeds to get hens that lay more eggs!
However, different breeds of dogs have been mixed for generations as well to produce specific characteristics in the resulting offspring.
For example, the Bulldog was first bred in England to be a fighting and guard dog whereas the Pug was bred to be a lap dog in the Royal Courts of Ancient China.
Mixing Dog Breeds – What Are The Benefits?
As a general rule, breeds are mixed to create new types of dogs which have more favorable temperaments, unique physical characteristics, improved health, and increased longevity.
Another reason that breeds are mixed is to bring together two breeds that are already popular. This is done to create new ‘designer’ breeds of dogs, and although they are not initially recognized by the AKC they are favorites among dog owners.
The Poo-Ton – A Modern Designer Breed
A perfect example of a designer mixed breed is the Poo-Ton. The Poo-Ton brings together the positive characteristics and temperament of the Poodle and the Coton de Tulear; both of which are already hugely popular in their own right. In this way, you can get the best of both parent breeds in one dog!
The Poo-Ton has the fun-loving, energetic temperament of its Poodle heritage while retaining the cute face and lap dog potential of the Coton de Tulear breed. Importantly for allergy-prone owners, Poo-Tons are also hypoallergenic because both of their parents are too.
Poo-Tons are also friendly and welcoming of new people into their lives which makes them more adaptable to new situations; much like their Coton de Tulear parents. However, they also inherit the habits of separation anxiety from the Coton de Tulear; something which is not an issue with Poodles. This means that they prefer to have company all the time and are not well suited to owners who will be out of the house a lot.
The Poo-Ton’s lifespan, of up to 16 years, is also inherited from both its parental genetic lineage. This is a great advantage for the breed because many other small dogs do not live as long as a Poo-Ton which can be very sad for their owners.
Poo-Tons Are The Ideal Family Pet And Companion
Poo-Tons make wonderful family pets who are safe around children and loyal to their owners.
They love to play in the park or with toys at home but don’t need a ton of exercise.
This means they are a relatively low-maintenance breed that can quickly adapt to their new life with you.