Coton De Tulear vs Australian Bulldog - Breed Comparison

These cute little Coton de Tulear dogs originate from Madagascar and have in fact been named the ‘official dog of Madagascar’.

The Coton de Tulear actually takes his name from the seaport city of Tulear. In the 1970s a Frenchman brought a puppy to France, with the idea of establishing them as a breed. It was also at this time that the dogs were brought to North America.

This small fluffy white dog was also found on the island of Malta, becoming known as the Maltese. They were mated with other dogs such as the Barbet, a curly haired dog and other coat colors exist such as apricot, black and white and fawn. Other breedings led to the Barbichon family of dogs which includes the Bichon Bolognese and the Bichon Teneriffe. The modern day breeds are the Maltese and the Coton de Tulear.

As with many dog breeds, there are different tales about the origin of the dogs and one version is that the white cotton-ball type of dog survived a shipwreck off the Madagascar coast.

The Australian Bulldog was bred from several breeds: The Bullmastiff, English bulldog, the English Staffordshire Bull Terrier and the Boxer. You will notice that his appearance is quite similar to the English bulldog, but this breed has a less-squished muzzle, fewer wrinkles and longer legs. They have great strength with a good thickness of the bone. They are solid and compact breed with good muscle tone.

The head structure of an Aussie Bulldog is one of its main attributes. It is very strong, square shaped with depth and width of muzzle less than a general bulldog. They have some wrinkle across the nose. Eyes are wide apart, large and clean. The jaw is wide and square, with strong teeth.

The name Australian Bulldog was given by Noel and Tina Green, the founders of the breed. They introduced Australian Bulldog to the public in 1998.

These little dogs make perfect companions. They stand about 25–30cm with the female sometimes being slightly smaller. They weigh anything between 3 – 6kg. They’re robust little canines and can live up to 19 years or so when looked after well.

If you want puppies, you can expect yours to deliver between 4 – 6 puppies.

The Coton de Tulear is easily recognized because of his soft, fluffy coat. Many people take their dogs to the dog salon to have him washed and his hair trimmed. His legs are short and straight as well as being muscled under the hair. The ears are floppy and the tail of the Coton de Tulear is carried straight or slightly curved.

Temperament:

The Coton de Tulear is a friendly, affectionate dog who has a gentle, cuddly side to him. They are social dogs and get on well with their human family and with the children in the home, loving the games they provide.

He will also get on well with other pets in the home and becomes amicable, relaxed and obedient with socialization and training. Small though he is, he makes a great watchdog too and is full of tricks, making him an entertaining pet to have around.

Australian bulldogs can be very good companions considering their natural loyalty. They just love to interact with humans and they are rarely aggressive.

They can be taught to be excellent watchdogs. The perfect place to raise this breed would be a house with a yard. The Australian Bulldog is usually dominant toward other dogs in its territory but, with proper training and early socialization, you can teach them to get along with other dogs and pets.

No matter if you are an active single, or you plan to bring an Australian bulldog puppy into the big family, as long as you are caring and loving toward him, he will be an amazing pet.

The Australian Bulldog is not recommended for apartment life. But, you can teach him to live in the smaller space if you tend to respect his daily need for activity. This breed is an indoor dog, and should not be left outside all day in a kennel. The best advice is to raise them in temperate climates since they can’t bear the extreme heat or extreme cold.

The Coton de Tulear just wants to please his human family and spend unforgettable moments with them, hating to be separated from them. He is such an adaptable little dog and will fit well into city- as well as country life.

He is smart, comical, playful, independent and fun to have around as he is known for his clownish personality. Treat him well and he’ll repay you with plenty of love and loyalty.

Around children

Australian Bulldog is a breed that will protect their family. They are great during the playtime with children as well. If you don’t have children, make sure you socialize your dog with children while he is still young.

Special talents

They are extremely intelligent. You can teach you Australian Bulldog almost everything in a very short time.

Adaptability

early socialization is a must with the Australian Bulldog.

Learning ability

you should start to train your Australian Bulldog as soon as possible. Positive reinforcement-based training methods are the ones you need to master in order to raise a good Australian Bulldog. They will be trained easily if there is a firm, consistent hand in training and they need leadership role from their owners. They can be taught very easy to be obedient and they love playing games like Frisbee, catch, water activities (but they swim very rarely because of their big and heavy chests), exploring the nature.

With proper care, your Coton can reach a ripe old age of 15 – 20 years of age. However, even this robust little dog will need to be watched, as he can fell prey to some common dog ailments -

Dental Disease:

Bad Breath with your pet can be a sign of dental decay. Dental plaque for instance, caused by bacteria, can give your pet a terrible breath. It is important to brush your pet’s teeth 2 or 3x a week. Your vet can provide tips on how to brush your pet’s teeth with a special canine toothbrush and toothpaste.

Other things to look out for are hip dysplasia and chronic allergies. Allergies can cause itchy and dry skin as well as ear infections because of so much hair being in the ear canal. Speak to your vet about how to clean your pet's ears to avoid ear infection.

Australian Bulldog has better health than the English bulldog and its health continues to improve with each generation.

Breathing problems

The pushed-in face causes harder breathing. Be aware that they can’t use the air to cool itself off as quickly as necessary. During the extreme heat, Australian Bulldogs can develop heat stroke and die from it.

Skin problems

Take special care of the wrinkles on their nose. They will require everyday care since wrinkles need to be cleaned and kept dry to prevent the skin infection. Bath the dog only when it is necessary because of too much bathing with soap damages the natural oils in its skin.

Obesity

The Australian Bulldog, on average, is fed two times a day. They have the high risk of obesity, so there is no real need for more than two meals. Make sure to choose a premium quality food and to feed the dog according to the instructions. Also, they need lots of fresh water since they will be super active pet.

Exercise:

Coton de Tulears will need some exercise if you want him to remain lean and fit. It is important to provide exercise and games for your dog to prevent boredom. Activity levels for any dog, including the Coton, will depend on his age and health.

A walk every day and some ball games will keep your pet happy and prevent him from resorting to destructive behavior from sheer boredom and frustration.

Grooming

The long coat will require some careful grooming and you will need to be on the lookout for excess hair around the paws and in the ears.

He is not a great shedder and brushing twice a week will remove loose hairs and provides the perfect opportunity to check for fleas and ticks.

Just like any other dog, your Coton de Tulear will need a warm, dry place to sleep. If you haven’t already invested in a doggy basket or dog bed, you can use a cardboard box for now, before making up your mind what you want for your pet.

Training:

A well behaved, obedient dog is a pleasure for everyone, and training and socialization is important, even for a small dog. Your dog will understand simple commands such as ‘sit’, ‘down’ and ‘come’ and also know how to walk well on a leash.

Feeding the puppy and adult: high-quality dog food for active dogs is a must. Do not overfeed them. If you are not sure about the amount of food your dog really needs, please consult a vet.

Grooming

The Australian Bulldog needs minimal grooming. They should be brushed at least once a week using a firm bristled brush. They shed a moderate amount on a regular basis so there will be loose hair to deal with. Make sure to clip the nails when necessary. They will need a tooth brushing two times a week and checking and wiping its ears once a week.

Points for Good Health: every day long walks, plenty of exercises, special skin care and regular vet check-ups.