Coton Tzu Puppies for Sale

Coton de Tulear crossed with Shih Tzu

The Coton Tzu brings together two small companion breeds with a lot in common. The Coton de Tulear comes from Madagascar and carries a soft, cotton-textured single coat. The Shih Tzu comes from the palace dogs of China and Tibet and carries a long, dense double coat. Both were bred to sit with people, and neither has a working background pulling it in another direction.

The result is a small dog with a plush coat and a generally relaxed outlook on life.

What to expect from the temperament

Owners of this cross tend to describe the same things: affectionate, unhurried, sociable with visitors, and content to be wherever the household is. It is a dog that follows you to the kitchen, settles under the desk, and reappears the moment you pick up a leash.

Both parents are playful into adulthood, so expect some silliness. Neither is a high-drive breed, so the play tends to be short bursts rather than sustained intensity.

The coat is the commitment

This is the part to be clear-eyed about. Both parents carry long coats that grow rather than shed out, and the combination needs regular hands-on work.

Brush every day or every other day, working in sections and following with a metal comb to find the tangles a brush glides over. Mats form fastest behind the ears, in the armpits, around the collar, and on the rear. Professional grooming every four to six weeks keeps things manageable.

A shorter puppy clip is a very reasonable choice, especially in Florida. It keeps the dog comfortable, cuts brushing time considerably, and still looks like the dog you fell for.

Keep the hair around the eyes trimmed so it does not rest against them, and wipe the face daily.

Warm-weather notes

If your puppy inherits a shorter Shih Tzu muzzle, adjust for the heat: walk in the cool hours, keep sessions brief in high summer, and give the dog a cool spot indoors during the hottest part of the day.

Training and daily life

Exercise needs are light. A daily walk and some indoor play is enough for most, which makes this a practical apartment dog.

Training works best in short, cheerful sessions with food. Housetraining takes a consistent schedule rather than cleverness, and small dogs need more frequent trips outside than people expect. Teach settling on a mat and being alone in small doses from the beginning.

Come and see them

Coat texture varies between individual puppies in this cross, and it is the sort of thing your hands tell you faster than a photograph. Our Coton Tzu puppies come from our licensed breeders.

Visit our Orlando or Nashville store to meet them. Directions and hours are here, and we can talk through payment plans while you are with us.