Prices & FAQs

CotonDeTulearPups.com

PUPPY PRICES
$2,200 Pet/ Companion Male
$2,400 Pet/ Companion Female
$3,400 Potentially Breedable Male or Female

RATIONALE &
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Companion dogs are sold as pets to owners that have no intention of breeding. Companion dog owners are required to have the puppy spayed or neutered in order to maintain the breed standards, canine health, and avoid “accidental breeding.”

Are breedable dogs “better” than companion or pet quality dogs? No, however there are some differences. A breedable dog is considered more valuable because of the process it takes to become qualified. A companion dog is every bit as healthy and wonderful as a breedable dog, however. Some dogs are not able to be bred due to small disqualifications such as coloring, or the way that the teeth scissor, etc. Most of the differences are cosmetic, due to breed standards, not the vitality of the dog. In rare cases, a puppy may have a birth defect or some other unforeseen problem. These problems are handled on a case by case basis, but such puppy would not be considered breedable in order to avoid health issues in subsequent litters. Talk to the breeder or consult the breed web site: http://www.cotondogs.com for further details.

Why are females more expensive than males? For some reason, females tend to be more sought after.

Are the temperaments of males and females different? Yes and No. The personality and socialization of the puppies makes more of a difference than the gender, in my opinion. A puppy that is raised in a healthy and nurturing environment is confident, friendly and happy no matter the gender. Before being fixed, however, females do have mood swings upon their heat, and males tend to be more territorial.

What does “potentially breedable” mean?This is a term used upon the sale of a puppy because one does not know if a dog is actually breedable until it is about a year old, to ensure every standard is intact in the adult dog.

Do Cotons bark a lot? No, but they do bark. My experience is that they bark when there is a reason. My dog barks when a visitor comes to the door to alert us of someone’s presence, but after I open the door and everything is OK, the dog will quiet down and be friendly and loving. Sometimes if there is a gardener, cat or another animal outside a window I have to move the dog into another room to avoid a constant distraction, however Cotons are very teachable and want to please you.

Are Cotons good with kids? YES! This is why I was sold on them. I wanted a dog that would never, ever be aggressive with my children or visiting children. Besides the gnawing that every puppy does upon teething, I have never had a problem with kids. On the contrary, our dog has been dressed up, pushed in baby carriages, and read to. There has never been any sign of aggression at all, however, I do suggest being sensitive to a dog that has just given birth, or a dog that is very focused on his/her special bone, so as not to annoy the dog.

Why are Cotons so expensive?They are rare, and a healthy gene pool is fundamental to a healthy dog.  Puppies with breeders with club support have bred carefully with attention to a strictly enforced published Code of Ethics. It is much more expensive to maintain a healthy dog than to run a puppy mill. Puppies also require shots and vet care, and food, and a lot of time. Puppies that are confident and well socialized require the breeder to be on the job 24/7, it’s a labor of love with a personal commitment to exposing the puppies to children, crowds, cars, yards, stores, neighborhoods, vets, other pets, etc. You can read the Code of Ethics online and see how it helps protects you, the puppy, and the gene pool. A breeder must go to great lengths to avoid inbreeding. A breeder must pay for vet bills and stud fees.

What is a "Puppy Mill?" It’s a term used for “breeders” who are irresponsible and may have inhumane practices such as having many dogs and breed them over and over again without healthy breaks between litters. They breed on a large scale, and they may not have affiliations with upright clubs, or have founded their own club. They tend to have multiple dogs in a kennel-like atmosphere, where puppies are not socialized in the warmth of a human family. Puppy mills tend to have more health issues and communicable diseases and problems with the dogs because they are more like factories for puppies. Pet stores buy puppies from these puppy mills because they can depend upon the “inventory.”   Be wary of imported pets, or pets sold on street corners or pets bought from a broker, or those without club affiliations. It is illegal in this country to sell puppies that are younger than 8 weeks old, and there is a huge problem of puppies being "smuggled" over the Mexican border. These puppies are not only too young, but also bring in deadly diseases.

How do you socialize and care for your puppies? They live with our family! They are part of our day to day lives from the moment they are born. They are in a box in our bedroom for the first couple of weeks, and then they are moved to the kitchen where there is more room for interaction. We name them, and take care of them constantly. I do a load of puppy laundry every day! They nurse with mother until the day they go home at 10 weeks, and when old enough, they are given canned food and then kibble and chew toys (favorite toys are sent home with each pup.) They are given their first bath, here. It is a very bittersweet time whenever a puppy goes home, and the new owners (who are chosen with the utmost care) become part of our extended "family."

Puppies are handled by children and adults, and visitors of all kinds. They are allowed supervised run of the house and yard. People come over a lot more when there are puppies around! We take them to the vet and as many places as possible that are safe for puppies.

As an educator, I take the puppies to the local elementary school and teach the students all about canine health, puppies, dog breeding, and responsibility. The students get a chance to hold the puppies and the puppies get a chance to visit school.

Here is a note from Mrs. Meyer, a 4th grade teacher at Golden Hill Elementary School: "I wanted to thank you again for taking the time to bring in the puppies. The students really enjoyed the experience- a first for some, I'm sure. I also appreciated the information about breeding that you shared. It was very interesting."