December 2009 The Coton Malgache Volume 9 Issue 4

Inside this issue:

The Coton Malgache

Coton Specialty 2009 2

Life in a CHI Pack 4

Ruffy’s Urine Specimen 6

About the CCTC 7

Puppy Photo Gallery 8

President’s Message

Karen Black CCTC President

Happy New Year! I am in disbelief that we are in 2010. Time just keeps zipping along and it seems, just like our mother’s told us, the older we get, the faster time goes. I hope everyone had a very happy Holi-day Season and that time spent with friends and family was joy-ous and fun. In December, I hosted a repro-duction seminar at my home which was well attended. We had a lot of fun and Marie-France has provided us with a write up and some photos of the event. We were very fortunate to have Dr. Philippe Pierson, DVM, Royal Canin Elite Breed-ers Team as our presenter, as he has returned to France as of

January 1st, ending a three year stay in Canada. I would like to find other educa-tional opportunities for 2010. I think they are fun and interest-ing! We will be holding a club sanc-tion match sometime in 2010 which is a part of our require-ments to be able to continue our show status with the CKC. And, of course, we will once again have a National Specialty. I would also like to see us have a regional specialty as well. I’d like to thank everyone on the board, and the club members who helped out in 2009. It’s nice to have everyone work to-gether for the common good of our dear Cotons! If anyone is interested or has ideas for an activity or event, please let one of our board members know. We look for-ward to working with you so that the club reflects your needs. All the best for 2010 … may you, your family, and your dogs have a healthy, prosperous year!

The Coton Malgache Volume 9 Issue 4 Page 2

During the show organized by the Canine Federation of Canada in Windsor, Nova Scotia, October 17 and 18 2009, the CCTC held its annual specialty. Saturday afternoon, 4 Cotons were ready to go into the ring with their owners. There were 3 males and 1 female:

2 in the puppy class 1 in the junior class 1 in the open class

It was Mrs. Suzanne Lavigne, a FCI judge from Montreal, who had the pleasure to judge our Cotons. Here are the results: - Best Junior and Best of Breed and Speciality: Dream du Do-maine de Polana – Breeder and owner: Marie-France Prayal

- Best Puppy for the Speciality: Monet du Domaine de Polana – Breeder: Marie-France Prayal – Owners: Lynne MacLellan and Marie-France Prayal - Winner female: Fuchsia of Swift Cotton – Breeders: Christian De-colvenaere-Tibbe – Owners: Louise Simard and Marie-France Prayal For this speciality, we received very nice donations. We would like to thank: - Lynne MacLellan who donated beds, participants gifts. She also prepared a very nice lunch for after the speciality. - Karen Black who donated a full page colour advertisement in Ca-nine Review. - The Canine Association of Nova Scotia who donated the ribbons

and the rosettes. - Marie-France Prayal who do-nated beds and the judge’s gift. Mrs Lavigne was very appreciated by all the participants. She was impressed by the quality of our Cotons. All the participants enjoyed being together, it was a great weekend!

Coton de Tulear National Specialty 2009 Windsor, Nova Scotia

Article and Photos submitted by Marie-France Prayal

Dream du Domaine de Polana with Monet du Domaine de Polana Best Jurnior/Best of Breed and Best Puppy

Suzanne Lavigne, Lynne MacLellan, & Monet

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Pictured from L to R: Lynne MacLennan Ms. Suzanne Lavigne, Specialty Judge Lorna Richardson Marie-France Prayal

Coton de Tulear Specialty 2009

Coton Malgache – Newsletter Survey Due to financial considerations, the CCTC Board is considering offering the Coton Malgache newsletter in an electronic format only. The cost of a printing and mailing a paper newsletter consumes a large amount of the organization’s budget. For example, an 8 page, colour newsletter costs $4.54 and $1.18 to mail in Canada for a total of $5.72 per issue. With 4 issues per year, nearly $23 of your annual membership fee in newsletter costs, leaving too small an amount to cover the club’s other expenses such as member-ship in the FCC/CFC and CKC, and sponsoring the annual Coton specialty. A survey of the membership was sent out by email in December. Thank you to all those who responded at this busy time of year. A total of 11 responses were received. Here are the results: 1. How do you currently receive the newsletter? Paper 8 Electronically 3 2. Are you in favour of an electronic-only newsletter? YES 11 NO 0 3. Would you be willing to pay an extra fee in order to receive a paper newsletter? YES 0 NO 11 4. Comments or suggestions I don’t have an issue saving the club some money but I’ll want to see some results from the redirected money. Perhaps an annual Financial Statement showing how the money has been spent. This statement must be issued before the Board asks for Renewals. It’s like a handshake. I will be fine with an electronic newsletter I am a strong supporter of receiving the newsletter electronically. It saves the planet and eliminates the need for costly and time consuming production, mailing and all the time and energy to produce it. That being said, I only read the newsletter in hard copy while I sit with a cuppa tea. I can’t spend much time reading stuff on a computer monitor and with a Newsletter – I like to ponder and pour over it a bit… can’t do that as well on a computer My only suggestion might be to give people a choice and charge the ones who want it in hard copy the increased cost to receive it that way. Not everyone even has a computer so I think we need to accommodate those people but with some limits. I would limit my suggestion to a simple colour printing of the electronic newsletter on regular paper and not a hard copy production on special stock paper etc. That would reduce both the printing and postage costs significantly and would not incorporate any layout or pro-duction costs.

The Coton Malgache Volume 9 Issue 4 Page 4

*as told by Lynne MacLellan, an enthusiastic and experi-enced Chihuahua breeder (minegoldmissy@hotmail.com) with “MONET”, her Coton de Tulear pup!

How did you discover the Coton breed? SOME YEARS BACK A LADY CAME TO THE HALIFAX KENNEL CLUB SHOW & TRIALS WITH THE COTONS AND GAVE US A DETAILED VIEW OF THE BREED AT THE RARE SHOW. (THIS WAS MARIE-FRANCE BUT I DID NOT KNOW HER THEN. I WATCHED HER FOR A FEW YEARS AND THEN SPOKE TO HER ONE AND BELIEVED SHE DID KNOW HER BREED AND UNDERSTOOD WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO WITH ONE) - Why did you decide to add a Coton to your family? IT HAS BEEN ONE OF GREAT DEBATE TO BE HON-EST. I WANTED SOMETHING TO PLAY WITH IN THE RING AND LEARN AS I GO. THE COTON FOR ME IS A NEW BREED AND INTERESTING AND UNLIKE ANY I HAD SEEN. THE INTRIGUE I SUP-POSE OF SHOWING ONE IS RATHER EXCITING. -How did you introduce “Monet the Coton” to your other dogs? AS I HAVE WITH ANY NEW DOG, SLOWLY AND IN AN X-PEN AND AFTER TWO DAYS HE WAS A CHI-HUAHUA!

- How did Monet react to the Chi and the Papillion? HE LIKES THE CHI'S AND AS THE ONLY PAP I DID HAVE IS NOW GONE TO HER NEW HOME. HE IS THE BIG CHI IN THE HOUSE. CHIS COME AND GO WITH US FOR TRAINING OR SOCIALIZING AND MONET TAKES IT IN STRIDE. IT IS JUST ONE THAT VISITS AND IS GONE, HE IS VERY GOOD TO TRY AND WEL-COME A NEW ONE. Does he think he is a Chi or a Pap? DEFINITELY A CHI!

- Does he have a best friend? HE SEEMS TO LIKE A MALE THAT IS GOING TO TASMANIA IN A MONTH TEX-R-CANA BUT HE DOES PLAY WITH RASCAL AS WELL. - If yes, how do they do get along together? THEY ARE ALL GREAT AND ONE BEGINS THE HOLE AND EVERYONE DOES THEIR PART. I WILL SAY MONET STARTS THE HOLE AND USUALLY FIN-ISHES IT. THEY DIG TILL THEY HIT ROCK. - How does he do in the pack? HE FOLLOWS THE OLDER ONES TO AND FROM IN-SIDE THE HOUSE AND KNOWS HIS AREA FOR EATING AND SLEEPING. HE DOES NOT BOTHER WITH ANOTHER HOUSE OR THEM HIS. -Is he a leader? Or at the bottom of the group? HE IS A LEADER IN HOLE DIGGING. NO ONE IS THE BOTTOM AS I FEEL THEY ALL GIVE AND TAKE HERE HE IS ONE OF THEM AND THEY ONE OF HIM. HOPE THAT MAKES SENSE; OR A MEMBER OF THE PACK? - What do you like about Monet; any problem with him? HE IS A BREED THAT REQUIRES A BIT MORE CARE AND I HAVE THE TIME AND ENJOY THE SOLITUDE AND OUR TIME TOGETHER. HIS BOTTOM END RE-QUIRES MORE CLEAN UP TIME THAN THE OTHER BREEDS I HAVE HAD BUT TRULY IT IS A MINOR ONE. I THINK THE DIRTY WEATHER IS NOT THE BEST BUT WE ARE GRASS, WOOD AND PATIO

Life in a Chi* pack! (*Chihuahua)

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What about the other human mem-ber in your family? MY HUSBAND GERRY CALLS HIM AS HE DOES THE CHIS, ALL HIS KIDS--- AND HE GETS HIS

TREATS AND LOVE AS THE OTHERS DO. ALTHOUGH HE WEIGHS IN AS NEARLY THREE TIMES THEIR WEIGHT. HE NEVER THE LESS GETS HIS HUGS AND LOVES. GERRY IS A WONDERFUL MAN WITH THE DOGS AND HIS THOUGHTS ARE ALWAYS IF I AM HAPPY HE IS HAPPY. - If you compare with the Chi and the Papil-lion, what are your thoughts? HE IS NOT A CHI OR PAP NOR ARE THEY ALIKE TRULY. HE IS MORE DOG THAN I HAVE HAD IN AWHILE. IT TAKES LONGER TO GROOM, BUT WHEN DONE TRULY A MASTERPIECE AND HE LOVES IT ALL. THE PAMPER IS PART OF HIS DAILY CARE BUT I CAN TELL YOU NAIL CUTTING IS NOT. OTHER WISE AS FOR BEING A "DAWG" HE IS JUST LIKE THE CHIS AND THE PAPS. - A funny experience with him? WELL HE LOVES THE POOL AND WHEN IT WAS WARMER HE WAS THE FIRST ONE IN AND THE LAST ONE OUT. HE LOVED TO BE IN THERE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. HEAVEN HELP THE ONE THAT CHALLENGED HIS POOL TIME. HE WOULD SPLASH THEM UNTIL THEY LEFT HIS POOL. WE RECTIFIED THIS BY PUTTING UP TWO AND THEN HE CHOOSES HIS AND THEY HAD THEIRS. - A bad experience with him? WE HAVE HAD A FEW BAD HAIR DAYS WITH DIRT AND RAIN BUT HONESTLY NOTHING OF ANY GREAT MERIT. HE WAS A HANDFUL ON THE TREAD MILL AT FIRST BUT NOW GOES ON WITHOUT A LEAD AND WALKS ABOUT 15 MINUTES THREE TIMES A WEEK WITH ME OR ANOTHER CHI! NO SMALL RUBBER TOYS AROUND AND IF HE IS BORED HE WILL FIND SOMETHING TO KEEP HIM OCCUPIED LOVED A SPOOL OF THREAD AND IT WAS A PAIN STAKING MESS TO CUT IT OUT OF HIS COAT CAREFULLY NOT TO HARM HIS HAIR BUT WE DID IT. HE THOUGHT IT WAS MUMMY ME TIME I AM SURE. HE LOVES TO BE IN THE CROWD WHETHER

TO SLEEP IN A PACK LIKE A BALL OF SNAKES OR LIE ABOUT IN THE SUN ON THE DECK AND PATIO BLOCKS. - How can you describe until now your experi-ence with a Coton? I HAVE LEARNED A LOT WITH MONET AND I FEEL AM A BETTER PERSON TO UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS AND WANTS OF SUCH A BREED. HE IS ONE TO NEVER WASTE A MOMENT OF DAYLIGHT AND IS NEVER FUSSY OR DESTRUCTIVE. HE SEEMS TO BLOOM EVERYDAY AND I SHALL BE ON TENDER HOOKS THE FIRST TIME HE IS IN THE RING. -Was it a good decision to welcome him into the pack? EXCELLENT AND I SHALL SAY THAT I HOPE HE IS NOT MY LAST. IT IS AS THOUGH HE WAS BORN HERE. MONET IS A WELCOMED ADDITION AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE COMMENTS OF THE CROWD WHEN HE MAKES HIS DEBUT. I HOPE TO HONOUR MARIE-FRANCE AND MAKE HER PROUD! - Other questions or comments??? AS IN ANY BREED, I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO WATCH AND READ ON A BREED OR ANY ANIMAL THEY ARE THINKING OF ADDING TO THEIR FAMILY. A DOG IS SUCH A LONG TIME FRIEND WITH NEEDS AND WANTS THAT WE THE HUMAN ARE RESPONSI-BLE FOR. SO WHEN TAKING ON A NEW FRIEND, WE TAKE ON ALL THAT ENTAILS AND I FEEL A LOT OF PEOPLE DO NOT THINK BEYOND THE FLUFFY PUPPY WITH THE PINK TONGUE! MINEGOLD IS VERY PROUD OF OUR NEW BOY AND LOOK OUT CFC HERE WE COME!

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When my vet told me I needed to collect a urine specimen from my Coton, Ruffy, I was a bit shocked. “How will I do that?” I asked. The veterinarian suggested that a soup ladle works quite well. Since I had just bought a brand new soup ladle, that idea was not too appealing. With such a short dog, I also thought something with a longer handle might be better. Building the specimen container was the easy part. I found a small plastic drink cup and a light garden stake and duct-taped the two of them together. Red Green would be proud. I had been given instructions to collect the urine specimen in the morning, but not the very first urine expelled… preferably a “mid-stream” sample. Although I have three Cotons, Ruffy and I set out alone that first morning so I could give my full attention to the task at hand. We walked a few blocks and Ruffy kept stopping to look at me as if to say, “Why did you leave the others at home?” No matter how many inviting posts and trees I led him to, he would not pee. I had to return for the other two dogs. Managing three dogs and three leashes was the least of my prob-lems. The first difficulty was quite predictable. Every time I tried to get the collection device into place, Ruffy became dis-tracted and stopped what he was doing and gave me a look that clearly said, “WHAT are you doing?” After awhile, he began to pay less attention to me. That’s when the second problem be-came apparent. Ruffy likes to wrap himself around a tree as tightly as possible when he lifts his leg, so getting the specimen container between him and the tree was nearly impossible. Add to that a short dog with long hair almost to the ground, and I could not see anything that was happening. I was placing my container blindly and hoping for the best. Day 1 ended with a few drops of urine and quite a bit of sand in my container. For the rest of the week, every morning I made unsuccessful attempts to get a specimen. I tried first thing in the morning in the yard when I did not have leashes to worry about. I made a new collection device with a bigger cup but still got no urine. This task seemed like “mission impossible.” I was feeling very discouraged and at one point phoned the vet to ask if this urine test was really necessary. Unfortunately the answer was yes. When telling my nurse friends about my latest challenge, they all had the same response. “Why don’t you bag Ruffy like they do for babies?” In pediatrics, a clear plastic bag with adhesive edges is taped around a baby’s genital area and the urine flows into a bag. I could not tape the bag to Ruffy due to his hairy body, but maybe I could tie a bag around him. I got a small freezer bag, reinforced the edges with duct tape, poked holes in each side, and tied on strings that could be tied on top of his back. Again, Ruffy needed a bit of time to adjust, but was soon ignoring the bag and

going about his business. Success continued to elude me. While babies stay in one position during urine collection, Ruffy was contorting himself around trees and posts. When he lifted his leg, it tilted the bag upside down and the urine flowed up and out. I needed something that would direct the flow into the bag but not let it run out when Ruffy lifted his leg. Using a plastic funnel and a plastic bag, I made a new device.

With three dogs on leash, we headed to the park. I was very ex-cited when I checked the bag repeatedly and my new device was working! My plan was to wait till we got to the park, only 5 blocks from my home, so I could let the other dogs off leash and take the collection bag off without spilling it. When we got to the park, I nearly cried. The bag was all ragged, sandy, and EMPTY of urine! As the plastic bag on the bottom filled with urine, it got heavier and closer to the ground where it dragged and was stepped on by Ruffy’s hind feet. The urine had all leaked out of tiny tears in the plastic. The next morning, I revised the device slightly so the bag did not hang quite so low. I tied it around Ruffy, and let him into the yard for his morning elimination. His first voiding put enough urine in the bag for a specimen. Success at last. I wasted no time getting it to the clinic so it could be sent off to the lab for analysis. What did the results show? Nothing… the urinalysis was com-pletely normal!

Ruffy’s Urine Specimen Submitted by Chris Wasylishyn

Final version of the urine collection device. Teeth marks added after collection was completed!

Cottonmyst Sweet Woodruff AKA Ruffy

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Advertising Rates

Coton Malgache

Colour B/W

1/4 page ……. $35 $20

1/2 page ……. $60 $40

Full page ….. $120 $80

Business card $15 $10

Ads may be submitted as camera ready or in draft. Draft text must be clearly typed.

Photos should be clear and in sharp contrast to ensure quality reproduction.

Cheques should be made payable to the CCTC.

Payment must be submitted before deadline.

www.coton.ca Advertising is available on our website.

Sponsor Advertising $25 per calendar year for a business card

$45 per calendar year with a live link to a website *

Breeder Directory Members Only

Litter Announcements $15 per litter for 3 months $10 per ad for one older dog

* Contact Marie-France Prayal at:

polana@ns.sympatico.ca

About Us….

Denis Carriere founded the Coton Malgache Publication in 1994 so that breed fanci-ers might share their mutual interest. The club’s aim is to support, educate and advise owners, members and prospective owners about the Coton de Tulear.

All members of the CCTC will abide by a code of ethics that will govern the breed-ing and prosperity of these lovely animals, protecting and preserving the qualities of

the Coton de Tulear, and striving for its betterment.

CCTC publishes the Coton Malgache quarterly in March, June, September and December. We encourage your submissions! Please do not hesitate to send photos of, and articles about your Cotons. Photos will be returned upon re-

quest if you include a S.A.S.E.

Deadline for the March 2010 Coton Malgache is

February 22 , 2010.

Please send all submissions for the Coton Malgache to: Email: chriswasy@shaw.ca

Subscriptions to the Coton Malgache are included with a CCTC membership.

Make your cheque or money order payable to CCTC. Fees for US and overseas subscribers are payable in US funds.

The CCTC is a Canadian non-profit organizat.ion .

The opinions expressed in the Coton Malgache are those of the authors and do not nec-essarily reflect those of the publisher. The articles in the Coton Malgache belong to their authors and cannot be reproduced either in whole or in part in any form without written permission of the author.

CCTC Executive

President: Karen Black Email: karen@cotonwind.com Tel. 877-811-3699 Past-President: Marie-France Prayal Email: polana@ns.sympatico.ca Tel. 902-757-0826 Vice-President: Thais Frook Email: puppies@lakecountrycotons.ca Treasurer & Interim Secretary: Barbara Fenn Email: barbfenn@rogers.com Tel. 416-483-0780 Ontario Director: Joanne Mouryas Email: payzackennel@hotmail.com Tel. 416-282-9253 Eastern Director & Interim Western Director: Marie-France Prayal Email: polana@ns.sympatico.ca (902) 757-0826 Membership Chairperson & Website Liaison: Marie-France Prayal Email: polana@ns.sympatico.ca Tel. 902-757-0826 Newletter Editor/Coordinator Chris Wasylishyn chriswasy@shaw.ca 604-876-7106

Page 8 The Coton Malgache Volume 7 Issue 2

Manny and Coco Bijou whit their owners, Jennie and Valerie Brimicombe.

New Pet Coordinator

We have a new Pet co-ordinator, Lynn Timson, who will carry on the work of bringing the "Pet" owner's per-spective to the CCTC newsletter. In Lynn’s words: “We are all brought together by our love for this little clown. I hope I can contribute some articles which will be humourous and helpful to the club members Please let me know what your expectations for the "Pet" section of the newsletter. I am looking forward to hearing from you. Lynn lives in Calendonia, Ontario with her Coton, Trinity who was born March 4 last year. Lynn says, “...we brought her home when she was 9 weeks old - it was love at first sight. She has brought so much fun and laughter to our home. I also I have two Choc. Labs, Lexi who is 11 1/2 and Bailey who is 6 1/2.”

Lynn can be reached at 905-765-2958 or lynntimson@hotmail.com

Correction: Sept/Oct Coton Malgache. My apologies for neglecting to give credit for 3 stories in the last issue under the heading of Tango’s Adventures: Tango’s Birthday BBQ, Tango’s Health Concerns, and Tango Gets Blessed were all submitted by Tango’s proud and loving owner, Rina Paniccia. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Rina for all her contributions to the newsletter while she served as Pet Coordinator. THANK YOU, Rina, for an excellent job!

Puppy Photo Gallery

Dreamsport puppies 5 weeks

Lake Country puppies—Peaches first litter

Dreamsport little boy 2 weeks

Payzac’s Scarlett O’Hara Payzac’s Izzy

Dreamsport puppies 2 weeks old