Cotton de Tulear are sweet and cuddly dogs with silly personalities. These dogs originated in Madagascar and are related to the Bichon Frise and the Maltese dog breeds. People adopt dogs in this breed for their loving and open personalities. Coton de Tulear puppies get along with almost anyone and can live in virtually any place. They are great for apartments and larger homes, but they don't like to be left alone for long hours of the day. However, any pet owners who work a regular 9 to 5 will find that these dogs might get a little restless for the last three hours they wait for their owners. Coton de Tulears can be left alone for a few hours, but they thrive in homes where they will be with other people for most of their days.

Coton de Tulear

This dog breed is brilliant and would love nothing more than to spend the whole day with their special person. These dogs will enthusiastically follow their owners from room to room. Coton de Tulear dogs are so committed to their owners that they aren't even scared of the bathroom, and they might follow you in there too. If you're looking for a puppy that you can take to your local Starbucks, beach, or park, then these dogs are perfect for you. They're very portable in size and open to traveling almost anywhere.

Many people praise this breed because of its social ability, natural intelligence, and low maintenance care. This hypoallergenic breed has very few grooming needs.

These dogs are very observant, and they can learn routines very fast. They'll adapt to different personalities quickly, although they might have some anxiety after moving into a new home. These dogs are also great with children and strangers, as they are friendly animals.

This breed likes to talk back to their people using a unique language of their own. A Coton de Tulear dog can have a playful personality that comes with vocalizations that are unique. Some of these dogs might have grunts, growls, or vocalizations that they used to communicate with their families. Also, they love when their owners talk back to them and play along with their strange language. While they're young, they might be more challenging to care for the most puppies are.

Coton de Tulear Health Overview

This breed will stand anywhere between 8-12 inches tall at their shoulders and will weigh anywhere between 8 to 13 pounds. Most Coton de Tulear puppies live an average of 14 years at least, but they might live longer if they're kept healthy.

These dogs look their best when getting grooming sessions 3- 4 times weekly. It might seem like a lot, but regular brushing sessions will help keep their coat as clean and neat as possible. These dogs don't need baths very often. Owners should watch their dogs every five to eight weeks and be sure only to use canine-specific bathing products.

Every dog breed suffers from various health conditions, and the Coton de Tulear has a few predisposed health risks.

Coton de Tulear puppies commonly experience knee joint issues, allergies, and bladder issues. Some dogs in this breed will develop physical conditions that require surgery, but you can treat most physical conditions these dogs face with some at-home supplements.

Even though Coton de Tulear dogs have a genetic risk of developing physical health issues, many of these dogs will live their entire lives without experiencing any physical health conditions. However, all dogs experience psychological health issues at some point in their lives.

It may sound stressful, but all humans experience psychological health issues at some point and dogs. Stress and anxiety are the most common conditions and can happen for many reasons. Some animals will respond to loud noises by experiencing stress and anxiety. Anytime you take your dog to the vet, they are more than likely experiencing stress and anxiety. Anxiety isn't a thing to be feared, it's a natural response to the world, but you can help your dog be happier overall by treating their anxiety.

Anxiety in Coton de Tulear Puppies

Some pets are more likely to experience stress than others. Shelter animals and animals that have suffered from neglect, abuse, or homelessness are more likely to suffer from anxiety. It occurs because these dogs have experienced more traumatic events than others and will fear more external stimuli. Anything that reminds these dogs of their past trauma will stress them out, and many things can make them nervous.

You can understand your dog's anxiety by noticing what their symptoms are. Owners will come to know their dog's body language naturally and will come to know when their dog is happy, scared, or tired. This way, you can understand what causes your dog stress and be proactive about fighting their anxiety symptoms.

Commonly, dogs get stressed out by loud noises, strange environments, or other animals. It means that many dogs who encounter police sirens, thunderstorms, other dogs, or fireworks might freak out.

Many Coton de Tulear puppies will get very anxious in a new environment. Dogs that are poorly socialized won't interact well with too many new people or animals at one time.

Sometimes, energetic dogs get anxious without enough exercise daily. When dogs don't have the right amount of mental or physical stimulation, their excess energy becomes a stressful bunch of nerves for them. It is why some dogs might dig up couches or trash cans in their homes. These dogs are begging to release their anxiety, but they have no way to rid themselves of their energy.

Another reason dogs experience anxiety is because they bond so closely with their owners that they stress out anytime they leave. Small dogs commonly have separation anxiety, and often, new dogs aren't acclimated to their new homes right, so they can get anxious every time their owners leave.

Experienced owners will understand the symptoms their dog shows to help treat them. Without knowing your dog's symptoms, you won't understand the cause or severity of their condition, and then you won't be able to provide the correct treatment method. Understanding your dog's symptoms is the key to understanding if your Coton de Tulear puppy is disobedient or anxious.

Symptoms of Anxiety in Coton de Tulear Dogs

There's a large variety of symptoms that dogs will face when dealing with anxiety. Some dogs will experience pacing, drooling, whining, whimpering, or barking. Some dogs might vomit, but some will refuse to eat. In more severe cases of anxiety, dogs occasionally urinate or defecate in the house. Still, in the most severe cases of anxiety, a dog will eat their defecation because they are so anxious. Sometimes dogs will try to escape their house. It's also normal for some dogs to try to stop their owners from leaving the house whenever they're stressed and anxious. Rarely, some animals might become aggressive whenever they're nervous, especially if they think they can get their owners to stay. It can also be tough to keep the attention of a nervous dog, and they may just run around crying and ignoring you. If your dog seems to be paying attention to anything but you or seems wildly unrested, then they might be experiencing high levels of anxiety.

3 Ways to Tell if Your Coton de Tulear Puppy is Disobedient or Anxious?

Owners should ask a few questions before they think their dog is disobedient. Often bad behavior and disobedience are due to an underlying cause like stress or anxiety.

1. Are they in a new environment?

Dogs in new environments are more likely to experience stress, especially if you haven't socialized them properly. If you take your dog to a park and try to practice some commands you know at home, your dog might be easily distracted. Still, they might also feel more uncomfortable and may not want to lay down or roll over, as those movements are the opposite of their anxiety-induced instincts. Anxious dogs might ignore their owners' commands if any new people, pets, or places are involved in their surroundings.

2. Did something about your command change?

Some very anxious dogs will be wary if you are in the same setting but using a new toy. If you constantly use a green tennis ball to fetch but change the ball to a denser kong ball, your dog might be scared of that new ball. Animals can become very familiar with their things if they don't experience new objects semi-often. Any foreign things will seem scary to them, and they won't enjoy them much at first. Over time, your dog will get less fearful of these things, especially if you give them treats and other positive reinforcement to encourage them.

3. Did they experience any stress earlier in the day?

If your pet was home alone for a long time, met another animal, or went to the vet earlier in the day, they might be a bit more stressed throughout the day. Some more extended periods of anxiety can take a bit longer to wear off. These symptoms will especially be distracting to your dog, and they won't be able to focus or relax as much as they usually would. After some more time passes, and they get some comfort treats, their symptoms will pass, and they will be back to their best-behaved selves.

How to Treat Coton de Tulear Dogs with Anxiety

The method you choose for your dog's anxiety depends on its severity. Dogs with more severe anxiety will benefit from more permanent treatment methods, whereas dogs with less severe anxiety only need temporary relief to aid their symptoms in certain situations.

Many dog owners have seen that CBD benefits their anxious Coton de Tulear dogs and helps calm them down. Many dogs owners also provide their dogs with calming treats or supplements. A new positive trend is to create a 'safe space' for your anxious dog.

This space should be in a quiet area away from any heavy foot traffic or noise so their dog can rest. Some owners decide to fill this place with a dog bed, a crate, pillows, blankets, and perhaps some dog treats. Giving your dog treats and safe spaces can be an efficient way to combine two different methods for the best possible outcome. Owners can also consider getting their dogs some favorite toys to put in a safe space.

It's a good idea to let your dog have their own space to go to if they want a break from people. Animals with separation anxiety might also learn to go to these spaces in their owners' absences. This space will be most successful with dogs with less severe to moderate anxiety symptoms.

If your dog is getting anxious because they aren't getting enough activity during the day, then the only thing that will help your dog lose their anxiety is to give them activity during the day.

Over 50% of adult pet dogs in the United States are overweight, and these dogs struggle with more health issues because of their weight problem. Overweight dogs will struggle with anxiety more. Even if your dog isn't overweight, daily exercise is their natural way to release energy. A small breed like the Coton de Tulear would love playtime and walks. This breed is small, but they have lots of energy. If you want to get your dog's tail wagging, then keep them active! A happy dog is a dog that gets plenty of food to encourage good behavior.

Whenever dogs don't release their energy, it builds up and turns into anxiety. Providing enrichment for your dog is one of the best ways to help your pet release anxiety. There are limitless ways to provide enrichment for your dog, so you can be sure to pick a way that you can enjoy as much as your pet. Owners can spend whole afternoons just practicing tricks their dog knows. These dogs might become a great deal calmer when they exhaust their little legs with plenty of activity.

Because some dogs have such severe cases of anxiety, they need more permanent treatment options like anti-anxiety medication. Owners have to talk to their vet about getting anti-anxiety medication and whether it's the right treatment option for their dog.

Another method used to help severe anxiety in dogs is intensive training. There is an activity called counterconditioning training that assists anxious dogs in breaking their anxiety triggers. This treatment requires a professional dog behavior specialist who will study your animals' symptoms to understand what causes their anxiety. Then these professionals will work with the inciting incidents and work with your dog to break these responses. The goal is to change their anxious reaction and replace it with a neutral response or, even better, a happy one. They do this by providing regular and consistent training sessions and positive environments with plenty of snacks. This complex process is saved for dogs with more severe anxiety because it is a significant commitment to complete the conditioning.

Prognosis of Coton de Tulear Dogs with Anxiety

It is infrequent for anxiety to shorten a dog's lifespan. If your dog is disobedient rather than anxious, it can cause problems.

Studies have shown that disobedient animals are more at risk of running into the street and getting hit by a car. These pets are also in danger of escaping the house and becoming homeless. It's so important to train your dog for basic obedience commands.

If your dog has anxiety, its prognosis will depend on the treatment process. If its dealing with severe symptoms and owners try to treat them with CBD alone, they'll find the CBD has little effect on their dog and that they will need much more to help support their condition.

Anxiety can be a severe psychological issue for some pets, and dogs with more severe symptoms require more support. As long as you can accurately observe your dog's tendencies and reactions, you'll be able to help them get better adequately.

Final Thoughts

Whether they are disobedient or anxious, there are many ways to help your Coton de Tulear puppy. The key to assisting them be more obedient and less uneasy is providing a calming and welcoming environment.

Anytime you are with your dog, you always want to make your interactions as positive and encouraging as possible. You never want to make your dog feel like they aren't safe around you. It's best if your dog feels safer to explore new things because you're around. Owners should act like a secure base whenever their dogs are experiencing new things rather than trying to push their dogs into the experience.

There are many different ways to help anxious and disobedient dogs. Coton de Tulear puppies might get distracted, but they typically listen to their owners a lot. If your dog seems interested in something strange, restless, or panicky, it's much more likely they are being anxious and not disobedient. Owners can always help their dogs by being patient and reassuring their pets. Comfort your dogs in times of their anxiety and praise them when they complete commands correctly.

Some owners can distract their pets from their anxiety by using treats or toys to energize them. If you turn your anxious dog's nerves into playful bursts of energy, then you know how to help your anxious dog already. As long as you're attentive to your Coton de Tulear, you can help them overcome almost any fear.