Miss Princess Sparkles
As I was checking in at the doctor’s office today, I overheard a conversation between the nurse and an administrator. The nurse said she was looking for a dog. She said she wanted a small dog that was hypoallergenic. I couldn’t help myself; I blurted, “You should get a Coton De Tulear!”
Both women went dead silent and turned to study me. I looked at them with a sorry conversation-interloper expression, and they looked at me as if I had some weird strain of Tourette’s that caused me to shout out French words at inappropriate moments.

Sparkles taking Momo for a ride.
The nurse then said to me, “Do you have an appointment with Dr. Stein?” the subtext to her question being, “the psychiatric department is the next building over.”

Sparkles listening to one of Moondoggie's chicken jokes.
“Um, yes I have an appointment.” And then I explained the French words that I had just blabbed at them were the name of a wonderful fluff-ball breed of dog from Madagascar, which are small and hypoallergenic.
One of my regular clients is Miss Princess Sparkles. She is my first Coton and I adore her as does my whole family. We are used to mostly large dogs, so you can bet she gets spoiled when she visits Doggie Heaven Hotel.

Moondoggie and her Sparkles pillow
The Coton De Tulear is named after the city of Tulear in Madagascar, and for its cotton-like coat. Cotons are non-shedding with low dander like their cousins the poodles and the Havanese. They also don’t have that doggie smell. If groomed properly, don’t smell at all. I wish I could say that for my own kids.
Cotons are small dogs ranging in size from 8-13 pounds. Typically, they have short legs, but there is a rare breed called the tall Coton that has long legs. Every once in a while one of these long-legged dogs is born to normal-sized parents.
Cotons are very friendly to people and other animals. They are curious and love to play, run, and swim, and they also have the endurance to go on a long hike. The Coton can adapt to any kind of living arrangement.

I found this under my couch cushions.
Let’s face it, the Coton is just plain CUTE!