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On January 1, 2018, The Malagasy Coton Preservation Club (MCPC) opened their doors and welcomed all breeders interested in preserving the Coton de Tulear, and specifically breeding to the oldest breed standard in the USA; the CTCA breed standard. This standard recognizes color in the breed, and a wider variance in size, was true to the breed that originated in Madagascar.
The MCPC was embraced by the Coton community, and today is the largest Coton de Tulear Breed Club in the United States. The MCPC was created to ensure there was a club in place, for generations to come; a non-profit club run by a small board of directors, whose sole purpose is to preserve and protect the Malagasy Coton de Tulear and provide timely service to their members; registration papers sent to families within 90 days and website updates within 48 hrs. |
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the Coton de Tulear arrives in the USA directly from madagascar
Lew Russell with Jijy, the first CTCA registered Coton.
Andriana of Andrambelo, born in Tulear Madagascar he lived to be one month shy of his 19th birthday.
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In the early 1970's, the biodiversity of Madagascar brought Robert Jay Russell to the island to study Lemurs as he worked towards his future Ph.D. in Anatomy from Duke University in 1977. During his two years on the island (1973-1975) he was introduced to the Coton de Tulear, which he named as the Royal Dog of Madagascar.
Robert Jay Russell sent his father, Lew Russell, two Cotons from the Billy Kennel in Madagascar. Jijy & Jael were the first two Cotons to arrive in America. They became the foundation dogs for Lew Russell's Oakshade kennel, located in New Jersey. Next to arrive in the United States was Robert Jay Russell's Andy, Andriana of Andrambelo, born in Tulear on January 15, 1975. Andy became the third CTCA registered Coton. Andy died on December 13, 1993. Over the years, more Cotons from Madagascar arrived in the United States, as did FCI registered European Cotons. |
Jael, born in 1975, was the second Coton imported from Madagascar and registered with the CTCA.
Her sire, U'Rick of Billy, was Champion of Madagascar in 1975 (he was a Black and White Coton).
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Robert Jay Russell with Lee Durrell just prior to their departure for Madagascar.
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Robert Jay Russell with Chicko a Collared Lemur that he brought back from Madagascar to Duke University.
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August 7, 1946 - June 26, 2019
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the FCI Coton de tulear arrives in USA via france
As the exodus of people leaving Madagascar (occurring in the 1970's) the direction of the breed became divided. The Malagasy people bred Cotons of various sizes, they were primarily white with occasional splashes of color, that faded in intensity as the dog aged, no official pedigree records were kept.
In 1968, in Madagascar, three men gathered to create a breed standard they hoped the FCI would accept and recognize. They based this standard on one of their own dogs. These men eventually left Madagascar, they renewed their efforts in France to establish a breed standard for the Coton de Tulear. They felt the breed they took from Madagascar needed to be "fixed" and improved. To achieve this, some early breeders introduced other white breeds, to create what is today known as the Coton de Tulear. (Breeds are created by mixing breeds together, to produce something different, and unique from other breeds.)
In 1971, the French were successful, and the Coton de Tulear gained full FCI recognition. The French made revisions to the FCI breed standard; they eliminated most color, and decreased the size. Not all Europeans were in agreement with this revision, knowing the Coton de Tulear was not a toy breed, and was not a "white only" breed, and shouldn't be represented as such.
In 1968, in Madagascar, three men gathered to create a breed standard they hoped the FCI would accept and recognize. They based this standard on one of their own dogs. These men eventually left Madagascar, they renewed their efforts in France to establish a breed standard for the Coton de Tulear. They felt the breed they took from Madagascar needed to be "fixed" and improved. To achieve this, some early breeders introduced other white breeds, to create what is today known as the Coton de Tulear. (Breeds are created by mixing breeds together, to produce something different, and unique from other breeds.)
In 1971, the French were successful, and the Coton de Tulear gained full FCI recognition. The French made revisions to the FCI breed standard; they eliminated most color, and decreased the size. Not all Europeans were in agreement with this revision, knowing the Coton de Tulear was not a toy breed, and was not a "white only" breed, and shouldn't be represented as such.
history of the malagasy coton de tulear in the usa
In 1974, Robert Jay Russell created the CTCA breed standard for the Coton de Tulear. His standard was written to represent ALL the Malagasy Cotons de Tulear he witnessed living on the island, and being bred by the Malagasy people.
Two years later, in 1976, Robert Jay Russell created the Coton de Tulear Club of America (CTCA). This breed club maintained the CTCA breed standard, stud book, pedigrees and registrations. The CTCA standard was broader than the FCI standard in color and size allowances. Breeders in North America began building their breeding programs by acquiring Cotons from Madagascar and from Europe, all were registered with the CTCA, at that time the only Coton de Tulear breed club in the United States. The CTCA accepted all Cotons from around the world into their registry.
The charts below show the number of Cotons registered with the CTCA, by their kennel and country they were born in. All of these kennels, from around the world, contributed to the CTCA gene pool. The first chart's data is from the first edition of "The Official Coton de Tulear Book", written by Dr. Robert Jay Russell, showing a total of 470 Cotons registered. The second chart is data through 1999 that was printed in the second edition of Dr. Russell's book, published in 2002, this chart shows 998 Cotons registered. The number of Cotons that arrived in the USA from Madagascar and registered with the CTCA appear to be 18 total.
Two years later, in 1976, Robert Jay Russell created the Coton de Tulear Club of America (CTCA). This breed club maintained the CTCA breed standard, stud book, pedigrees and registrations. The CTCA standard was broader than the FCI standard in color and size allowances. Breeders in North America began building their breeding programs by acquiring Cotons from Madagascar and from Europe, all were registered with the CTCA, at that time the only Coton de Tulear breed club in the United States. The CTCA accepted all Cotons from around the world into their registry.
The charts below show the number of Cotons registered with the CTCA, by their kennel and country they were born in. All of these kennels, from around the world, contributed to the CTCA gene pool. The first chart's data is from the first edition of "The Official Coton de Tulear Book", written by Dr. Robert Jay Russell, showing a total of 470 Cotons registered. The second chart is data through 1999 that was printed in the second edition of Dr. Russell's book, published in 2002, this chart shows 998 Cotons registered. The number of Cotons that arrived in the USA from Madagascar and registered with the CTCA appear to be 18 total.
As you can see, the CTCA registered Cotons are from all over the world, the CTCA gene pool is a mix of Cotons imported from Europe and Cotons imported directly from Madagascar to the United States.
A Malagasy Coton de Tulear are those Cotons bred to the CTCA breed standard AND whose ancestors can be traced back to the founder dogs from the kennels listed above.
A European Coton is a Coton de Tulear bred to the FCI standard. The population of the Malagasy Coton in the USA has been tightly controlled, and is very small, compared to the FCI bred population.
In summary, there are two basic breed standards, or varieties, that have been developed over time, and yet they are still one breed. This is an important part of our history that needs to be understood, and by mapping the DNA of our breed we can now see the shared relationships between the two varieties.
A Malagasy Coton de Tulear are those Cotons bred to the CTCA breed standard AND whose ancestors can be traced back to the founder dogs from the kennels listed above.
A European Coton is a Coton de Tulear bred to the FCI standard. The population of the Malagasy Coton in the USA has been tightly controlled, and is very small, compared to the FCI bred population.
In summary, there are two basic breed standards, or varieties, that have been developed over time, and yet they are still one breed. This is an important part of our history that needs to be understood, and by mapping the DNA of our breed we can now see the shared relationships between the two varieties.
From 1994-2004, the Coton de Tulear in North America experienced strife and discord among breeders; the dog show world vs the CTCA. New Coton breed clubs started forming. Some of these include:
- USACTC - USA Coton de Tulear Club, 1994
- CTCC - Coton de Tulear Club of Canada, 1994
- ICTF - International Coton de Tulear Federation, 1997. dissolved
- UCTC - United Coton de Tulear CLub, 1997 dissolved
- WACTC - World Association of Coton de Tulear Clubs, 1998 dissolved
- ACC - American Coton Club, 2000
- NACA - North American Coton Association, in 2015 named the parent breed club for the UKC (United Kennel Club).
- ACTA - American Coton de Tulear Association, dissolved
Over the years, breeders have left the CTCA for a variety of reasons; changes to the Code of Ethics (COE), changes to the CTCA breed standard, increase in registration fees, poor service, and/or a difference of opinion regarding the future of the breed. Some of these milestones that caused breeders to leave the CTCA, and the years they occurred, are listed below:
- 1996, the CTCA increases the weight limits of the Coton de Tulear, from a maximum of 15 lbs to no greater than 18 lbs.
- 1998, the CTCA forced breeders to choose which standard they would be breeding to. Prior to this, breeders often belonged to multiple clubs, due to participation in different club sponsored dog shows. Each breed club started using COE language that required a breeder to recognize the club's breed standard as the only breed standard for the Coton.
- 1998, the CTCA begins using the term "Potentially Breedable" claiming, and rightly so, that whether a puppy should be bred or not, can't be determined until they are an adult when health testing and structure examinations are completed.
- 2000, the CTCA continues adjusting the COE requirements, designed to further develop and maintain a genetically sound, temperamentally and physically healthy gene pool for this rare breed.
- 2002, the CTCA announced they would no longer accept FCI paperwork for admitting a European Coton de Tulear to the CTCA's registry. The CTCA registry had always been mixed with Malagasy and European Cotons. Many breeders left the CTCA over this new change. The breeders that stayed in the CTCA were no longer allowed to purchase puppies from breeders outside the CTCA. The CTCA gene pool was now officially closed.
- 2004, the CTCA increased their puppy registration fees. This increase went from $20 per puppy to $200 per puppy for a non-breedable and $250 per potentially-breedable puppy. These fees are the highest registration fees found in the world, for any breed. A large number of breeders left at this time due to the high fees and the continued delay in receiving their registration papers.
- 2012, due to the AKC recognition of the Coton de Tulear, Dr. Russell announces that he has added the word Madagascar, to the club name (to set it apart from the AKC Coton) and that the new club is licensed and registered as the mCTCA, Ltd. a Limited Liability Corporation in the State of New York.
- 2016, the mCTCA, Ltd entity had been dissolved by proclamation or annulment of authority, by the State of New York (Oct 26, 2016). As of Dec 31, 2018, the New York State (NYS) Division of Corporation's public records website shows the entity status of the mCTCA, Ltd remains inactive. Although, their corporation status is not in good standing per the NYS, the mCTCA, Ltd continues to advertise themselves as the mCTCA, Ltd and continues business transactions.
- 2017, Breeders following the CTCA breed standard began discussing in earnest their involvement in the future of the Malagasy Coton de Tulear in the USA.
- 2018, Twenty-five breeders left the mCTCA and created The Malagasy Coton Preservation Club (MCPC). The MCPC quickly grew and today is the largest Coton de Tulear Club in the United States.
Today more breeders, of all breeds, are realizing the damage of closed stud books, and the even more damaging effect, of closed breed clubs within one breed; where members are not allowed to breed outside their club's membership. The only outcome possible, of a closed breed club, is the rise of inbreeding, which increases genetic diseases, and will quickly destroy a breed. MCPC breeders are aware of this, and choose to be an open breed club, allowing members choices, and to produce litters with the lowest risk of genetic diseases.
With new advances in canine genetic research, the MCPC has chosen to partner with Embark Veterinary, to provide DNA genotyping and analysis for all our breeding dogs. At recent count, MCPC breeders have Embark tested over 200 Malagasy Cotons de Tulear.
The MCPC also works with the Institute of Canine Biology (ICB) in providing our board and our breeders with further education in canine genetics.
These new advances in technology that Embark Veterinary and ICB are utilizing, will help breeders make better matchmaking choices based on a coefficient of inbreeding that measures the level of homozygosity on each chromosome and comparing the relatedness of breeding pairs.
Working with all breeders that share traceable lineage from Madagascar, and using DNA analysis, will allow us to make breeding decisions that will help save genes and not lose more genetic diversity.
The MCPC also works with the Institute of Canine Biology (ICB) in providing our board and our breeders with further education in canine genetics.
These new advances in technology that Embark Veterinary and ICB are utilizing, will help breeders make better matchmaking choices based on a coefficient of inbreeding that measures the level of homozygosity on each chromosome and comparing the relatedness of breeding pairs.
Working with all breeders that share traceable lineage from Madagascar, and using DNA analysis, will allow us to make breeding decisions that will help save genes and not lose more genetic diversity.
To learn more about Embark Veterinary, Inc visit: embarkvet.com/our-story
To learn more about the Institute of Canine Biology visit: www.instituteofcaninebiology.org
