photo credit: www.cotonnerie.com
For those new to my blog, I have a dog, an 8 lb Coton de Tulear (pronounced Tulea). Tulea is the name of my dog. Tulear is a town in Madagascar where the breed originated. I got mine 6 1/2 years ago when she was 2 months old. I didn’t want an all white one, too chi chi, so I found a breeder in Montreal called Sara France, who breeds cotons that have color (Though it tends to fade as they get older—the call of the gene pool! Half Tulea’s face was black when I got her.)
The Sara France website is www.cotonnerie.com.
Anyway, at a dinner party in Ann Arbor last Friday, a couple at the table asked me what kind of dog I have and I said, “Oh, never mind. It’s an unusual breed and no one’s ever heard of it and it’s too complicated to explain.” (I’d had a drink or two).
The man insisted saying, “We’re dog people. Tell us.” So I said, “I have a coton.” and he exclaimed, “so do we!!”
And we did the whole “OMG- this-is- too- amazing- No- one- ever- has –one” thing. “Where did you get yours?” I asked. “From a breeder in Montreal,” he answered. “Not Sara France???!!!” I asked. Again, “OMG, yes, from Sara France.” It was a great coincidence that made us all so happy. Like me, he and his wife bought the dog in the Montreal airport. His is much bigger…about 13-14 pounds, if I recall correctly, while Tulea is 8 pounds. The runt, just what I wanted.
Here are a couple of pictures of their coton named Shaggy. I love the one of the two cotons dancing together! We have since found out from the breeder that Shaggy is Tuleas cousin!.
Shaggy Tulea's Cousin, Photo credit: Nathan Upfal
Shaggy Tulea's Cousin. Photo credit: Nathan Upfal
Shaggy Dancing. Photo credit: Nathan Upfal
Here is a video of how Tulea greets me when I’ve been away. I adore the sounds she makes. Such happiness it sounds like pain. Enjoy!
Valerie Mikkelsen
I am getting my first Coton on 02/25/15 and stumbled onto your site, however could not get the video to work so I was unable to view it, thanks for the lovely pics.
Patricia Werre
Hi Jane, I don’t really write on celebrity blogs, but had to write to let you know I am one of the owners of Sara France’s original dogs, Since I’m a French Canadian originally from Montreal, now living in LA, I had researched the dog before AKC reg, and happened to find Sara France on her newly created website. I’d never consider getting another Coton from anyone else. She’s awesome, and produces the highest quality Coton on the planet. My Sasha and her late older cousin Bisou. Sasha is 18 yrs old now, and still going strong, not a thing wrong with her, save for the occasional “senior moment stare” and cute and lively as ever, I will not be prepared for her to pass, but know she won’t live forever. For now she’s the light of our lives, and I can see you feel the same, our little circus dogs..like potato chips can’t just have one! à la joie de vivre le petit Coton de Tulear!
Lynn Hayner
Hello Ms Fonda, I am an editor/writer with i5 Publishing (DogFancy, now Dogster, ww.dogchannel, etc). A few years back I wrote the Coton de Tulear profile for Dog Fancy and now we have come back around and I’m writing a new profile for Dogster (print, scheduled 2016 late winter/early spring). We often highlight the breed with a historical account (That is my expertise being a historian as well as attorney) but of course like to add fun color as well — i.e, celebs that love their breed etc. Specifically I would like photos (not simply stock ones) of you and your Coton — especially if she “smiles” — I heard all about that from the Club people but no one yet has a high res photo of such a smile! If you do have a comment or photo that you would be willing to send to celebrate the breed (and have it published in Dogster), my emaill is lynnmhayner@gmail.com My bio is http://www.dogchannel.com/authors/lynn-hayner.aspx Thanks in advance. I take breed profiles seriously and would let you see finished copy as well as chosen photo prior to publication. Lynn M. Hayner
Chablis
Dear Ms. Fonda, let me start my saying that I have always been a great fan of yours! You are an amazing woman and actress. I am French Canadian, I live in Montreal and like you I have a little Coton from Sara France Saint-Pierre’s La Cotonnerie. I know you must have a million more important things on your mind but I thought you would like to know that Sara France just had her very last litter. She is retiring but will still be producing her incredible organic Maple Syrup. I am certain she would be honored to hear from you. 🙂
Lynn Hayner
Finishing up the coton profile for Dogster, although I won’t send it til mid November, so if you catch a Smile photo, please do share (via my email lynnmhayner@gmail.com). In the meantime, I can share the entire profile with you via email, but the section that I would like to quote you in (from our exchange herein) would be along these lines: Sidebar Coton-Admiring Celebrities
Celebrities and non-celebrities alike revel in the cottony dog with the island history. Barbara Streisand, Debra Messing, and Catherine Zeta-Jones all adore Cotons. Looking for male celebs with a heart for Cotons? My guess is quite a few of them cuddle Cotons too, but maybe not in front of the paparazzi lens.
Actress Jane Fonda shares her life with a 10-year-old Coton named Tulea. “Tulea was the smallest in her little, and still only weighs 9 pounds today,” Fonda says. As for smiling, Fonda confirms the renowned Coton social skills. “My Coton does smile on occasions, especially when she sees an old, close friend,” Fonda says. “Interestingly, she rarely smiles for me, although I am her most intimate companion.”
Please let me know if we have your permission to quote you as such, or if you would like to add to, or modify, any of the above. Also, if you do have a fun photo of you and Tulea, we would love to share it with our readers. I have some photos from the club folks, including one (rather blurry but could work) one of a Coton up on his hind legs with his smile in full gear! Thanks. We will send you a copy of Dogster with the Coton profile of course if we use your quotes and/or photos. I spent a long time studying the history of the breed, as I do with any breed, but this one has some very colorful history! Lynn
Jane DeLeonardis
Hi Jane,I’m leaving in a few minutes to pickup my 8wk old Coton De Tulear so I’m so excited.I’m 80 in May & hubby 85 so I guess you are never too old.I’m sure I’ll have a few nights of whining & crying until she settles down.I’m not sure if you can post pics on this site or not but she is a sweetie that I’ve named Kensi.She is not all white but other colours as well.
Connie J Sass
My love for Coton de Tulear is HUGE. My Tiny Dancer Monet, looks a lot like yours, and she’s now silver too!