How did you meet the breed?
I met the coton during my study for groomer.The woman who teached me owned a coton.This was such a joyfull little female that by the time I wanted a small breed i immediatly thought of that coton again.I called her up,she gave me the number of a friend of her breeding cotons and so it startet.A few months later I bought my first coton.The lady still is a big friend of mine,she moved to Peru with all her dogs, she own's 3 cotons, one from same litter as my first coton.

Who were your first Cotons?
My very first was my Multi-Ch, Reckless Ruby from Angel Station, who I bought from Therese. She was also the one who helped me buying my second,Xantippe the Petites Folies. I was very lucky to have 2 such wonderfull females to build my kennel on.

 

Can you explain the choice of your kennel name?
I started breeding Bouvier des Flandres, they are cattledrivers, I just did'nt want to change it so now my cotons are bred by that name.

Nimo and Spike

 

Which quality(ies) do you favor in a coton?
First it character and health, I like to see my cotons the way I met them and fell in love with them. Joyfull,playfull,clowny type of dogs.I must admid most my dogs have weights above the standard. I like to keep some "bone" on them.
I love to see a beautyfull dog but it must absolutely not loose it's clownesk look. They of course need to be well build. I don't want coton to look like Maltese.

What are your selection criterion for your reproductives?
First health and character. I want them to have the type I like. I try to breed only with excellent dogs, but I keep up on the thought " 2 champions don't give champions". I want to breed dogs who show the typically coton characteristic's. In look and character.

Xanti's pups

What do you think about the Coton evolution these last years?
Unfortunatly I meet at show more and more scared and unsecure dogs in the ring. I also see to much "maltese" type. Very white and flat long coated dogs.They are in ring like a statue. On the other hand some breeders are very succesfull creating a more stabil type, without loosing it's characteristic's. I have a lot of respect for it and hope those keep up with what they are doing.

Wilma's fur kids

Can you describe the 'ideal' Coton ...

a/male
I don't know if it is exactly what you mean to ask but on an adult male I think you need to see it is a male.( without watching under the belly :-) ).

b/female
Feminine expresion, not narrow behind, of course both need to be like discribed above.

Viktoria Cattledrivers Castle

If you are participating to dog shows, what are your motivations, and what is your criteria for choosing them?

I do participate shows because like to meet other cotonlovers and their dogs. I of course want to see if the judge share's my opinion about what to me is a good coton. I like to hear what they think is good or bad about the dogs. What I dislike more and more is the atmosphere at some show's. People all want to win of course but please stay a little human to each other.

Spike Cattledrivers Castle

When you are breeding, what elements do you take into account when you choose the dam and the sire?

Same as above, good character and health, try to use two partners who can cancel eachothers faults, never cancel a fault with the opposite, but with one who has just the right thing. Type's need to fit eachother. I think as breeders we need to realise that beside's keeping our wonderfull show and breedpuppy's, most of them just become loved "petdogs". That's why character is a big part of my breedingprogramm, and health too . of course but please stay a little human to each other. I try to pick my puppies on how they are build, they must not have large faults in their "bones", must be able to move freely, try to pick good coat structure and open character.

Is there a question that you would like we ask you ? If yes which one ? And can you answer ?

What i would like to see changed in cotonworld ?

I have the deep wish some day we can be more each others partners in stead of each others competition. We need to cooperate more on keeping the coton a healthy breed. Nowadays people so much keep their problemms a secret, the result of that some day can be this problems can hardly be solved because they grew too big. A good example of that are the eye problems coming up now.... being open to eachother is the only solution, that way we avoid that other people breeding the same lines keep breeding the sick lines because they simply don't know the problem exists.

Spike

Answers and pictures from Wilma Poot - kennel Cattledrivers Castle