This month the interview is Carol Hugues one, Breeder in USA (TX) with the kennel name of : Tara

 

COTON DE TULEAR OF TARA

Presents a wagon full of cotton!


 

How did you met the breed?
In a 1993 Dog World magazine I read about the breed. Having been a breeder of the Great Pyrenees for many years, and never really caring much for small breeds, I was charmed by their appearance.

Who were your first Cotons?
My first Cotons are from the Valaury's Cottage. They are Igloo, and Hindie. They both are multiple Champions. Both are retired, and living with me at TARA, where they will remain However, they are not the foundation of my breeding program. .

Can you explain the choice of your kennel name?
TARA is taken from the novel "Gone with the Wind.” The selection of that name came into my mind, as my family and I moved into a beautiful tree filled acreage, that I called "My Tara," Over twenty years ago TARA became the name of my Kennel with the breeding of Great Pyrenees. Therefore, it was only natural that is would become the kennel name for my Cotons.

What quality(is) do you favoring in a Coton?
Temperament is the most important quality/selection in breeding of all animals, regardless of their beauty. So, this is top priority.
Second, is health. Correctness in the conformation of the animal to the standard is most important. Conformation does not just apply to the show ring, it means also the health of a dog. A companion dog, with incorrect structure will eventually have health problems. This leads to a shorter life.
I prefer the scissor bite. The original standard was written in Madagascar, by the breeders, yes I know a Frenchman, who knew the problems in the breed. Therefore they accepted 3 types of bites, as well as missing teeth. I feel that this is a recessive gene, and that this will always be a problem, regardless of breeders breeding only the scissor bite. You may change the standard on paper, but that does not mean that it will change with the dog. If breeders start to try to breed out the missing teeth issue, eventually they will have bred into the breed problems much worst than missing teeth. As all genes are also related to others. The hair quality that I prefer is cotton feeling, long, luxurious, but not with an abundance of under coat. Coton means cotton, meaning texture, not abundance. The size must be small. The small Cotons have a certain charm about them, that the larger ones do not have.

What are your selection criterion for your reproductive?
The pedigree is important, but not near as important as the two individual animals that you intend to breed. You can't breed paper to paper and expect to see a nice individual. As there is no perfect animal, you have to select in both breeding animals what each has to offer that is correct. A well balanced animal, is very important, as this will always give beautiful movement. Having been involved with the performance Quarter Horse for well over twenty years, has made movement selection as easy as breathing. The Cotons pictured are my three generations of males.

The one in the middle ( Champion World Jr. 1999. Mexican, American, Preferred Stock of TARA has the very sweet, face, and temperament of the Coton that I admire. His father, to the right, is Sugar of Woodland Cottage. The puppy (son) is now Ch. Invest in Sugar of Tara.

 

The next photo is of a full sister of “CH.Preferred Stock.” "CH. One Mint Julip of Tara." She is a little over a year in this photo, but shows the balance, and sweetness of the Coton.

Below are two off springs of, Preferred Stock, two different dams.

The Coton on the left is from my first two Cotons. That is her baby, Windi.

What do you think about the Coton evolution these last years?
The Coton has changed, however, I’m not sure that it is the original Coton, that once graced the country of Madagascar. The Coton of today is very beautiful, but certainly not true to it’s origin .


Can you describe the "ideal" Coton ?
Of Course! Read the standard..

 

If you're participating to dog shows, what are your motivations, and what are your criterion for choosing them?
Dog shows are as important as a person wants to make them. As long as I enjoy showing, I will continue to do so. I do not use a handler, not do I put a lot of importance on wins. It should be fun for you and the dog. One is hoping to see the ideal dog/Cotons, which is not always the case. Often a lot of breedings will take place to duplicate a dog that is winning. This dog may be of type, or may not be, so unfortunately some breeding will take place that are not true of the standard.

 

When you're breeding, what are the éléments you're taking into account to choose the dam and the sire ?
They must compliment each other, and have the qualities that I find important.. This means a balance of good traits. One dog may have a “great” front and an “okay” rear. Then the other dog must have a “great” rear.


Is there a question that you would like we answer you ? If yes which one ? And can you answer ?
Yes. Has anyone addressed the issue of the preservation of the breed? No, and this is very important. A committee needs to be formed to promote the historical preservation. Devoted to the procurement, care, and to display objects of lasting interest or value at all World Shows. Once the breed becomes an AKC breed, then the representation should be at all specialities.. Things are already being lost, because some breeders do not want to admit that they ever existed. The explanation for that is that most of the Coton breeders are “new to the world of breeding, and do not understand that you are suppose to be preserving a breed, not changing it to their ideas of what they are breeding!



Answers and Pictures by Carol Hugues - kennel of Tara


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