- It's important to pick an experienced groomer for
your Coton. Although more groomers aren't familiar
with the Coton coat, the more knowledge they have of
grooming different types of dogs the better the
chances are that they will be able to keep your dog's
coat healthy and cut well.
- Since, most groomers are not familiar with the Coton,
you will have to tell them what you want the dog to
look like. View the pictures to your left for exmaples of a
shorter vs. a longer coat. If you don't know how to
explain to your groomer what you need it is best to
simply give them a picture.
- If you decide the long full coat does not fit your life
style, if you spend a lot of time at the beach, you may
want a shorter coat. The most common hair cut
patterns for the Coton are styles cut similar to a Shih-
Tzu, Lasa, or Bichon. A very comfortable attractive
coat length is 2-3 inches, usually achieved by cutting
by hand. One plus for you is once cut, the coat grows
back slowly. Plan your haircuts seasonally, and you
should only visit the groomer 2 or 3 times a year.
As you know, your white dog will not always stay white, without maintenance. My Cotons, like any other breed, are fond of dirt, sticks, playing with leaves, and any other manner of things that leave them looking more like a junkyard dog than the beautiful pearly white puppy I once knew. Although I firmly believe that anyone can learn to properly groom their own Coton, some people choose not too, and that is where a groomer comes in. Below are some tips to help you, and your groomer, decide what type of cut would be best for your new companion.