Health Survey comments:   M1 means a male age 1;  F6 means a female age 6

M8 had a slipped disk which required a two week cage rest with Prednisone prescription, is unable to use hind legs.  This is very upsetting because he loves to run, jump, play, etc.  He has rough spots on the inside of the ear at tips -- not sure what these are.  Has allergies -- swollen eyes, runny nose.  Wheezes once in a while and coughs -- doesn't have kennel cough.  This is the best dog in the world but doesn't like children, doesn't like strangers until he gets to know them.  Loves family members, but will get fed up if he gives warning signals to leave him alone.  He loves to run, jump, walk, play, etc.  Will not ever leave him alone when we go on vacation.  Oldest son is in college, he will bark when we call son's name, but when son comes home, will be shyish, not sure how to react.  When we first received the puppy, he cried in his travel kennel at the airport and going home.  We bought a larger kennel.  When he got used to us, he would cry all night and we had to put the kennel in our room so he could sleep.  After he was potty trained and a little older, he was o.k. with sleeping by himself in his kennel and not in our room.  Socialization with my youngest son is where he bonded the most.  Loved to play with him.

M1 had terrible bite as puppy (teeth going into roof of mouth), needed lower canine teeth pulled to correct malocclusion.  Hip films taken at 4 months show possible dysplasia, but have not re-filmed.  Cannot maintain a complete gallop stride; breaks his run and "skips" a few steps then returns.  Patellas normal.  Has a grade 4 heart murmur caused by "restrictive ventricular septal defect".  This dog has the best personality of any dog I've ever had.  He is a joy both in and out of the home, loves everybody, all dogs, and is extremely adaptable t the different situations I put him in.  This dog's excellent personality is partly due to the fact that he was socialized daily during the 8-14 week period (I worked at a vet clinic and brought him with me).  His murmur has remained constant throughout his young life and does not interfere with his daily activities at all.

M2 seasonal grass allergies, rashes in paws, happy, always willing to please, thinks he is a "big" dog, hard worker, has bouts of "I don't want to".  Met many new people in his first weeks home; at 16 weeks began obedience.  Attended 12 weeks, passed basic.  At 14 months began agility training, we have recently become competitive in the sport.  Was attacked by a Rottweiler at 15 months, but now at 27 months has adjusted back to being the fun loving wrestler that he is.  Once ruptured an anal gland, otherwise very healthy and active.  He runs miles each day, as well as enjoying swimming, hiking, agility and flyball.

F3 social and friendly to everyone.  As soon as she had necessary shots, we were enrolled in puppy class to socialize and then at 7 months we enrolled in regular disciplinary class.  We went everywhere dogs are welcome; outdoor cafes, nursing homes, friend's homes, long walks to meet neighbors' dogs.  She is mayor of the neighborhood.

M2 one tear duct smaller than the other, had reaction to Advantix, caused itching and stress.  We use Frontline instead.  Had an inguinal hernia.  Excellent personality.  Calm, quiet, friendly, playful, smart, obedient and loving.  Occasionally whines.

F1 occasionally limps a bit after racing around, she is a joy!  But she is a bit fear aggressive when she first encounters other dogs or strangers in hats.  At one year of age she still has bowel related "accidents" even though she clearly does not want to displease us.  Sometimes she seems to strain, attempting to defecate with no result, and I wonder whether she perhaps does not fully have bowel control or something isn't properly developed?

M 4 months - Note:  this dog is not included in the statistical database because he was purchased at a pet store and his lineage is uncertain.  The breeder is in Missouri.  I purchased my Coton at American Kennels in New York City.  They said no other dogs have had health problems but I don't believe them.  At 8 weeks he had pneumonia, then a double ear infection, and now he is developing skin problems.  His eyes have been runny and they are itchy.  He licks excessively and has been VERY itchy since I purchased him.  Trying to figure out what he is allergic to..have tried hypo allergenic food which didn't help, did flea/mite treatment using a special shampoo from the vet, but he is constantly itchy.  He's dominant, public friendly, strange dog friendly, reactive.  His will is too strong and has been impossible to train.  He rarely obeys.  Nips and barks a lot.  I've spent a FORTUNE in the past few months on this puppy.

F ten months - urinates when greeting people but not submissive just excited, has been tested and nothing wrong physically.  Got her at 7 weeks - lives with Bull Mastiff older female - immediately wanted to play and annoyed the dog by jumping in her face.  Takes things out of her mouth - good thing this dog was used to small, annoying dogs have lived with an alpha Maltese for 14 years.  Took her to work and stores to greet people and pets - met Sheltie at work - always goes up and wants to play, found a Coton for play - they RECOGNIZED each other as being the same and started play in the way only Cotons can - amazing.  Has met some kids - likes them.  Only negative is she hates grooming which be began right away.  Threatens to bite but doesn't.  After it's over, same sunny personality.  This dog would prefer to be outside tracking things down all day if we were there - not an inside dog but tolerates it.  Sleeps with us and lies at the bottom of the bed face to the door.  Totally housebroken from the day we got her as long as we didn't leave her too long (4 hours).  If she didn't lose bladder control when excitedly meeting people, she would be perfect.  We've had several breeds, this is the smartest.

F1 no tearing or staining at all, received at 12 weeks, had been with a breeder with a young child and her enthusiasm for small children has remained with her.  Whenever we meet a small child she gets extremely excited and clearly enjoys the experience.  Loving and affectionate.  Can sometimes act timid, but mostly outgoing and friendly in all situations.  Plays well with other dogs, cats, as well as a few other species.  Initially barks at strange dogs, but after a few minutes is ready to play.  She is sometimes dominant with dogs she knows and sometimes submissive.  She barks at strange noises but I would not consider her overly reactive.

M six months - friendly, loving, playful, a little too friendly to people - over joyous when around other people, calm, friendly to strange dogs, early house broken, happy at all times

F8 hot spots eliminated with grain free diet, allergic to vaccines - head shaking, temperature rise - OK with Benadryl, sweet, loving, very gentle, loves kids, cats and other dogs, outgoing and affectionate

M2 very calm with family, barks at strangers and people he isn't familiar with, loves other white or small dogs, submissive and pees when we see the vet.  Likes women better than men, very loving and playful with the immediate family, friendly to people he knows well, but is cautious and can be shy.  He barks when people come to the door but not excessively.  He was socialized as a puppy with other dogs.  Has weekly play dates with other Cotons and a Tibetan Terrier.  He is very calm around other Cotons and tends to be more submissive than dominant.  He is wonderful with children - gets along with teenagers.  His  health has been great and he is very loyal to my family but is most attached to me, is mom.

M1 home and public friendly but will not let strange dogs enter house or garden

F2 joyful personality, likes to bark

F6 occasional sneezing, worse in Spring, bony lump formed at vaccine injection site

M4 died of mast cell tumors throughout body 3 days before fourth birthday, calm and loving to immediate family, did not like anyone coming to door, growled at strangers - got puppy at 16 weeks, very calm and easy in all aspects.  Around two years old began nipping at kids and growling at the glass front door.  Did not want strangers to enter and was aggressive at door.  Biggest problem was could not be trusted with children

F8 show, winter nose, 4 litters

M1 show, very good personality, rear dew claws

F3 intact, very outgoing, friendly, all people fall in love with her and want to buy her

F6 intact, winter nose which has gotten to charcoal, excessive tarter buildup on teeth, from time to time BUN level increases slightly but return to normal within week.  Fatty umbilical hernia and 2 of 10 puppies also had a fatty umbilical hernia.  Personality:  she is conditioned to react to squirrels mostly.  Have seen a new reaction that is concerning me.  She seems to keep little children at "bay" when they come onto the property.  She has rushed another little child.  I have seen a pattern that they are mostly skinny kids with skinny legs, or shorts with legs exposed.  On the street she does not do this, only at our home, and only when she feels she is provoked.  The alpha of her breeding pack, she urinates over the other female's urination.  Very maternal but recently wants her own space and is the "Grandma" authority when the younger ones come to try to invade her rest.  She is still very playful with them otherwise and is a lump of love to humans.  I feel she is very balanced socially, friendly to other dogs, loves humans.  The only concern is this new thing with children in our home.  It frightened me to see her rush and even try to nip one of the children in the leg, as if to keep them at bay.  I do not know if she thinks the child is a squirrel or it is because she has been away from children for years now.  It would be interesting to find out when she is placed out, that if she gets out more than she does now, that this protectiveness with children will subside.  I will place her in a childless or older adolescent household for that reason.  She has developed a mole on her rump and we are monitoring her.

M4 show, chronic prostatitis, extremely outgoing with people--continues to approach strangers as though he is still a puppy

F6 pet, altered, crooked teeth and jaw out of alignment, a happy go lucky personality

M2 show, this dog has never been socialized by his breeder.  He is worried in the show ring, worried about new people.  Until the age of 5 months he has never seen new people, trees, or anything.

F5 show, wonderful family member and wonderful mother

M 10 months, show, intact, happy, outgoing and gets along well with other dogs, loves children

F5 altered, very small cataract one eye, extreme reaction to vaccine, will not vaccinate again, home and public friendly

M1 show, intact, personality--just a love!  Easy going but does alert to strange noises when inside the home, then wags his tail when he meets new people and licks their hand.  Sometimes tries to dominate my 9 year old male cat.  Other times they get along fine--sibling rivalry.

M4 intact, show, allergic vaccine reaction--rise in temperature and lethargic, home and public friendly

F2 altered, aggressive to strangers but submissive with owner (adults).  Not good with kids.  Will not stay at a kennel or with strangers.  She is extremely intelligent, learns tricks very quickly, very close to her family but apprehensive with strangers.  She isn't a good dog for kids.  She tends to snap at them.  I question her sense of smell because when we play hide and seek, she will not find us even if we're close to her.  Had swollen anal glands when younger, not as much now that she is 2 years old.

F3 show, outgoing, proud, wonderful

M1 altered, very friendly with dogs and known people, wary of strangers.  Will bark at new people in the house.

F2 show, tricolor and retained all color, bright, loving, protective of her progeny and people, no fear of other dogs,
very alpha with other dogs but never people - a high alpha female with all other dogs in pack, but extremely submissive
and loving to humans - very outgoing and happy - 2 litters with 3 and 6 puppies - 3 puppies with fat pad hernias

F1 intact, 17 pounds, bilateral retinal dysplasia, unsure of self in strange settings

F 11 months, show, happy and outgoing

F1 altered, happy go lucky, pushy, rude, dominant to other dogs and people.  Will cower down to the ground around little girls to get them to play with her, has terrible house training problems.  Even after training she will pee inside and outside as she desires, has ruined carpet in the home.

F2 show, friendly and calm in public and at home, one litter with 3 puppies

M2 show, a very relaxed and happy dog with no issues.  Exceedingly tolerant of other intact males and very gentle with young puppies as well.  Very easy going and a pleasure to share his life with him.  Has sired 2 litters.

F2 show, friendly and calm in public and home

F1 show, sweet, loving and good with other dogs and children

F2 show, very quiet and loving, goes to everyone to be petted, 1 litter with 2 puppies

M9 show, generally loving toward humans, bit owner twice when food was involved, dog aggressive, sired 1 litter with 4 puppies, died just prior to 10th birthday, enlarged heart diagnosed 8 months prior to death.

M5 altered, bilateral cherry eye, right patella grade 3, extremely intelligent and knows the name of every toy, does not like to be picked up at times and will bite owner or snarl and show teeth.  Loves to play ball and will curl up with owners on bed for petting and cuddling.  Does not like having a new little girl puppy in the house, but tolerates her, allows her to be pushy and dominant.

M3, show, ears black tipped, overtly seeks attention, happy clown, extreme talker, sired 2 litters

M2 altered, fairly dominant, very loving and sweet to everyone he met as a baby - more wary of new people, loves toys, games, very agile, very loving to us and all people he knew as a puppy.  Loves to kiss!  Loves to play with most other dogs.  He barks a lot and acts aggressive to people who come to the house that he doesn't know (unless they bring a dog with them).  But he's usually very friendly with everyone when we're away from the house and this street.  Early socialization included his going everywhere, meeting adults, kids, babies, dogs, cats, etc.  At about 8 months we went to puppy kindergarten where he did fairly well.

M3, altered, very protective of his owner (mom).  Very playful, wonderful temperament, very loving if his mom is home, if not he is very quiet with the dad at home.  Possible previous owner (male) abused dog.  My pet was purchased at 6 months old and had a previous owner.  Perhaps socialization was not good.  We feel perhaps the man of the household could have mistreated him in some way.  He is attracted more to women than men.  He makes a wonderful companion for myself.  He sometimes does growl which I try to pick him up to do something like brush him.  This is expressive (talking); he would never bite nor has he ever bitten me or anyone.  I don't feel it is a problem, but he is not the perfect Coton.

F 5 months, home and public friendly, 7 pounds

M 8 months, 13.8 pounds, pet, altered, home and strange dog friendly, happy, outgoing, energetic, loving, sometimes demanding attention

F8 pet, altered, underbite, Cushings Disease

F8 show quality, liver cancer

F7 show quality, energetic but a nice dog, 3 litters, patella luxation, left elbow grade 2, left hip fair, progressive brain tumor

F8 show quality, sweet temperament, 3 litters with 4 puppies in each litter, heart murmur grade 4, progressive heart disease, metro valve problem, taking Anapril

M9 intact, sired 4 litters, 15 puppies total, teeth are worn down a bit more than normal for age, just cosmetic, no impairment, soft enamel thought due to insufficient maternal nutrition during pregnancy.  Beginning six months ago he has suffered repeated anal gland infections.  Currently he is on a six week course of clavomax and we are considering surgery.  A fun-loving boy, goes many places with his Dad, and is friendly and outgoing.  Barky but not obnoxious.  He is friendly to visitors in the home and friendly in public.

F5 spayed, had a little trouble with urinary incontinence but raw food diet (BARF) cleared it up for three years now, very sweet, outgoing, funny, easy to train, huge vocabulary, thinks owner is easy to train.  This dog was well socialized from early on and has been a very wonderful companion, well loved by family and friends alike. Her big health problem, and my heartbreak, is that something went wrong during/after spaying and she developed partial (focal) seizures (which I think may be often misdiagnosed as obsessive-compulsive disorder). She gets chiropractic care and acupressure treatments that help tremendously but any little pain (stomach ache, shots, flea bites, sudden high-pitched noises, subluxated vertabrae) will set off a spacing out or head flipping ("fly-catching movement") seizures.  Speculation is that there was an underlying genetic thing that was set off by the sedative ace promazine (given pre-surgery) or that simply the stress of surgery and spending the night at the vet set this into motion in her nervous system.  She has been brilliant at figuring out how to manage this problem, but the reality is that she has never again been the dog she was prior to surgery.

M9  neutered, tobacco pigment, teeth started going bad at 6 and now missing quite a few at age 9, at age 9 had a ruptured disk, surgery and a long road to recovery, nice personality, submissive and friendly to visitors in home

F1  spayed, lip pigment partial, had some baby teeth pulled out that did not fall out.  Personality:  very playful and loving, may not have had proper socialization training which may contribute to excessive barking, fear aggression, fearful of any new or loud sounds, strangers, visitors, particularly men, has bitten other dogs

F1  Eye ring pigment just a dot, otherwise pink around eyes.  Personality is dominant, stubborn, a barker, very playful, friendly with people she knows very well, but still barks at them first, friendly with family members, friendly and loving with me.  Puppy shipped to me by air at 10 1/2 weeks.  Was terrified on arrival and I couldn't coax her out of crate so I gently introduced my hand and started stroking her while lifting her out of crate.  That night, puppy slept in the crate next to me on my bed with my hand in the crate to calm her.  Started socializing by introducing her to my very calm dog in house.  Took puppy everywhere to introduce her to children, dogs, cats and adults.  Adults and children held her and also gave her treats.  As long as I held her or others held her, she was OK but when she was on the ground, she would start barking and act aggressive.  She also would jump unexpectedly out of my arms and bark and act aggressive by barking and trying to bite when someone or something moved.  The only one she bit was my other dog but was put in her place quickly.  Puppy has bitten my daughter's dog, who is very submissive, about 4 to 5 times.  She tried to bite my 1 1/2 year old grandson while he was in h is father's arms and puppy was in my arms.  She repeatedly tried to bite my 9 year old grandson -- he tends to move very quickly.  All of this happened during her first year.  She has gotten better about not trying to bite but still barks at every little sound, movement, or stranger.  She gets so wound up that she can't seem to stop the barking.  Puppy is OK with the other grandchildren and seems to like them.  Other training:  took puppy to puppy pre-K where she learned to walk with a leash, sit, and come.  This training helped with the biting issue but not the barking

M1 umbilical hernia with intestines protruding, collapsed trachea, excessive barking, people and dog biter, fear aggressive, not neutered

M2  tricolor, apricot and black on ear tips and rump, juvenile cataract one eye, vitreous not normal both eyes, skips when running sometimes, very friendly and barks when strange noise or knocking at door at home

M1 testicular torsion, had testicle removed, no breeding restrictions, not genetic

F3 age at first heat 13 months, 10 months between heats, 2 litters, 5 live puppies, 5 stillborn Total 10 puppies, fatty umbilical hernia, in each litter some puppies with umbilical hernias

F6 very sociable, but also very protective of her "human", 2 litters, two puppies died in first litter born with intestines outside body

F2 no health problems, show but altered, personality - friendly and outgoing, likes to playbite her owner

F2 very kind and likes most people, a bit afraid of new people but likes them when she gets to know them. When pups were 2 days old, a man came to look at them and she bit him. 1 litter, 1 puppy born dead, the two live males have missing testicles.

F6 teeth very small and seem like they haven't come completely through, personality - will stand up for her rights towards another dog but then back down and hide behind us if another dog approaches

F8 occasional reverse sneezing, diet helped urinary tract infections, sweet and lovable, loves to socialize, retired from breeding after two litters with one stillborn, easy to manage coat, wonderful temperament, a social butterfly

F6 4 litters, 15 puppies, first heat at 15 months, 10 months between heats

M1 a few ear (fungal) infections, happy, dominant, sociable and maybe a bit overconfident. Was socialized with adults, maybe not enough with children, sometimes a bit wary of children

F8 missing a premolar, possible allergy to fleas, grass, etc, seasonal chewing of feet and base of tail, alpha, cocky but will back down from other dogs, most of her puppies tend to be dominant, lost two puppies because contractions weren't strong enough, first puppy had been breech, 5 litters, average 3 in litter, one puppy has front legs turning out 90 degrees.

M2 very friendly and outgoing to other people and dogs, outstanding temperament, allergic to leptospirosis vaccine, sired 3 litters, 10 puppies, all healthy

M3 no known problems, sired 7 litters with 22 offspring and no health problems (Note: this dog was checked as a female in the survey and this has been corrected)

F4 wonderful temperament, extensive early socialization, competitive obedience classes at 3 months, 1 litter with 4 healthy puppies

M3  pet, neutered, excellent teeth with no plaque, skips but orthopedic surgeon under anesthesia found nothing wrong, OFA hip grade excellent for both hips, surgeon and holistic vets think it is a habit.  Sociable and generally OK with other small and white dogs, but reacts to big and black dogs and has nipped them.

Health Survey Database

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