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Coton Connection, Issue #100 - Cabin Fever Cures for Your Coton de Tulear
August 30, 2023

Welcome Coton Lovers:

Stuck Inside? No Problem! Exercise Ideas for Your Coton

I hope you're enjoying whatever season you’re in where you live. I’m having a great summer. Lucy and I both did fantastic on our 2 week separation in July while I was on my cruise. It’s such a relief that she did so well. The only thing I’d do different next time is stay away from the Mediterranean in July. Yikes, I thought Florida was hot!! Greece was literally on fire when we were there.

Even though Greece makes Florida feel so much cooler in comparison, It’s still freakin’ hot here, which makes providing Lucy with exercise challenging. Most dogs shouldn’t be outside for long in these extreme conditions, but for Lucy it’s even more dangerous to be in the heat, as it can be a catalyst for her seizures.

But dogs need exercise, so what do we do?

I don’t have a pool, long hallways to run down, or stairs - so I’ve been on the hunt for ways to keep Lucy physically and mentally stimulated. And hey, if she can shed those few extra pounds that her anti-seizure medication added, that's a win too!

I recently starting teaching her how to use these communication buttons. Have you seen the videos where dogs communicate by hitting the voice activated buttons? I thought, “Hey, Lucy’s smart - let’s see what she has to say.” But they don’t seem to be going over too well with her. I think that’s probably more my fault than hers because it requires A LOT of patience, but I think I have to give it more time.

I found another simple indoor exercise that works well for Lucy because she’s so food motivated. It’s a fun way to get a little exercise in and make her work for her food. Check out this quick video.

I touched a little bit on indoor exercise in last month’s newsletter, but I’ve written a new article with 32 fun ideas to keep your Coton mentally and physically stimulated. Whether you’re in the summer heat or winter freeze, keeping your dogs from getting bored can be challenging indoors.

If it was up to Lucy, she’d just sleep all day, but I know that lack of mental and physical exercise can lead to health and behavior problems. So, I’m going to keep trying new ideas until the cooler weather comes back and we can go on our long walks again.

As always, I’d love to hear your ideas! How to you provide dog enrichment activities indoors?

Hot Off the Press: What’s New on the Blog?

I often get ideas for new website articles from the questions people ask me. One reader asked for help because she was overwhelmed and exhausted by her brand new puppy. I told her she was not alone and that the puppy blues are pretty common. That sparked this article, Having a puppy is exhausting! Can anyone relate to that? I know I sure can! I hope this helps all you brand new puppy parents.

I also get frequent questions along the lines of, “Is my dog a Coton?” So, I wrote a couple new articles about that. One was about the difference between a Coton and a Maltese, since this is a common question I receive.

And the second article is about How to tell what breed your dog is. We all love our dogs no matter what, right? But did you know that there are actually benefits to knowing the specific breed of your dog?

If you have any questions you’d like me to write an article about or include in a future newsletter, just hit reply and let me know. I love knowing what’s on your mind!