Coton de Tulear is STILL super-hyper

by Linda
(Seabrook, TX)

My Coton, Carly, is 3 yrs old this month, and is STILL super hyper and suffers from severe separation anxiety. We can leave for 2 minutes or 2 hours (doesn't matter), and she acts like we've been gone all day!! Is this normal for this breed?? I 'inherited' Carly 1 1/2 yrs ago so I didn't do research on the breed prior to owning; will she ever calm down?

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Sep 09, 2017
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My Coton 4 years old NEW
by: Anonymous

My Juliet is very hyper, especially when she sees other dogs. She's also jealous when I pet another dog and will attack that dog.
Yes she jumps on people, barks at people walking by then pulls me to the very spot they and their dogs walked. She doesn't care how big the passing dogs are. She's a major alpha and wants no other dog near our sidewalk.
Rarely she will let a strange dog pass and stays calm.
She also refuses treats unless she sees another dog eat them.
Hyper at night too.

Apr 11, 2012
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Still hyper
by: Vicky & Jonah (Az)

Do u mean hyper when u come home so she is very, very excited. When u come home just ignore her, no eye contact & do not say anything at all. A half hr. is not a long time.

Put ur groceries away or change ur clothes or what ever u do & just pretend u do not see her. Then once she has calmed down say hello & give her a milkbone or whatever ur greet is she is used to. Since she has been doing it for 3 yrs. the habit may take up to 6 mos. approx. to go away. U are actually just retraining the behavior.

Don't give in. Just before the behavior goes away it may get worse. That is ok just look at it as the kid throwing that last big fit. Just watch that once it goes away do not start greeting as soon as u enter again or u will bring it back. Good luck.

Apr 11, 2012
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CARLY'S ANXIETY
by: SHERRY/COTTON

HI Linda,
I have to say that I believe it is the breed. I have had dogs all my life and until I got Cotton I had never experienced anything like this. I used to work and be gone all day, dogs never acted like this. However, cotton is such a wonderful pet and companion to me she is well worth the extra effort. You said it doesn't matter if its a couple minutes or couple hours it is the same, Cotton is that way, she has to be in the room with me and if I go outside she needs to be able to see me or she barks and runs around in front of the door. We take her with us whenever possible, when we leave I fill her gong toys with treats, p'Butter or dry food. She usually will play with them and is ok as far as we know. When we return home she is so hyper for a few minutes, like carly will run around the house, drink water and be fine. I love this breed totally but would never recommend them for anyone not having alot of time to spend with them. Cotton is almost two (august) and I do not see her changing but that is ok. It is hard to think of them being unhappy while we are gone but at times we have to leave them. Good luck with her but I really do not seeing a big change in any of these dogs. It is so nice to share our stories and view each others dogs. As far as I am reading they all seem to be about the same in their habits, laying on their backs with front feet folded, back feet spread out and little heads laying sideways. They all love tummy rubs and are so devoted. What a great dog they are in addition to being just gorgeous. Maybe if some of these readers have an older coton, it would be nice to hear what they have to say. Perhaps with age they do calm down some. Would be interesting to have their input on this.

Apr 11, 2012
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Separation anxiety
by: Iris Miller

I do not believe it is because of the "breed" that a dog has separation anxiety, I read a parents magazine yesterday that talked about babies and separation anxiety also. The Coton is a very highly intelligent,social and intuitive breed. They pick up clues from you, feelings, and also your anxiety. I got Tuffy at a very young age, 6 weeks, and he came from a family kennel, mom, dad, siblings and four little human babies and children, I was working full time at the time and had to leave Tuffy for many hours every day. I did not know what that was going to do to him, until he was four months old, and then my neighbor informed me my dog cried and barked continually.His fear of being alone caused this problem. My dog Tuffy has severe separation anxiety. and we have to accept it and make him feel comfortable and secure as much as possible. I am a stay at home doggie mom and Tuffy is used to me being with him all the time, but I have appointments to keep where he cannot go along, such as Dr. appt. which I have had very many of this past year. I also have to go for physical therapy three times a week. I was hoping that would help him get used to me being away and coming back, but he seems worse now. I have tried repeatedly, all the suggested training to fix the separation anxiety, also holistic and prescribed medicine, and none of it works for us. When I get home Tuffy is hysterical jumping, crying, running around in circles, with the pent up stress of worrying about me. I just have to wait it out with him, with kindness, until he calms down. Once he goes to his water bowl to drink I know he is recovering. Then I can take him outside and walk him around to get some of the energy to disapate. I canot afford the cost of another dog and anyway, the experts say it makes no difference, the anxiety will still be there. Good luck and love,
Iris and Tuffy

Apr 10, 2012
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Hyper doggie
by: Jolie LaFleur's Mom

You didn't say why you inherited your baby; did she come from a home where there was someone home all day? Did she have other doggie siblings? Does she have her own "room" or crate? Possibly, if you have a certain place for her to go whenever its time for you to leave, mine go to the laundry room, which is "their" room, and they get a treat when I leave. They respond to the phrase "let's go to your room" and they wait on their beds for us to return. Possibly another doggie would be company or even a kitten, that will go into the room with them. You can try leaving a tshirt or something with your "smell" on it and a radio or tv on, so there are voices for comfort. I hope this helps. Good luck with your baby!!

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