Tuffy's vacation (from Mom)

by Iris Miller
(Bristol,CT USA)

For the first time in his 2 1/2 year life Tuffy and I were separated for over three weeks, I had to fly to the west coast to meet my newborn granddaughter and there was no room there for Tuffy.

It was pretty rough for me being apart from him, and I am sure he is not yet over the confusion of who he belongs with now. He is also jumpy and nervous and barks a lot, when he rarely barked before. My son and daughter in law took care of him (he had a few potty accidents in the house, and never had before), and Tuffy went to work with my son almost every day (see his pictures at work, one of them looks very sad), I know he missed me. I sure missed him!

My son is a bit of a jokester, he took a bottle of Limoncello I made and used it as a prop in a picture of himself as a Doctor and Tuffy a patient on an intravenous drip (of liquor) to assure me he was being well cared for. ha ha Hope you all like the new photos.
love Tuffy's mom Iris

Before and after my Coton's colors

by Iris Miller
(Bristol, CT USA)

Tuffy was such a cute colorful puppy (one of the main reasons I chose him) and then got his first haircut just before one year old, and all the colors receded, he is all white except for some grey hairs on his ears and a few stray black hairs in his coat.

I will add another photo of him in full color coat just before he got so matted he needed to be shaved(very traumatic for both of us) and was from then on, all white.

Tuffy grooming himself

by Iris Miller
(Bristol, CT USA)

When Tuffy was a few month old his hair was gloriously beautiful and long, similar to a Maltese. He loved to shake his hair and it would part down the middle. People always asked me how long it took me to do his hair and I always answered "he does that himself", I had no clue about matted hair under that coat. I brushed his hair regularly, but suddenly it became matted, maybe because of the humid hot weather at the time or since then maybe what I read about this being a normal part of their coat evolving.

Here is Tuffy at a few months old, trying to brush his coat and get the mats out, but he got bored and chewed the brush. We ended up at the groomer and he had to be shaved. Poor pup. He really missed shaking out that beautiful hair. He is 2 years old and all white now, as my other pictures show him (really! It's the same dog)

How am I doing?

by Iris Miller
(Bristol, CT USA)

Here's a better photo of Tuffy's haircut, this is the third time I have groomed him myself, and the first time I cut most of the long hair off his ears. I know it's not a professional looking "do" but I am getting more confident and getting better each time.
Iris

Enough of this Snow!

by Iris Miller
(Bristol, CT)

Tuffy loves eating fresh snow and diving into it, but this was just way too much snow! He was happy to get warm again! Oh, sweet spring, please come soon!

Tuffy's summer trim

by Iris Miller
(Bristol, CT USA)

Tuffy lights up my life!

More Coton de Tulear swimming pool stories

by Iris
(Bristol, CT USA)

Our trip to California last summer was fun for Tuffy. He met a lot of family and his cousin (my sister's dog Sparky) and had his first swimming pool experience (in two different pools).

I wish I could add more than one picture here (because all he pictures tell the story). Tuffy can swim but was insecure alone on the water; he prefers to hitch a ride on the shoulder of a person. (we all had scratch marks on our chests from him groping to climb up on us). Tuffy was okay but not loving it. He tolerated it. Here is the rare photo of him swimming alone.

AFter this photo he got out of the pool and was playing chase around the pool with Sparky. Somehow Tuffy knew Sparky is afraid of the water - when Sparky nearly caught up with Tuffy, Tuffy took a quick dive into the pool to escape him. It worked! Sparky would not follow him into the water. We all got a good laugh at those two characters.

Tuffy in search of a boredom relief toy

by Iris Miller
(Bristol, CT USA)

Tuffy has been digging deep in his little toy basket trying to find something to interest me to get me to play with him. Last night he found a little stuffed frog he played with as a four month old puppy that I call "frog-butt" because he always held it in his teeth by the butt. We had a lot of fun play fetch and tug with it, but not long enough according to Tuffy.

Here he is, waiting patiently for me to try and grab it away from him again. He also knows I prefer not to bend over so he gets up higher on the couch for me to sit and play.

Another Coton de Tulear office dog

by Iris Miller
(Bristol, CT)

Sometimes Tuffy gets to go to work with my son. Here he is on the job, working.

Tuffy is my hearts delight (Coton de Tulear)

by Iris Miller
(Bristol,CT USA)

Springtime in Connecticut. My two year old Coton de Tulear,Tuffy, loves the garden. We walk around every day looking for more beautiful surprises popping up through the soil. His job is checking it out to see how it's growing, what's coming up and how it smells and tastes. He seems to recognize the edible flowers. Tuffy loves flowers.

Two days ago he thought he found new friends-bumble bees! He stood up tall on his hind legs and tried to climb the bush to chase them when they zoomed into the Azalea blooms. Yesterday he found a black bird feather on the grass and first was afraid of it, then started pawing it like a kitten would, trying to get it to move on it's own. His daily discoveries delight me. Tuffy is my heart's delight.

Tuffy was a tri colored Coton puppy

by Iris Miller
(Bristol, CT USA)

Here is Tuffy as a little puppy just a few weeks old. Tuffy is now all white (see our other photos )

Used to be Tri-Color Coton de Tulear

by Iris Miller
(Bristol,CT USA)

I am adding this "before" photo of Tuffy for the Coton owner who posted a question about tri-color changing to white. I wrote back to her that my dog got matted and had to be shaved, and since then his hair has been all white.

Tuffy loved his long hair, he frequently stood at the air conditioner vent in front of the patio door and would watch his ears and hair blowing in the "wind", He loved his long hair and was devastated when it got all shaved off. (Okay, I am one of those humans that attributes human emotions to dogs, and I truly believe it). ;-)

Yawn and snooze, king Tuffy

by Iris Miller
(Bristol,CT USA)

Tuffy can't get my attention away from the computer so he sneaks a snooze on my pillow to keep an eye on me and make sure I don't get away (he usually sleeps at the foot of my bed).

I caught his yawn and snooze in these two photos.
Today he got to go to the office with my son, his second time and he already knows what "go to work means". I think any word I say following the word "go" excites him, ie: go walk. He took one look back to make sure mom's still going to be here.
I love that dog!

puppy hugs and love,
Iris

Tuffy in his safe cave

by Iris Miller
(Bristol, CT USA)

Here is the carrier I wrote about to "our little Vinny" how I trained Tuffy to ride in the car. As long as I took him out in his carrier, he felt safe. He still runs and hides in there when we play and also just to be secure in his own "cave". Tuffy lost all those beautiful colors with his first haircut to get rid of matting, and when it grew back it was all white.

Tuffy's lost Love, Emma

by Iris Miller
(Bristol,CT USA)

Here is the follow up from my story in Couch Toppers about my dog's attraction to other dogs who look like him. I am showing pictures of that "older woman" Emma (on the right), a seven year old poodle mix Tuffy fell in love with when he just turned two years old.

Tuffy loves the Fall season

by Iris Miller
(Bristol,CT USA)

Just like me, Tuffy loves to romp and feel the fall leaves crunch underfoot.

The Fall colors were awesomely spectacular this year in New England. I could hardly drive the car because of the amazing color distraction.
Iris and Tuffy

Santa Tuffy Coton best wishes to all my Coton buddies

by Iris Miller
(Bristol,CT)

My guy Tuffy is my best friend and the smartest cutest dog in the world!, says I.

My Prince Charming

by Iris Miller
(Bristol,CT USA)

Tuffy has so many expressions, this one is so sweet and full of pride in himself
because he got to sit on the people chair.

He really is very charming,

love,
Iris

Tuffy's Coton family album his Mom Chloe and dad Rowdy

by Iris Miller
(Bristol, CT USA)

Tough Guy "Tuffy" Coton de Tulear is smarter than the average dog, he is cute, sensitive, loving, adorable and a real charmer. Tuffy is sweet like his mother "Chloe", and he is also like his father, a bit "Rowdy"!

An Irresistable scent

by Iris Miller
(Bristol,CT USA)

Does your Coton suddenly discover one spot on the grass or ground that is so irresistable they are mesmerized by it? Do they roll around in it in heavenly bliss to get it all over them, and rub their face all over it? With my Tuffy sometimes it's a plant, grass roots, motor oil or the grossest, once a dead frog!

A dog trainer told me they are scent marking when they do that, but I believe there is more to it than that. Tuffy's actions remind me so much of cat behavior. He looks like a cat drunk on catnip. Is there a plant similar with that effect on dogs?

I look forward to your input on this issue.

With my Tuffy Coton de Tulear it's all about love, confidence, and attitude

by Iris Miller
(Bristol, CT USA)

My dog Tuffy Coton is a 2 year old wonder! He is very intuitive, fun loving, and a joy to live with. Obviously, this guy is the love of my life!
Need I say more? (just ask me!) Moxamomma Iris

Does your Coton de Tulear love sweets?

by Iris Miller
(Bristol,CT)

I confess, I love sweets and Tuffy waits patiently, knowing he is going to get some cake crumbs from me and anyone bearing baked goods.. (*I NEVER give him chocolate in any form!)
My daughter-in-law Dawn is attending culinary school to be a pastry chef. She brings home samples, and tonight she came in uniform with trays of biscuits, scones, coffee cake, and other cakes from todays work at school. Tuffy has become accustomed to Dawn's treat offering and here he is excited and leaping, being charming for a crumb.

Has your dog laughed at you?

by Iris Miller
(Bristol)

Tuffy laughs a lot. Last night I told him "Tuffy. sometimes you make a funny expression, sometimes your face looks like a baboon", and Tuffy cracked up laughing. I said it a second time and he laughed again (the facial equivalent of a laugh).