Is there a way to tell if Coton was abused by previous owner?

by Sylvia Beck
(Kitchener, Ontario, Canada)

We adopted our Coton 3 years ago. Indy is now 6. We still have many issues with him. We wonder if he was abused by his previous owner. Can anyone tell me the signs if a Coton has been abused?

He likes sleeping/hiding under our bed. If we come too near the bed with our feet when he is under there, he growls. He was also very jumpy/nervous when we got him. If you sat down beside him on the couch he would immediately jump off. That way, he is not jumpy anymore.

We've also had continuous issues with him going in the house, First it was pooping. He stopped that the first year. Then all of a sudden, we would find pee here and there, even though we continuously let him out. We have a little Yorkie Poo who he has for a companion. Our Yorkie poo is 11 and also a male. Then he stopped the peeing for months and months. Now he has started again. We would find pee around the bed corners or normally on our carpet under our kitchen table. Its got so bad again we just threw out that carpet last week. He has ample opportunity to go outside, he always goes out with our other dog. We have a huge yard we know he loves exploring.

We love him but the peeing all the time in the house again is getting very frustrating. Sometimes he yelps for no reason. We just had him at the vet as he was walking around with a hunched back,not all the time, for part of the day he's himself and then all of a sudden he gets into the hunched mode and walks very slowly. She couldn't find anything wrong with his spine, back or legs. They did a blood test to check his kidneys. Two numbers are elevated but not above the normal range.

We are at a loss at what is going on with him. We wonder if his previous owner was kicking him? Would anyone have any ideas? Thank you, Sylvia

Comments for Is there a way to tell if Coton was abused by previous owner?

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Dec 17, 2016
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Coton is a shy breed
by: Anonymous

I think what you are experiencing is, unfortunately, fairly common with Cotons. They tend to be a shy/anxious breed. When I brought mine to the vet for a first visit (she was 3 months old), the vet, who is an animal behaviorist, was somewhat concerned about her temperament. When I brought her back a few weeks later, she was even more concerned. She did not like my pup's temperament, at all. Shy/anxious dogs are fearful dogs. They can turn aggressive. Under the vet's supervision, I contacted an animal behaviorist dog trainer who helped my dog, who is now three years old. I learned that a number of dogs within this breed are anxious. This is not a dog that is bred for temperament, unfortunately. My vet thought my dog's parents should not be bred and that I should alert them to my pup's temperament. The breeders did not care. They made excuses for the Coton and they have been breeding my dogs parents steadily ever since. I contact the Coton registry (One of the three main registries) and they never returned my calls or emails). In matter of fact, I am not in contact with the breeders anymore, either. I seemed to be ignored. So, there must be a reason they have chosen to ignore me (Vet who is an animal behaviorist doesn't like what she saw and told me that a reputable breeder would seriously be interested in the information). We love our dog but, yes, she has accidents, usually they are related to anxiety. Your Coton's former owners probably did nothing wrong...

Nov 26, 2016
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Start to go in heat
by: Anonymous

I was wondering what the age was that a female would start to go in heat? My pup is 7 months old and is starting to go to the neighbors house after they have allowed there dog to come to our house. She has never taken off and is starting to do it more frequently now.

Oct 13, 2016
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Our Coton Indy
by: Sylvia

Thank you for the comments/advice re Indy. Just to let you all know it turns out after testing it was discovered he had a urinary tract infection, which may have been causing his peeing here and there, we wonder now if he's had it for quite awhile. He's not walking around hunched up very much anymore, we think know he had just pulled a muscle. All in all, he seems cheerful, playful and much better now. Thank you all of your responses.

Oct 13, 2016
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Maybe a Solution
by: Linda

I wonder if a Thunder Jacket might help. The jacket makes them feel more secure. It's worth a try.
http://www.petco.com/shop/SearchDisplay?storeId=10151&manufacturer=Thundershirt&sType=SimpleSearch&langId=-1&catalogId=10051

Oct 07, 2016
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Answer
by: Pilgrim's Mom

While I can not tell about the prior abuse I wanted to tell you tha our boy Pilgrim was adopted after Katrina. He was left b hind and a stray with a degree in escaping. When I first heard about him he had been captured but was not adoptable as he from being on the run had developed severe heart worms and they were not sure he could take the 5 month treatment with arsenic for them. He went from being a rather happy go lucky stray in New Orleans to a older dog on the heart worm treatment that must be kept quiet and in a kennel all the time absolutely no rough housing. Only allowed out by himself to take care of his business. He was in this situation for 5 months. He became because of the treatment very weak and sickly. The foster mom who had him was watching him get weaker all the time and as sure he was not going to make it. I was volunteering at the no kill shelter and was asked if I would consider taking him on if he made it through because it could be that even after all that he had been through his heart worm might not be neg. result. The shelter wanted him to live out his life the best that he could. I told them that it was total up to Skyler our rescue who was a youngster and full of it. Well Skyler was absolutely wonderful to Pilgrim. Pilgrim really could have cared less as he was soo weak. He came back with a neg. hooray but also a damaged heart and a severe murmur.
One of the side effects of all this was severe like kennel cough coughing. When he gets these spasms of coughing he leaks urine and this happens all the time because the coughing is trigured by drinking, excitement, eating, being picked up, and playing. So there was constant dribbling. We purchased on line male belly bands and he wears them all the time he knows these as his speedos. He does not mind wearing them. Actually prefers to be dressed in them. I hope this little insight will help you with your love's problems. Our Pilgrim will always have issues and I have only mentioned one of them. But what he gives to us and the ways he loves us makes the world a better place for us all here. Good luck and this may help you or some others. Praying for him and you.

Oct 04, 2016
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abused dog
by: Pat

I got my male Coton when he was a little over 2 from a lady in N. Dakota who said she was retiring from breeding Cotons due to her age. That was a total lie! I got my boy and have had him now for almost 4 years. I took him to behaviorists and was put on all kinds of meds. When I got him he had part of one ear missing, gingivitis, and a bad skin infection. The worst was that he won't allow anyone to touch him! Even I after all this time he runs away from me with his tail between his legs. He obviously was abused and since I reported this woman to the Humane Society, I will never know what happened. The first time I picked him up he bit me. He no longer does that, but he is just so fearful. I did get him a female Coton from a breeder and he loves her. I hoped he would pick up her wonderful socializing skills and loving, but he hasn't to this day. He stopped peeing in the house once I had him neutered. He is terrified also of leashes and crates, no doubt due to the abuse from this prior owner. I don't think he will ever come around be being comfortable. I have spent so much money to try, but nothing has worked. It breaks my heart.

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