OUR HISTORY

How it all began

Since I can ever remember I always dreamed of owning an Old English Sheepdog in my young days, however my parents didn't desire a long coated dog as much as I did so I grew up around Rhodesian Ridgebacks.

Some years later once I had flown the nest and married my husband a distant 30 years ago it was inevitable that the first addition to our family would be an Old English Sheepdog and we bought one from the Shepton kennels, we named her Sophie. We loved her dearly albeit that she was somewhat as mad as a hatter. When she was around 3 years old we accidentally stumbled across an advert that we found telling us that there was an Old English Sheepdog show in Chepstow. We went along and watched, talked to all the lovely people and from that day on we were addicted to dogs and dog showing. In those early years we had our mentors who were always more than happy to shower us with all their expertise and experience and I can't thank them enough for all their words of wisdom over the years.
My very first showdog was a daughter of the famous record holder Ch. Jedforest Don Carlos, she was called Kayellnjay Hot Gossip and she notched up a Junior Warrant and three Reserve Challenge Certificates. I kept a female from her first litter of two girls and named her Ch. Earlstoke Naughty but Nice, she notched up 84 junior warrant points and became the first Champion that I bred. My second Champion Earlstoke Rock Steady - out of Naughty but Nice by Oakfarm Oberon very nearly didn't make it into the showring, I didn't show her at an early age and once I decided to show her she was attacked very badly by a Rottweiler whilst she was out with my daughter; I thought that her confidence would have been shattered when she was around the big working dogs, but I needn't have worried, once the wounds had healed it was amazing how her confidence wasn't scarred in the least and I made her into a Champion at three consecutive shows.

A life-change because of dog showing

It is bizarre how one's life changes course; it is great to have such an addictive hobby, but it is unfortunately very expensive to travel and show!! and in those days with only one income to rely on this had become a drain on our resources. I saw that people were able to make a 'living' from grooming dogs so I decided in my infinite wisdom that I would become a 'dog groomer' and earn enough money to pay for the showing and feeding and veterinary treatment for the dogs. I would never have believed that over the years I would outgrow several premises, win prizes at grooming competitions and today teach aspiring groomers to start new careers as canine beauticians.

About the first dogs we imported and how the Cotons have developed in the UK since 1997

I can remember so clearly the moment that I simply fell in love with the Coton breed. It was in the early hours of the morning when I was preparing the Old English Sheepdogs to leave for a dogshow; my husband had been thumbing through the Our Dogs Annual and seen an advertisement - the picture of a woman surrounded by these beautiful little shaggy white coton dogs! - well I could hardly wait to try and track down some of these precious creatures. Eventually we managed to get in contact with the lady in the advert and together we arranged which puppies that would be most suitable for us. Then in 1997on a cold winters night I set off with the driver from the quarantine kennels to Belguim to meet Micky Ceriez at the Woodland Cottage Kennel. On reaching our destination in Belgium the following lunch time I was welcomed and introduced to the family - two and four legged. Unfortunately my visit was short as we had a strict time schedule but it was wonderful - all the cotons were as sweet as I had dreamed of and I was privileged to meet some of the well known names in the pedigrees that we see today. We said our goodbyes and I headed back to the UK with three little bundles of fluff otherwise known as Vincente, Vayadios and Valencia

Vayadios, Vincente and Valencia just after arriving in Quarantine

For the next six months their home was Devon International Quarantine Kennels which was owned by one of my very good friends and although I hated them being there I knew they were in good hands and it was the only way that I could introduce them to this country. They came through happy and unscathed and in November 1998 they were all admired on exhibition at Discover Dogs at Earls Court. Vincente and Vayadios were the first two Cotons to step foot onto a dog show in the UK on July 16th 1998 at Paignton and District Fanciers Association where they both won their classes and the dog came away with 'Res Best of Sex'.

In 1998 we decided to spend a few days in Finland and go to the World Show in Helsinki to watch the Cotons. I was in heaven.....120 coton entries, the largest entry in the Toy Group. Here I met for the first time many Coton enthusiasts and their dogs from all corners of the world and have remained friends since.

The trams in Helsinki

Cathy Armani from the L'echo des Elingues kennel in France and Eli de Luca from the Cotonbrie kennel in Italy are two of my friends that gave me the most inspiration in my early years in Cotons. Through their passion for breeding and showing I learnt a great deal and I will always be grateful to these two lovely people for their help, advice and inspiration through some difficult patches. They educated me in the finer points of the breed during visits to their homes and shows in France and Italy.

I believed that it was most important to observe and examine as many good dogs as possible in order to learn as much as I could about this breed so I also travelled to Oporto in Portugal to watch and be with the Cotons at the World Dog Show in 2001 and in 2002 went to the World Dog Show in Amsterdam to be with the Cotons but also to take one with me to show this time!!!


Italian Champion Cotonbrie Oh Sole Mio at Cotonkiss - The Ambassdor of the breed here in the UK

In 2000 Italian Champion Cotonbrie Oh Sole Mio flew from sunny Italy to join us at Cotonkiss and is probably the most renowned Coton in the UK. He started his show career here in the UK at Manchester in 2001 and became top Coton 2001, 2002, 2003 and in 2004 retained his title of top Coton but also gleaned the prestigious title of becoming Top Import Register All Breeds, an amazing achievement. A stunning dog who fits the breed standard like a glove and with personality plus and a good sense of humour! - the judges could not help but notice him. It was always reassuring when being judged by foreign judges who had experience of judging Cotons at shows most weeks confirming to me through their conversations and written critiques the quality of this little showman (Rainer Vourinen, Hans Lehtinen, J Juslin, Carla Molinary, Mr Bodegard, Mdm S Dessern).

In 2002 we travelled to the World Dog Show in Amsterdam and competed with the best in the world under Austrian judge Herr Deutcher; I was delighted for Sole to be pulled out 2nd in Open dog - 13 dogs in the class! Sole retired from the show ring at the end of 2004; I have to say that he is a delight to live, he is such a showman and exhibitionist - a wonderful showdog loving every minute showing off! he never lets me down and always has that little bit extra when asked and of course still producing some lovely progeny.

It has been an unforgettable journey - my mission to establish this breed here; it has had its elations and dissapointments and even though it has only taken from 2001 until January 2006 to be transferred from the Import Register to the full Breed Register our work with this breed is not complete yet.

My Philosophy

I never forget the old breeders who guided me when I first started showing dogs and how much I learnt from them. I have always tried to follow in the same vein in trying to help other enthusiasts if I possibly can - whether they have Cotonkiss dogs bred here or not; and I have made some really good friends through this - an added bonus!

We have based our Cotonkiss Cotons from what we believe to be quality stock from top kennels in Europe, our original imports coming from France, Italy, Belguim and Holland; the success of the Cotonkiss progeny can be seen since coming off the Imported Register 1st January 2006. This year with Cotonkiss youngsters owned by other exhibitors winning puppy stakes and group placings at General Championship Shows and also group placings at shows on the continent.

I sincerely think that quality should be more important than quantity and do hope that we don't ruin this incredible breed by the wrong people breeding for the wrong reasons; I like to think that breeders are breeding their dogs for the betterment of the breed - to strive to breed a better specimen for themselves in the next litter!!! not to be breeding just to be able to pay the mortgage.
I believe that all breeding stock should be health screened and personally we strive to do this here at Cotonkiss.

For anyone looking to purchase a puppy my advice to them would be: 1. Be selective. 2. Don't just buy from speaking on the internet - go and meet the breeders and their dogs. 3. Ask to see the parents of the dogs (you should always be able to see at least one parent). 4. Are they prepared to take the puppy back if it can't be kept? 5. Follow your heart but also your head.

Here at Cotonkiss we always try and encourage you to interact with the dogs on your visits. For those interested in grooming, take some time out and come and groom Cotons for a day at the salon with me so that you know exactly the care they require - I obviously do not let anyone loose on the showdogs but all my dogs are in seventh heaven when they are having their grooming sessions and are good to handle.
We are in the middle of moving house at the moment but in the near future my intentions are to be able to offer bed, breakfast and evening meal and daily grooming to our Cotonkiss bred dogs so that when you go off for your weekends, midweek breaks or hols you can do so with peace of mind.


The Coton de Tulear Club

The most important job for me to undertake for the progress of the breed and for the good of the Coton de Tulear themselves was to establish a fully functional official breed club recognised by the Kennel Club. Important for those interested in the breed to be able to have a point of contact for help and advice.
The club was inaugerated in 2001 and has gone from strength to strength. It has gone through its ups and down but has remained and will remain strong for its members. Educational events and fun events are planned throughout the year so that like minded people can get together to learn, enjoy themselves and have a good time. If you are someone with an interest in the Coton de Tulear breed for any reason please contact us, we are always happy to hear from you. For anyone interested the first ever Coton de Tulear Breed Show in the UK is taking place on Sunday 10th September and I know that everyone there with their dogs would be delighted to welcome you. (details on club website)

Coton Book

My dearest friend Eli de Luca had an idea for many years to write a book on the Coton de Tulear - 'Coton's World'. I was amongst several breeders in countries around the world to contribute to the content of this book in various ways. I was pleased to be part of this brilliant book, it is a 'must have' for anyone researching this breed and I am sure in time it will become a collector's item.
I always keep a couple of copies in this country should anybody wish to purchase one.