Owning a Coton de Tulear is a big responsibility, one that should not be entered into lightly. Often people see a cute, little bundle that is a Coton de Tulear puppy but this puppy, later the adult dog, needs a lot of love, care, and attention.
Know that a Coton de Tulear lives for an average of 12 to 14 years, so it is a big emotional and financial commitment. In this guide, we discuss the different financial aspects of owning this cute dog breed.
How Much is a Coton de Tulear in the USA?
Our team analyzed around 20 advertisements to bring you the most accurate price range of a Coton de Tulear puppy.
- We found the national average price for a purebred Coton de Tulear puppy from a reputed breeder to be $1630.
- The minimum price for a Coton de Tulear dog was $1200 while the maximum was $1975. Some show-quality dogs were even sold for as high as $2500.
Adopting a Coton de Tulear from a rescue shelter was a lot cheaper – most shelters charged between $100-$400 for rehoming charges. This price varies from shelter to shelter – depending on the kind of grants they receive.
Some animal rescue organizations also cover the dog’s neutering/spaying surgery, vaccinations, and deworming. However, you may have to spend more money on training the dog to make it more social and friendly. Sometimes, adopted dogs also carry diseases, if they weren’t raised in hygienic conditions, so you could spend heavily on vet bills.
Price of Basic Equipment – Items Every Coton De Tulear Needs
Every small puppy or adult dog needs the following items to feel more comfortable in a new environment:
- High-value training treats – Choose low-calorie treats that are grain-free. Most dog treats start from $5 to $40 depending on quantity and quality
- Bowls for food and water – Your small dog needs sturdy bowls that won’t tip over or skid. Choose stainless steel/ceramic/glass bowls. These cost between $15-$30 each. Place a rubber mat under the bowls to contain the mess – it costs about $5-$10.
- Collar-harness-leash – choose a comfortable and soft collar that won’t chafe or irritate your dog’s skin. Together with a leash and harness, you could spend around $20-$30.
- Bed and blankets – $50-$400 depending on the material used.
- Toys: Chew toys and play toys generally cost $15-$30 per toy.
- Crate – $50-$200. A crate is a must-have for your Coton de Tulear to get some quiet ‘downtime’ and also make it feel more secure and safe while resting.
Overall the cost for dog equipment could lie between $300-$600 or around $450 on average. Eliminating optional items or buying second-hand ones, you could spend an average of around $200.
Dog Food Cost for Coton de Tulear
The best food for a Coton de Tulear is the one that is easy to digest, contains premium ingredients, and meets or exceeds AAFCO guidelines.
Some Cotons are known to have food allergies or sensitivities. Such dogs may need special diets, home-cooked meals, or even vet-prescribed foods.
Since Coton de Tulear are small-sized dogs weighing around 10-11 lb., they need around 8 lb. of food per month. Here is a table showing the different price ranges for food in this quantity:
Type of dog food | Cost per pound | Monthly cost | Annual cost |
Low-priced or budget food | $1.75 -$2 | $16 | $200 |
Medium-priced food | $3-$5 | $24-$40 | $300-$500 |
Premium or special dog food or vet-prescribed diet | $7-$10 | $56-$80 | $675-$1000 |
The Cost of Dog Training for Coton de Tulear
You can train out your tiny dog’s misbehaviors at home, but in some cases, you might need a professional trainer to help you.
In any case, every dog, irrespective of its breed, needs firm obedience training from an early age.
So, how much does it cost to train a Coton de Tulear? The table below shows some types of training and their average costs in the USA. Please note that these costs can vary greatly based on your location.
Type of Dog Training | Average Price Range |
Group training | $10-$80 per class |
Private training | $45 to $120 per hour |
Dog obedience schools | $200-$600 each week |
Boot camp kennel training | $500-$1250 per week |
PetCo dog training | $109/6-weeks or $80 with coupon |
PetSmart dog training | $120/6 weeks or $105 with coupon |
Service dog training | $30 per session |
Coton de Tulear Medical Costs
According to experts, the average medical cost for most dog owners, in the first year, comes to $165 to $500. This includes spaying/neutering, vaccinations, flea-tick prevention, deworming, and heartworm prevention.
Here is the approximate veterinary cost range to consider:
- Cost per vaccine – $10-$20
- Booster shots $18-$25
- Spaying – $200-$400
- Neutering – $100-$200
- Flea/tick prevention – $150 per year
- Deworming – $50-$100 a year
- Dental care – $100-$500
- Blood work and urine analysis – $85 to $150
- Fecal exam – $15-$45
- Heartworm test – $45 to $50
- Allergy test – $200
- X-rays – $150–$250
- Wound treatment and repair – $800–$2,500
- Emergency/surgery – $1,500–$5,000
Coton De Tulears are usually healthy dogs, but sometimes, they could develop issues like Von Willebrand’s disease, Progressive retinal atrophy, skin problems, and ear infections. These conditions can cost nearly thousands of dollars to diagnose and treat.
To offset or cover some of these costs, you could consider purchasing pet insurance. This can cost around $200-$300 a year depending on the type of coverage you opt for.
Coton De Tulear Grooming Costs
Coton De Tulears are fairly high maintenance when it comes to grooming. They need daily brushing and a bath every 3-4 weeks. They also need professional grooming every 1.5-2 months to maintain their coat.
Here are some of the costs of dog grooming basic services. (Note that these will vary depending on the city you live in).
- Basic grooming session – bath, blow dry, nail trimming, ear cleaning – $35 to $75
- Nail trimming – $10
- Oral care – $10-$15
- Flea treatment – $15-$50
- Ear cleaning – $10
- Medicated bath – $10-$30
- Gland expression – $10
- Matted fur treatment – $30
Other Costs of Owning a Coton De Tulear
Below are some other dog ownership costs every Coton de Tulear parent must consider while budgeting:
Microchipping and License Renewal
Microchipping costs around $25-$45 – it is a small procedure done by a vet. License renewal can cost $8-$35 depending on whether your dog is neutered/spayed and your location.
Pet Deposit
Coton De Tulears make excellent dogs for apartment dwellers. However, if you are renting your apartment, be prepared to spend at least $200-$400 a year on landlord fees/pet deposits. This amount varies based on the size of the property and your location.
Equipment/supplies Replacement
Your Coton will need new toys from time to time. It could also wear its bed out. You will need to replace collars, clothes, leashes, etc. that your dog has outgrown. Add another $100 per year on these items.
Dog Walker
The easiest way to save money here is by walking your pet by yourself. If not, prepare to spend at least $300-$500 per month on a dog walker. (Most dog walkers charge $10-$30 for a short walk).
Pet Sitter/Travel/Boarding Costs
Coton De Tulear is a compact-sized dog so you can easily travel with it. However, airfare costs for transporting small dogs can fall in the range of $100-$250 depending on the distance.
You can always opt to board your pet at the pet hostel. Most hostels charge between $30-$75 per night. A pet sitter could charge between $30-$75 per day depending on the services included.
Summary – How Much Does a Coton De Tulear Cost?
As can be seen, the Coton De Tulear isn’t inexpensive to keep.
The price of a purebred Coton de Tulear puppy from a reputed breeder could come to $1600-$2000.
The first-year cost of keeping this cute dog breed is nearly $2500-$3000 (without adding the puppy price, emergency vet costs, dog walker costs, etc.).
The annual cost of raising a Coton de Tulear (after the first year) could fall between $900-$1500 (spent on dog food, medical costs, grooming, and pet insurance. This cost does not include travel, pet sitter, boarding, and emergency veterinary costs).
This can bring the lifetime cost of owning a Coton de Tulear to $15,000-$20,000. Again, this is just a rough estimate and the final costs could vary greatly depending on your lifestyle, the city you live in, your dog’s health, etc.