A pedigree dog is defined by precise criterisa, of size, of temperament, aptitudes. The specific characteristics to each race are defined in a " standard " worked out by the country of origin of the dog (France for the Cotton of Tuléar).

This term does not correspond to nothing precise, it does not have anything official. A pup sold by a breeder has a health record, a tattoo card and a certificate of birth or a L.O.F. in progress, the file of inscription of the range at the Canine Central Company serves as proof.

The Stud Book of the French Origins (L.O.F.) is held by the Canine Central Company (S.C.C.) All the dogs pedigrees are registered there, as of their birth. The cost of the inscription is 125 F.

When a so-called "pedigree dog " is not registered with the SCC, it is necessary to ask us some questions about the reality of the name Coton de Tulear, In France since January 1999, the law prohibits to use of the term "pedigree dog" for any dogs not registered with a LOF, the salesmen must announce " kind of Coton de Tulear"

To have a definitive pedigree the dog, in France must be confirmed. Before he just has a certificate of birth which attest he is from pedigree parents. The confirmation is an examination made by a specialist " confirmator " recognized by the S.C.C. or a judge of the race, it is done when the dog is over 12 months.

Only the dogs having their pedigree can generate LOF dogs

Why  ?

If your pup does not evolve/move like his/her parents, that it has a " defect " of jaw, or color, or that a testicle is not in its place, its descendantst will reproduce its own defects. From generation to generation the race will derive towards a type which will not have anything any more to see with the standard.

When a significant defect is visible on a 2-3 month old pup the stockbreeder mentions it and sells a pup to you " not confirmable ".

Contrary to, the breeder can guarantee the confirmation to you and considers a compensation proportional to the selling prices between " not confirmable " and " confirmable ". however some times some defects only appear after the pup is 6 months old, even later, examples:

A breeder who knows very well his breedstock can select a very good pup, however he needs to wait the pup is 6 or 8 months old to exactly know if the dog has all the qualities to be a show quality dog. What are the determining details ?

First of all his character. Then :

• when the pup is 3/5 months : the set tail
• when the pup is 5/7 months : the second dentition
• when the pup is 8 months or so : straight front and back,

If the breeder notice a bad evolution with the pup, then he must sell the dog less than a show quality dog. If contrary so the dog get the qualities the breeder hope the dog will increase its value.