About Ardsley Cotons

My name is Diane Naito, and I live with my husband Mark, our four beloved Cotons, one Yellow Naped Amazon Parrot named Shosei, and one Goffin Cockatoo named Mabel in Westchester County NY, just a few miles north of NYC. A quick drive via car, or a quick commute via Metro North.

Our commitment is to maintain the health and integrity of this special breed, and we are dedicated to ethical breeding practices in order that the future generations of Coton de Tulear will always be of exceptional health, structure/conformation and of course, temperament. When you get a pup from Ardsley Cotons, you know that it is born from parents who have been thoroughly health tested, as were their parents and grandparents before them, and their pedigrees are verifiable and documented. The Coton as a breed has a reputation for being very genetically healthy and free of most health issues that plague a lot of inbred breeds one sees nowadays. So remember, when you get a Coton, you are making a commitment to a dog that will live 15+ years.

There was never a time in my entire life that I did not have a dog. All kinds of dogs, some purebred,some mixes. And then, one day about four years ago, I was reading an article about small dogs and came across the Coton de Tulear. I had never heard of it before, but immediately fell in love. I started doing a lot of research and asking questions and knew in my heart and soul that this was "my" dog.

So I searched out breeders and met Jim Luippold. We went to visit him, and the moment I saw the beautiful faces and experienced the funny antics of his Cotons, I knew I had to have at least one. And now, four years later, here we are with four.

They are our four legged children since we are now "empty-nesters". They sleep in, or under our bed and snuggle next to us on the sofa. Truly they are never far from our sides.

Celine's Yuki-San of Luippold (known simply as "Yuki"), came to us in 2006. She was baby sister to our old Yorkie named Pookie, who has since gone to the Rainbow Bridge (in 2009).

After Yuki was with us just a few short weeks, my husband and I decided we wanted a sibling for her. So in July 2007 we went back to Jim to get Amelie, who is out of the same parents as Yuki, though they don't look like sisters. Yuki looks very much like her dad, and Amelie looks more like her daddy's mother! So I guess they both take after daddy's side of the family.

Yuki & Amelie were friends from the start. They loved to play together and truly never left each other's side, which is true to this day. Amelie had her first litter with Zack in April 2010, and we are looking forward to her having her second one in 2011.

In early March 2008, we made the long drive up to Quebec Canada to acquire Zack our baby boy, now our stud male, from Sara France Saint-Pierre. Zack is pure white and is the perfect complement to our girls. He also makes us laugh every day!

And last but certainly not least, in May 2010, we again went to Sara France Saint-Pierre, and got our sweet little girl, Cotonnerie Origami, who we call "Kiku". She is so sweet and funny and we hope to have pups from her and Zack come 2012.

Now, just a word or two about Cotons in general. This breed originated in Madagascar, and in the early 1970's The Breed Standard was sold by that country to France, and the FCI. As a Code of Ethics breeder it is my duty to breed according to that Standard. If you want to read more about it, you can find it on the American Coton Club website.

And now, a warning. In this day and age, sad to say there are people out there who say they breed Cotons, but be warned! ONLY GO TO A REPUTABLE BREEDER WHO IS LISTED ON THE BREEDER DIRECTORY OF THE MAIN BREED CLUBS!!

I NEVER ship my Cotons!!! You must come visit us BEFORE picking up your pup so we can meet and make sure that you and the pup are the right match. When you get your Coton de Tulear pup from Ardsley Cotons, you don't just get the dog, you get me too, for the life-time of your Coton. I will always be there for you, to answer any and all questions.

One more thing, the reality is that the Coton de Tulear is not the right breed for everyone. So please, do your research to decide if this breed is right for you!! Are you working away from home for long hours? Do you want a dog that has no problem being on it's own?

Then this is NOT the breed for you.

They are classified as a "Companion Breed" for a reason. Bottom line, Cotons don't like to be away from their families. They are "Velcro" dogs. And love to be with their humans. They are easy to train as long as you use Positive Reinforcement techniques and will follow you from room to room in your house and want to sleep near you at night.  When you get a Coton you are getting another child in the family, albeit one who has four legs and doesn't require a college education, but another "child" nonetheless, who will verbalize it's wants and needs and always look to you for giving and receiving love and affection.

I hope you look at the various pages of my site and see the photos, and feel free to reach out to me to chat.