Which is Better between the Pomeranian and the Coton de Tulear?

Last Updated: Apr 12, 2022

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Pomeranian Versus Coton de Tulear: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Pomeranian and the Coton de Tulear? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Pomeranian and the Coton de Tulear better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Pomeranian and the Coton de Tulear.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Pomeranian and the Coton de Tulear is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Pomeranian and for the Coton de Tulear. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Pomeranian and the Coton de Tulear.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Pomeranian or the Coton de Tulear.

Pomeranian versus Coton de Tulear

Pomeranian versus Coton de Tulear: Overview

Both the Pomeranian and the Coton de Tulear are similar in size. The Pomeranian and the Coton de Tulear are both tiny-sized dogs.

Furthermore, both the Pomeranian and the Coton de Tulear are Companion Dogs. This means both the Pomeranian and the Coton de Tulear were bred to be companions for humans. Their main goal in life is to be with people, and they will be very sad if left to themselves for long hours day after day.

Pomeranian versus Coton de Tulear: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Pomeranian to the Coton de Tulear based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Pomeranian and the Coton de Tulear

FactorPomeranianCoton de Tulear
Tolerates Being Alone1/51/5
Does NOT Drool5/55/5
Tendency NOT to Wander5/53/5
Life Span12 to 16 years14 to 16 years
Tolerates Hot Weather2/53/5
Kid-Friendly2/55/5
Dog Friendly2/55/5
Easy To Groom2/52/5
Does NOT chew on things4/53/5
Low Prey Drive4/55/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor4/54/5
Minimal Exercise Needs4/53/5
Friendly Toward Strangers3/55/5
General Health3/55/5
NOT Rambunctious3/53/5
Potential For Playfulness3/55/5
Weight3 to 7 pounds8 to 13 pounds
Adapts Well To Apartment Living4/55/5
Good For Novice Owners4/54/5
Easygoing2/51/5
Tolerates Cold Weather4/53/5
Does NOT Shed2/55/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight2/53/5
Easy To Train4/53/5
Intelligence4/54/5
Affectionate With Family5/55/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl1/54/5
Height7 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder8 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder
Average Lifespan14.0 years15.0 years
Average Price$2150$1980
Price Range$1500 – $2500$1600 – $2400
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Cardiac Exam
  • Eye Examination
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds2275

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Pomeranian in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Coton de Tulear. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for the Pomeranian is 79 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Coton de Tulear is 94 out of 125.

    Despite the higher Better-Pet score of the Coton de Tulear, we still believe that the Pomeranian is a better pet than the Coton de Tulear.

    This is because Pomeranians are much cuter but you cannot put a score on cuteness. If you could put a score on cuteness, then the Pomeranian will come out on top.

    Also, we are biased in favor of the Pomeranian :-). We are for the Pomeranian. So get a Pomeranian!

    Pomeranian versus Coton de Tulear

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Pomeranian and the Coton de Tulear

    Below is a list of where the Pomeranian and the Coton de Tulear are most different:

  • Pomeranians do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly. However, Coton de Tulears get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Pomeranians do not get along well with other dogs. However, Coton de Tulears get along well with other dogs.
  • Pomeranians shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies. However, Coton de Tulears do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
  • Pomeranians are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl. However, Coton de Tulears are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
  • The Similarities Between the Pomeranian and the Coton de Tulear

    The Pomeranian and the Coton de Tulear are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Pomeranian and the Coton de Tulear are most similar:

  • Both the Pomeranian and the Coton de Tulear do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Coton de Tulear do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Coton de Tulear cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Coton de Tulear require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Coton de Tulear are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Coton de Tulear have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Coton de Tulear do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Coton de Tulear have low exercise needs.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Coton de Tulear adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Coton de Tulear are good for new dog owners.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Coton de Tulear are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Coton de Tulear can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Coton de Tulear gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Coton de Tulear are very easy to train.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Coton de Tulear are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Coton de Tulear are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Size Comparison of the Pomeranian versus Coton de Tulear

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Pomeranian and the Coton de Tulear.

    The Pomeranian weighs 3 to 7 pounds when fully grown. The Pomeranian is 7 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, the Coton de Tulear weighs 8 to 13 pounds when fully grown. The Coton de Tulear is 8 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Size of Pomeranian versus Size of Coton de Tulear

    Appearance (Colors) of the Pomeranian and the Coton de Tulear

    Pomeranian Colors

    The Pomeranian comes in the following beautiful primary colors:

    • Red / Chestnut / Orange
    • Brown / Chocolate
    • White / Cream
    • Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
    • Black
    • Apricot / Beige
    • Tricolor (Brown, Black, & White)
    • Merle (Blue)
    • Sable
    • Gray / Blue / Silver
    • Bicolor
    • Golden
    • Brindle

    The Pomeranian comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:

    • Black
    • White / Cream
    • Brown / Chocolate
    • Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
    • Brindle
    • Red / Chestnut / Orange
    • Apricot / Beige

    Coton de Tulear Colors

    The Coton de Tulear comes in the following beautiful primary colors:

    • White / Cream
    • Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn

    The Coton de Tulear comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:

      Lifespan of Pomeranian versus Coton de Tulear

      The lifespan of the Pomeranian is between 12 to 16 years. The average lifespan of the Pomeranian is 14.0 years.

      The lifespan of the Coton de Tulear is between 14 to 16 years. The average lifespan of the Coton de Tulear is 15.0 years.

      The Coton de Tulear live longer than the Pomeranian.

      Pomeranian versus Coton de Tulear

      Price of Pomeranian versus Price of Coton de Tulear

      The average price of the Pomeranian puppy is $2150. The price of the Pomeranian typically ranges from $1500 – $2500. However, the price of a Pomeranian can be as low as $150 and as high as $10000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 1412 Pomeranian puppies listed for sale from various sources.

      The average price of the Coton de Tulear puppy is $1980. The price of the Coton de Tulear typically ranges from $1600 – $2400. However, the price of the Coton de Tulear can be as low as $550 and as high as $3200. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 253 Coton de Tulear puppies listed for sale from various sources.

      The Pomeranian is more expensive than the Coton de Tulear.

      Pomeranian Coton de Tulear
      Average Price $2150 $1980
      Price Range $1500 to $2500 $1600 to $2400

      The charts below show the price distribution for the Pomeranian and Coton de Tulear. For different price points, the charts show how many Pomeranian puppies or how many Coton de Tulear puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

      A breakdown of the prices of Pomeranians. The typical price range is shaded Green.

      A breakdown of the prices of Pomeranians. The typical price range is shaded Green.

      A breakdown of the prices of Coton de Tulears

      A breakdown of the prices of Coton de Tulears

      Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Pomeranian puppy or the Coton de Tulear puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.

      Nevertheless, when looking to buy a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

      You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

      Pomeranian versus Coton de Tulear

      Adopting the Pomeranian versus Adopting the Coton de Tulear

      You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Pomeranians and many Coton de Tulears are currently available for adoption.

      These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.

      Below is an adorable Male Pomeranian named Rhva-Stray-Rh1213 that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Pomeranians like Rhva-Stray-Rh1213 on pefinder.com.

      Also, like Pomeranians, Coton de Tulears are also available for adoption. For example, Thorfin (Dallas) is a Male Coton de Tulear that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Coton de Tulears like Thorfin (Dallas) that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

      The Pomeranian and the Coton de Tulear can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

      Paddington is the name of another Pomeranian (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

      You can find more Pomeranians and Coton de Tulears that are available for adoption on petfinder.

      The Popularity of Pomeranian versus Popularity of Coton de Tulear

      Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

      The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Pomeranian and the Coton de Tulear over the years.

      Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Pomeranian is more popular with dog owners than the Coton de Tulear. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Pomeranian is 22 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Coton de Tulear is 75 out of about 200 dog breeds.

      Popularity of Pomeranian

      Popularity of Pomeranian

      Popularity of Coton de Tulear

      Popularity of Coton de Tulear

      Year Pomeranian Popularity Rank Coton de Tulear Popularity Rank
      2013 19 no data
      2014 20 31.0
      2015 21 85.0
      2016 22 80.0
      2017 22 81.0
      2018 23 81.0
      2019 24 81.0
      2020 23 80.0
      2021 24 83.0

      Health Problems of Pomeranian versus Health Problems of Coton de Tulear

      Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. There is nothing like a perfect dog breed.

      Both the Pomeranian and the Coton de Tulear are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

      The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

      Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Pomeranian is prone to more genetic health problems than the Coton de Tulear.

      This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Pomeranian than for the Coton de Tulear.

      6 health tests are recommended for Pomeranian while 3 tests are recommended for the Coton de Tulear.

      Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Pomeranians and in Coton de Tulears.

      Pomeranian Health Problems

      Pomeranians are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Pomeranian puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

      The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

      If you want a Pomeranian puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Pomeranian breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

      The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Pomeranians for:

    • Autoimmune thyroiditis
    • Cardiac Evaluation
    • Eye Examination
    • Hip Dysplasia
    • Legg-Calve-Perthes
    • Patellar Luxation

    • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Pomeranians here.

      Coton de Tulear Health Problems

      Coton de Tulears are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Coton de Tulear puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

      The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

      If you want a Coton de Tulear puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Coton de Tulear breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

      The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Coton de Tulears for:

    • Cardiac Exam
    • Eye Examination
    • Patellar Luxation

    • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Coton de Tulears here.

      More Discussions on Health Problems in Pomeranians and Coton de Tulears

      Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Pomeranian Breed is Patella problems.

      This is because the Pomeranian ranks 1 out of 145 dog breeds for Patella problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 1542 Pomeranians, 456 of them had Patella problems.

      The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Pomeranians, and how common these diseases are in Pomeranians relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

    • Patella problems: Rank 1 out of 145 Dog Breeds
    • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 49 out of 159 Dog Breeds
    • Hips problems: Rank 75 out of 198 Dog Breeds
    • Thyroid problems: Rank 89 out of 115 Dog Breeds
    • Eyes problems: Rank 171 out of 182 Dog Breeds
    • Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Coton de Tulear Breed is Chondrodysplasia (Cdpa) problems.

      This is because the Coton de Tulear ranks 1 out of 2 dog breeds for Chondrodysplasia (Cdpa) problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 51 Coton de Tulears, 47 of them had Chondrodysplasia (Cdpa) problems.

      The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Coton de Tulears, and how common these diseases are in Coton de Tulears relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

    • Chondrodysplasia (Cdpa) problems: Rank 1 out of 2 Dog Breeds
    • Chondrodystrophy (Cddy) problems: Rank 2 out of 5 Dog Breeds
    • Patella problems: Rank 36 out of 145 Dog Breeds
    • Thyroid problems: Rank 61 out of 115 Dog Breeds
    • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 71 out of 159 Dog Breeds
    • Elbow problems: Rank 103 out of 144 Dog Breeds
    • Hips problems: Rank 121 out of 198 Dog Breeds
    • Eyes problems: Rank 168 out of 182 Dog Breeds

    • The table below lists the common health problems in Pomeranian and in Coton de Tulear and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Pomeranian and the Coton de Tulear:

      Disease Pomeranian Rank Coton de Tulear Rank
      Patella problems 1 out of 145 dog breeds 36 out of 145 dog breeds
      Congenital Cardiac problems 49 out of 159 dog breeds 71 out of 159 dog breeds
      Hips problems 75 out of 198 dog breeds 121 out of 198 dog breeds
      Thyroid problems 89 out of 115 dog breeds 61 out of 115 dog breeds
      Eyes problems 171 out of 182 dog breeds 168 out of 182 dog breeds
      Chondrodysplasia (Cdpa) problems Not Common 1 out of 2 dog breeds
      Chondrodystrophy (Cddy) problems Not Common 2 out of 5 dog breeds
      Elbow problems Not Common 103 out of 144 dog breeds

      *To learn more about each of these diseases, go to OFA.org and search for the disease.

      Again, most of these health problems can be prevented through health screening. Responsible breeders screen male and female dog parents for genetic problems. These breeders will only breed dogs that are free of genetic defects. That way, there is little or no chance that their puppies will grow up to have genetic health problems. Always ask a breeder for the list of health tests the breeder screens their dogs for before buying a puppy from such a breeder.

      Tolerates Being Alone: Pomeranian versus Coton de Tulear

      Pomeranians do not like to be left alone.

      Coton de Tulears do not like to be left alone.

      Do Pomeranians shed more than Coton de Tulears?

      Pomeranians shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

      Coton de Tulears do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

      Which is Easier to Groom, the Pomeranian or the Coton de Tulear?

      Pomeranians require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

      Coton de Tulears require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

      Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Pomeranian or the Coton de Tulear?

      Pomeranians do not get along well with other dogs.

      Coton de Tulears get along very well with other dogs.

      Are Pomeranians good family dogs? What about Coton de Tulears?

      Pomeranians are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

      Coton de Tulears are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

      Is the Pomeranian Easier to Train than the Coton de Tulear?

      Pomeranians are very easy to train.

      Coton de Tulears are fairly easy to train.

      Which one drools more, the Pomeranian or the Coton de Tulear

      Pomeranians do have a very low tendency to drool.

      Coton de Tulears do have a very low tendency to drool.

      How Kid-friendly are Pomeranians and Coton de Tulears?

      Pomeranians do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.

      Coton de Tulears get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

      Does the Pomeranian Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Coton de Tulear?

      Pomeranians have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

      Coton de Tulears have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

      Do Pomeranians Bark and Howl? What about Coton de Tulears?

      Pomeranians are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

      Coton de Tulears are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

      Can Pomeranians Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Coton de Tulears Tolerate Cold Weather?

      Pomeranians can very well tolerate cold weather.

      Coton de Tulears can moderately tolerate cold weather.

      Wanderlust Potential: Pomeranian vs. Coton de Tulear

      Pomeranians do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

      Coton de Tulears have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

      Can Pomeranians Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Coton de Tulears Tolerate Hot Weather?

      Pomeranians cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

      Coton de Tulears can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

      Is the Pomeranian Better for Apartment Owners than the Coton de Tulear?

      Pomeranians adapt very well to apartment living.

      Coton de Tulears adapt very well to apartment living.

      Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Pomeranian or the Coton de Tulear?

      Pomeranians are very good for new dog owners.

      Coton de Tulears are very good for new dog owners.

      Pomeranian Versus Other Dog Breeds

      You may also be interested in how the Pomeranian compares to other breeds aside from the Coton de Tulear. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Pomeranian to other breeds:

      Pomeranian versus Cardigan Welsh Corgi     Pomeranian versus Icelandic Sheepdog     Pomeranian versus Alaskan Klee Kai     Pomeranian versus Dachshund     Pomeranian versus Kooikerhondje     Pomeranian versus Canaan Dog     Pomeranian versus Cavachon     Pomeranian versus Norwegian Buhund     Pomeranian versus Pyrenean Mastiff     Pomeranian versus Gordon Setter     Pomeranian versus Standard Poodle     Pomeranian versus Saint Berdoodle     Pomeranian versus Irish Water Spaniel     Pomeranian versus Samoyed     Pomeranian versus Rottweiler     Pomeranian versus Cavalier King Charles Spaniel     

      Conclusion: Pomeranian versus Coton de Tulear. Which One is a Better Pet?

      In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Pomeranian and the Coton de Tulear better suits you and your family.