Photo credit: Helle Lindholm Larsen
In May, we expanded our family with a new member: the sweetest little Otto, who is a Coton De Tulear. Dog number two has required a LOT of consideration and so has the choice of breed. I wanted an extra training partner, and my husband wanted a smaller dog, because Oswald is exactly the size he is. When I was studying and living in Aarhus, I thought I should have a cotton dog, but when the time finally came, it seemed too small. Still, I couldn't quite let go of the idea, and after careful consideration, we welcomed Otto into the family.
Getting Coton has been a REAL eye-opener! In moved the sweetest, softest and gentlest boy weighing just under three pounds. His cuteness factor can't get any higher, and other people notice it too when we have him around. Still, there are some things that I really think we need to keep in mind, even though our puppies are the cutest things in the world. Let's start with the approach to a Coton:
Should he be exhibited?
That's often the first thing people ask me when I walk Otto. The first few times I smiled and laughed a little to myself, because that question was so different from when you walk a Labrador puppy.
Here people ask: should he be used for hunting? Or should he be used for training?
And it's even funnier when I tell them that my cute Coton isn't going to be shown at all - he's actually going to be training and competing, just like his big brother. Then people look a little skeptical and don't really know what to say - other than: do you think he can do it?
And YES! I definitely think he can. Just because he's small and cute, there's also a dog hiding there who needs to use his clever head just as much as a Labrador does! In fact, he's already well underway with the training, and Otto thinks it's too cool!
Like so many others, we have just had a summer holiday. We love going on holiday in Denmark, and we are especially happy about North Jutland. That is why we had booked a camping cabin, where the dogs could of course join us. It was Otto's first holiday, so we were aware that his little head and body should not burn out completely. That is why we have invested in a "kangaroo bag" from Doodledog, and Otto could sit in it when it all got a bit too much, or he needed a break. The bag has really been brilliant, and we have also used it a lot on walks, so that Oswald could still have his long walks while Otto looked at the world around him.
On vacation we went on a trip to both Løkken and Skagen, and here we had a completely new experience because we had Otto with us. A large Labrador is not everyone's cup of tea, and often very young children and their parents don't automatically go to him. But Otto on the other hand! It's something completely different.
Many parents with small children approached Otto, several greeted without asking first, and a few even walked up to Otto without asking while he was sitting in his bag on the hip of either my husband or I. And here is where the title of this post comes into play: a Coton has boundaries too!
First of all, we were surprised that people didn't ask permission to say hello. Then we were even more surprised that people went up to him, even though he was sitting with us. We learned very quickly to speak up on Otto's behalf, but how much have we talked about the need to think about it - even though puppies are cute. Because they are also dogs - they have teeth, boundaries, and an intimate sphere, just like we humans have. I want a well-behaved and well-functioning Coton, but if he repeatedly violates his boundaries because he is "just" a cute little dog, then it can be a difficult task.
So regardless of the size of our dogs, and what they were bred for in the beginning, we must remember that they are living beings. And as dog owners, we are their most important bodyguards, and I practice remembering that every time I walk my dogs - and especially Otto.
Pottedash from Oswald, Otto and Trine.
About the blogger
Trine lives in Djursland with her husband Oliver, two old cats, and Oswald, who is from 2020, and Otto, who is from 2025. On a daily basis, Trine works as a pedagogue and teacher at a local elementary school, where Oswald is a school/reading dog twice a week. In addition, they train tricks, dog dancing and rally, and they have just started sniffing out FCI rally. When Trine is not at work, her free time is spent with Oswald and the weekends are often filled with dog training and competitions.
Oswald is a big soft boy who loves everything and everyone - and preferably with all his 37 kg at once. He may be big on the outside, but he is sure that he was born to be a lap dog. He loves to sleep at the foot of the bed under Trine's blanket, and preferably on his back with all his paws in the air.
Oswald loves to go wherever the trip takes him, whether it's visiting family, a picnic, training or when he goes abroad on vacation.
If you want to follow their everyday life a little more, you can find them on Instagram under @oswaldthelabrador.
A Coton also has limits
Photo credit: Helle Lindholm Larsen
In May, we expanded our family with a new member: the sweetest little Otto, who is a Coton De Tulear. Dog number two has required a LOT of consideration and so has the choice of breed. I wanted an extra training partner, and my husband wanted a smaller dog, because Oswald is exactly the size he is. When I was studying and living in Aarhus, I thought I should have a cotton dog, but when the time finally came, it seemed too small. Still, I couldn't quite let go of the idea, and after careful consideration, we welcomed Otto into the family.
Getting Coton has been a REAL eye-opener! In moved the sweetest, softest and gentlest boy weighing just under three pounds. His cuteness factor can't get any higher, and other people notice it too when we have him around. Still, there are some things that I really think we need to keep in mind, even though our puppies are the cutest things in the world. Let's start with the approach to a Coton:
Should he be exhibited?
That's often the first thing people ask me when I walk Otto. The first few times I smiled and laughed a little to myself, because that question was so different from when you walk a Labrador puppy.
Here people ask: should he be used for hunting? Or should he be used for training?
And it's even funnier when I tell them that my cute Coton isn't going to be shown at all - he's actually going to be training and competing, just like his big brother. Then people look a little skeptical and don't really know what to say - other than: do you think he can do it?
And YES! I definitely think he can. Just because he's small and cute, there's also a dog hiding there who needs to use his clever head just as much as a Labrador does! In fact, he's already well underway with the training, and Otto thinks it's too cool!
Like so many others, we have just had a summer holiday. We love going on holiday in Denmark, and we are especially happy about North Jutland. That is why we had booked a camping cabin, where the dogs could of course join us. It was Otto's first holiday, so we were aware that his little head and body should not burn out completely. That is why we have invested in a "kangaroo bag" from Doodledog, and Otto could sit in it when it all got a bit too much, or he needed a break. The bag has really been brilliant, and we have also used it a lot on walks, so that Oswald could still have his long walks while Otto looked at the world around him.
On vacation we went on a trip to both Løkken and Skagen, and here we had a completely new experience because we had Otto with us. A large Labrador is not everyone's cup of tea, and often very young children and their parents don't automatically go to him. But Otto on the other hand! It's something completely different.
Many parents with small children approached Otto, several greeted without asking first, and a few even walked up to Otto without asking while he was sitting in his bag on the hip of either my husband or I. And here is where the title of this post comes into play: a Coton has boundaries too!
First of all, we were surprised that people didn't ask permission to say hello. Then we were even more surprised that people went up to him, even though he was sitting with us. We learned very quickly to speak up on Otto's behalf, but how much have we talked about the need to think about it - even though puppies are cute. Because they are also dogs - they have teeth, boundaries, and an intimate sphere, just like we humans have. I want a well-behaved and well-functioning Coton, but if he repeatedly violates his boundaries because he is "just" a cute little dog, then it can be a difficult task.
So regardless of the size of our dogs, and what they were bred for in the beginning, we must remember that they are living beings. And as dog owners, we are their most important bodyguards, and I practice remembering that every time I walk my dogs - and especially Otto.
Pottedash from Oswald, Otto and Trine.
About the blogger
Trine lives in Djursland with her husband Oliver, two old cats, and Oswald, who is from 2020, and Otto, who is from 2025. On a daily basis, Trine works as a pedagogue and teacher at a local elementary school, where Oswald is a school/reading dog twice a week. In addition, they train tricks, dog dancing and rally, and they have just started sniffing out FCI rally. When Trine is not at work, her free time is spent with Oswald and the weekends are often filled with dog training and competitions.
Oswald is a big soft boy who loves everything and everyone - and preferably with all his 37 kg at once. He may be big on the outside, but he is sure that he was born to be a lap dog. He loves to sleep at the foot of the bed under Trine's blanket, and preferably on his back with all his paws in the air.
Oswald loves to go wherever the trip takes him, whether it's visiting family, a picnic, training or when he goes abroad on vacation.
If you want to follow their everyday life a little more, you can find them on Instagram under @oswaldthelabrador.