Coton de Tulear

About me

I am a stay at home mom to three beautiful children that decided to do something for herself. I have always loved dogs. I’ve loved training them, running with them and cuddling with them. When life threw a curve ball, I took my chance to become more involved with preserving a wonderful breed.

I grew up in rural and suburban Texas. Our family had a Golden Retriever, Shih Tzu, and Alaskan Malamute – at different times. When one animal passed, I begged for the next. Life was fuller with pets. I spent hours outside with the dogs and cats.

I graduated college with a degree in Electrical Engineering and then promptly left for Ghana, West Africa, with the Peace Corps. I taught high school and learned about the local culture and, in turn, my own. I even married a Ghanaian.

In Ghana I got one dog and two cats and they multiplied the old fashioned way. 🫣 I raised them as an American would and my students were amazed at how friendly a puppy could be. My dogs were just generic brown African dogs. No fancy breed name.

After the Peace Corps, I moved to northern Virginia, examined patents and had three beautiful children. We had a golden retriever that bothered my husband’s allergies, so when my golden passed, I had to come up with a new plan.

We got a Doodle, before I learned there were established breeds who wouldn’t affect his allergies as much, who is still with us. She is a ball of inextinguishable energy. My children and her would run in circles to tire each other out.

In 2017 life threw a curveball. I had a stroke. I spent months relearning how to talk, write and walk. An extremely humbling experience. I eventually had to retire under disability due to my inability to keep up the pace with workload. 

This predicament provided a hidden opportunity. Dogs have always been my passion and my therapy. Now that I no longer had to report to work daily, I could spend my time with what I love: dogs. 

I found a breed that my husband could live with, was small enough for me to handle, had an amazing personality and even came from a region I love, Africa: the Coton de Tulear.