momtolabs--you are welcome!! I think if you train them to walk for more than an hour they could do it. I'm content with 45min to an hour, so that's what Luke is used to and does. But many sites say they can do trail runs with horses, so if you train them right, I see no reason why they can't do it. They do get hot easily, in this summer heat (it was 97 today), we did 5-10min walks tops. In the winter, they act as if they're not cold, but since they have a single coat you don't want them staying out too long. They love to hop in the snow too, and get ready to really dry them off them too! Even in rain, since they're low to the ground, they get soaked easily. But a hair dryer is the next best thing!
I don't have other dogs with me, only Luke. But he loves big and small dogs, unless they challenge him, then he answers. Which is pretty dumb sometimes as it could be a Boxer or Ridgeback mix that's challenging him. But yeah, he looks for his friends and what Luke does (I'm not sure if every Coton is like this) is he stops and waits for the other dog to come to him. I guess he's seeing if they're friend or foe. Yes, he will play with them. He loves to play with Belle, his choc. Lab friend. Then Jack, a Shih Tzu/Poodle mix. Then others; they're really fast too!
They do have a prey drive. Since their ancestors had to hunt for food, they will chase after: birds, squirrels, rabbits, cats. Luke will actually go into hunting mode and we did not teach him this. He'll go really slow and move one paw at a time, and then boom...he chases after them. Until I call him back (well he's still leashed, I'm just running behind him). But whenever he sees them, he always wants to give chase. I guess it could be trained out of them if you tried.
I think it's easier to keep the puppy cut on them. He used to have that show dog hair (they have hair, not fur) and it was as hard to brush, keep clean, and to me he didn't look as cute as he does now. With a puppy cut, I think it seems cooler for them too when walking. Because even if they walk in nice weather, just picture wearing a coton coat, that's how it's like with them. It mats sooo quickly, all of the sudden it's like, "What? I just brushed him and he has a mat already!" So you really need to keep that up.
I think as long as you socialize your Coton with the GSD and Lab, he'll be fine with them. They're great with dogs and people and they're great watchdogs. They'll bark at a sound or if someone is coming near you that looks suspicious. But they're not known to be yappers and if they do bark a lot, you can just grab their attention with a toy. When you train one, since they're so smart, I wouldn't always use treats. Luke wouldn't do a command unless I gave him a treat as he started to associate treats with commands, so do both praise and treats. They train easily, the only problem I had was potty training, but he's my first dog, so it could've been because I was inexperienced.
They're very loving. They like to play rough too, but will defend themselves if another dog is getting too rough. As for Luke, he's not afraid. He has a healthy fear of what and what not to approach, but he walks as if he's not afraid and they also walk as if they're a bigger dog. So you don't feel as if you're walking this little fro-fro dog, you know. Oh yes, they love to shower you with kisses! I'm not joking...they will shower you with kisses. They're known to jump high and walk on their hind legs and do funny stuff to make you laugh. I always wanted a dog who would point and cock his head, I mean who gets that in one dog?...with a Coton...you do! They're great, they just love to make you laugh and to be with you. And I swear Luke knows what I'm saying to him.
