In 2025, Charlie finished fourth in the DKK Dog of the Year All Breeds competition, became the Best Group 9 Dog of the Year and the Best Danish Bred Dog of the Year. Photo: Laura Holck

When the World Dog Challenge for Top Dogs takes place in Bologna on June 6th 2026 in connection with the World Dog Show, Denmark will be represented by Bettina Martens and her Coton de Tulear male Coton CPH’s Vulcano Zorro, known in everyday life as Charlie. Behind the invitation lies many years of dedicated work with the breed, a strong focus on health, and a breeding program that over the years has made its mark both in Denmark and internationally.

Last weekend, Charlie continued his successful streak at the Danish Kennel Club show in Roskilde, where he achieved group placements on all three days. Friday he earned BIG2 under Finnish judge Kaisa Gold, Saturday BIG1 under Tomas Rohlin, and Sunday another BIG2 under Italian judge Francesco Cochetti.

Friday at the DKK Show in Roskilde, Charlie became BOG2 under Finnish judge Kaisa Gold. Photo: Wiegaarden /Rinnie Ilsøe

Saturday at the DKK Show in Roskilde, Charlie became BOG1 under Danish judge Thomas Rohlin. Photo: Wiegaarden /Rinnie Ilsøe

Sunday at the DKK Show in Roskilde, Charlie became BOG2 under Italian judge Francesco Cochetti. Photo: Wiegaarden /Jørgen Bak Rasmussen

The beginning of a breeding journey

Today, Bettina Martens lives in Stubbekøbing on the island of Falster and has been a DKK breeder since 2013 under the kennel name Coton CPH’s, short for Coton Copenhagen’s. She is married to Carsten Birk, who plays a very central role in the kennel at home.

“Without him and his support, there would be no me. It requires tremendous support from home during all the weekends spent at dog shows in Denmark and abroad,” Bettina says.

It was an allergy within her close family that led her in 2011 to look into more allergy friendly breeds. That was when she discovered the Coton de Tulear. At the time, she approached it very thoroughly and spent a long time researching health and responsible breeding before finding DKK breeder Brigitte Jespersen and, after one and a half years of waiting, receiving her first Coton, Jespersen’s Louis Vuitton, called Louis.

Bettina and Charlie in the main ring in Roskilde on Sunday, May 3rd, where they claimed the podium with a BIG2 placement. Photo: Wiegaarden / Rinnie Ilsøe

From the beginning, the goal was to find a dog with show potential if the interest developed further. It quickly did. Louis and Bettina became familiar faces at both DKK shows and events hosted by Klubben for Små Selskabshunde, and together they travelled across large parts of Europe attending dog shows. Over the years, Louis achieved 10 champion titles and today he is 15 years old.

The interest in both showing and breeding grew rapidly, and Bettina once again began extensive research to find the bloodlines she wanted to build her breeding program upon. She imported two adult females from France and the USA respectively and completed both the DKK breeder education and dog owner education before her first litter was born in 2014.

The first major successes

From her second litter, Bettina kept the male Coton CPH’s Caspian of Narnia, who became the kennel’s first major star. Caspian became champion in 10 countries, achieved several Best in Show wins at international dog shows, and ended his career with the title Veteran Europa Winner 2023 in Herning.

“Today he enjoys retirement at home and still runs the pack,” Bettina says.

Since then, more than 23 champions have come from her breeding program, including 13 International Champions. The kennel has also achieved excellent results in breeder groups, including Best in Show Breeder Group and BOB Breeder Group at the World Dog Show. Puppies from kennel Coton CPH’s can today be found in Canada, the USA, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Germany and Croatia.

Charlie and the major breakthrough

In 2021, Bettina imported the stud dog Rifi de Polana from Canada. The following year, he became the sire of a litter of five males, where two quickly stood out: Coton CPH’s Vulcano Zorro, Charlie, and his litter brother Coton CPH’s Vanilla Sky, called Howie. Both stayed home longer than originally planned for further evaluation.

Charlie’s brother, Howie. Howie became an American Champion at 10 months old and a Grand Champion at 21 months old, qualified for Westminster and achieved Grand Champion Select.

Howie later went to a new breeder in the USA with ambitions of reaching Westminster, while Charlie stayed with Bettina and began an impressive show career. Already as a baby and puppy, he achieved several Best in Show placements, and since then he has earned numerous group placements and titles both in Denmark and internationally.

Among his achievements are several DKK Breed Winner titles, Norwegian Breed Winner titles and VDH Jahressieger titles, as well as placements at major international dog shows. In 2025, Charlie finished fourth in the DKK Dog of the Year all breeds competition, became the best Group 9 dog of the year, and the best Danish bred dog of all breeds.

Charlie is therefore regularly treated by osteopath Johnny from Hunde i Balance in Taastrup, always three to four days before major shows. Photo: Private collection

Behind the results also lies a strong focus on the dogs’ physical wellbeing. Bettina regularly uses osteopathic treatment as part of the preparation for major shows.

“It is about ensuring free and clean movement and preventing injuries,” she explains.

Charlie is therefore regularly treated by osteopath Johnny from Hunde i Balance in Taastrup, always three to four days before larger shows.

Drama behind the scenes

According to Bettina herself, she only started seriously following the standings in the Dog of the Year competition later in the season.

“Until then, I had mostly focused on the Breed Winner competition,” she says.

After summer, however, the points race became a major focus. Together with her friend Birgit Seloy, placements and results were followed closely weekend after weekend. Although the competition was intense, Bettina describes the environment as one marked by respect and good sportsmanship between competitors.

Bettina and Charlie achieved no less than 2x BOG2 and 1x BOG1 during the past weekend in Roskilde. Photo: Wiegaarden / Rinnie Ilsøe

The grand finale of the year was the DKK show in Herning with more than 11,000 dogs spread over three days. At the same time, Bettina was in the middle of a whelping at home. The night before departure, one of her females went into labor, and after several hours spent helping with puppies, cleaning and preparing everything, Bettina and her friend headed for Herning early Friday morning without any sleep.

The weekend developed into a very close battle for placements in the Dog of the Year competition. Charlie ultimately finished in fourth place, only one point behind third place.

Charlie is not one to turn down a good beef ear on the sofa. Photo: Private collection

And the story almost repeated itself in Roskilde. During the night before Sunday, another litter was born at home in the kennel before Bettina once again headed to the show without sleep. Back home, Carsten Birk took care of the mother and puppies.

“It is a constant dilemma being both breeder and exhibitor, but none of this would be possible without Carsten’s incredible support. He is the world’s best dog dad,” Bettina says.

The next generation is already on its way

Even though much right now revolves around Charlie and Bologna, the next generation is already well underway. Charlie’s son, Coton CPH’s Giant In My Heart, called Carl, is only 14 months old but has already achieved titles such as Danish Junior Champion, Luxembourg Junior Champion, International Junior Champion and Viking Junior Winner 2026.

Charlie’s son, Coton CPH’s Giant In My Heart (Carl), in Roskilde, spring 2026. Photo: Laura Holck

In addition, he has already completed his Danish championship requirements.

For Bettina, breeding is not only about individual major wins, but about long term work with health, type and temperament generation after generation.

Charlie’s son, Coton CPH’s Giant In My Heart, called Carl, is only 14 months old but has already achieved titles such as Danish Junior Champion, Luxembourg Junior Champion, International Junior Champion and Viking Junior Winner 2026. Photo: Laura Holck

After the conclusion of the Herning show, Bettina was contacted by DKK chairman Jørgen Hindse, who wanted Charlie to represent Denmark at the World Dog Challenge for Top Dogs 2026 in Bologna. The invitation was based on Charlie’s results as the best Danish bred and Danish owned dog of all breeds in 2025.

“For me as a breeder, it is a tremendous honor,” says Bettina Martens.

When Charlie enters the ring in Bologna this summer with the Danish flag next to his name, it will be the culmination of many years of work with the breed, breeding and dog shows, and another chapter in the story of kennel Coton CPH’s.

Made by Laura Holck