More than most other breeds, Maltese need a great deal of companionship and do not like being left alone for more than a few hours. They tend to express their anxiety and unhappiness through destructive chewing and barking. Keep in mind that the inheritance of temperament is less predictable than the inheritance of physical traits such as size or shedding.
Temperament and behavior are also shaped by raising and training. Get your book today. A healthy dog is a happy dog, so buy your copy today.
According to the official breed clubs, Maltese are "supposed" to stand about inches at the shoulder and weigh lbs. But many individuals are smaller than 4 lbs not good for overall health and many individuals are larger than 7 lbs safer, sturdier family pets. You might have heard those phrases associated with Maltese. For example, a breeder might tell you that "Toy" Maltese are a certain weight range, "Tiny Toy" Maltese are slightly smaller, "Extreme Tiny" Chihuahuas are smaller than that, etc.
These breeders might even price their dogs according to weight, as if that should define a dog's value. And their prices are typically ridiculous. Theses phrases are made-up marketing fluff, coined by savvy breeders who know that these cutesy phrases attract gullible buyers.
Most of these breeders are irresponsible and their prices are typically ridiculous. There is only one Maltese breed. There are no weight classes. Whether an individual weighs 2 pounds or 6 pounds or 10 pounds, he's still just a Maltese. Some individuals are simply smaller or larger than others. Unfortunately, Maltese under 4 pounds are higher risks when it comes to health. Their bones are fragile. There is not enough room in their mouth for healthy teeth. Their internal organs are often weak and can fail suddenly.
They tend to have difficulty regulating their blood sugar and can suddenly fall into hypoglycemic low blood sugar comas that can be fatal. Responsible Maltese breeders never try to produce these tiny high-risk creatures. If a tiny one pops up in one of their litters, they do their best to find the best home that can keep it alive, yes, but they try hard not to produce them in the first place. If you reward irresponsible breeders by giving them your money, you are encouraging them to keep producing tiny, sickly, short-lived creatures.
Please be a responsible buyer and stick with Maltese who will mature at 4 pounds and up, who have the best chance of living a normal healthy life. In this way, breeders will be motivated to produce these sizes. You can estimate whether a puppy will mature at 4 pounds and up by this guideline: if he already weighs at least 2 pounds at weeks old, he should mature at over 4 pounds. It's not a perfect guideline, but it's usually close.
Look at the puppy's mother and father. If they're well over 4 pounds, their puppies are more likely to be, as well. Not much outdoor exercise, but that's because they're so lively indoors and get most of their exercise running around the house. You might be wondering if it would be okay to let your Maltese off-leash in that nicy grassy area beside your driveway.
I would never do that — there are far too many dangers lurking for a dog of this size. Along with physical exercise, your Maltese will appreciate mental exercise, where the dog gets to participate in interesting activities that keep his mind stimulated.
This might be a dog sport such as agility, rally obedience, or musical freestyle. It might be interactive dog toys, or a homemade obstacle course, or learning tricks, or playing games such as Hide 'n Seek. If you live in a cold or rainy climate, housebreaking will be especially difficult, because Maltese hate cold and wet. All of these housebreaking options are detailed in my puppy training book, Respect Training For Puppies.
Either type will bark when someone comes to the door. Your job is to teach your Maltese that some initial barking is fine This will only happen when your dog views himself as the follower and you as the leader.
I never recommend keeping a Maltese with children under the age of about 9, no matter how well-meaning the child. Younger children cannot help being clumsy, and that a child "meant well" is little solace to a Maltese who has been accidentally stepped on, sat on, squeezed, hit with an errant ball, or dropped down the stairs or onto the concrete patio.
In addition, most Maltese feel overwhelmed by the loud voices and quick movements that children can't help making, and stress and fearfulness even defensive biting may be the result. But you should be careful about mixing them with larger dogs. If you want to try this, be sure you can read dogs accurately, and be sure the other dog is quiet, gentle, and well behaved.
A big bouncy dog can hurt a Maltese by accident. I would not mix a Maltese with a breed whose heritage is chasing prey animals. Maltese can look like prey animals, especially when they move quickly. What this means for you is that you will have a loyal companion dedicated to keeping your lap warm for many, many years.
The Maltese is an outgoing, playful and energetic dog. They are kind and loving, but they are actually quite delicate. Children falling on, or squeezing the dog wrong can result in broken bones or other injuries. Having no undercoat means that the Maltese is a fantastic breed for those who suffer from allergies. Their hair is silky and soft, and will grow quite long if you have the patience and time for that. The most popular cut for the Maltese dogs is a puppy cut, keeping the soft coat short all over.
Despite being one of the most ancient toy breeds, the exact origin of the Maltese is not known. Many believe they were developed in the Mediterranean, on the Isle of Malta, and descended from Spitz or Spaniel-type dogs. Others believe they were developed in Italy, and some believe that they were originally from Asia and a relative of the Tibetan Lion Dog, which is the same as the Shih Tzu was believed to have originated from.
The Maltese was nearly wiped out in the 17th and 18th centuries when attempts were made to breed him to be the size of a squirrel. After it was found to nearly destroy the breed, poodles, miniature spaniels, and East Asian miniature dogs were mixed with the breed to save it. This resulted in the Maltese becoming increasingly varied. So much so that several new breeds were formed. The Maltese puppy truly is the quintessential lap dog, with her fluffy white fur, adorable black-button nose, dark eyes, and sprightly demeanor.
The Maltese has a compact, athletic body, small floppy ears, and a tufted tail that curves over her back. By the time a Maltese reaches her full 7—9 inch height and 4—6 pound weight, those white tresses become silky smooth, requiring daily brushing along with regular baths to maintain her regal appearance.
Maltese dogs don't shed much. And while no dog is percent hypoallergeni c, some, like the low-shedding Maltese, may have a lower impact on allergy sufferers than other breeds. While Maltese owners planning to show their dogs will allow them to keep their long, flowing locks, most people keeping a Maltese as a companion opt for frequent trims and short hairdos to make maintenance easier.
Gentle, playful, smart, affectionate, trainable—Maltese lovers swear that these charming pups are among the best out there. Derse says Maltese are generally agreeable and can get along well with children , adults of all ages, and live well with cats and other dogs, especially when socialized early.
However, as with any dog, parents need to teach their children how to handle an animal and always monitor interactions, especially when both puppy and child are young. A small apartment is just fine for this compact canine. While the bouncy Maltese is happy to go on walks and sprint around a fenced-in yard , she doesn't require much exercise. Rather, her most pressing need is to be near her beloved owner.
And that owner, Derse says, has a tendency to spoil the dog rotten. So much so, she says, that the Maltese's feet almost never touch the ground. So when they come into the hospital, we'll put them on the floor and put a leash on them and they just have no idea what to do.
That's what they're bred for—they were bred to be lap dogs. But that doesn't mean they're lazy. In fact, Maltese excel in agility and obedience training , especially when coupled with lots of positive reinforcement.
While they can tolerate some time spent alone, they prefer to be with their family. If left alone for too long or not given enough exercise, barking can become an issue for the Maltese.
Regular positive reinforcement training and plenty of attention can curb her barking tendencies. While the bouncy Maltese is happy to go on walks and sprint around a fenced-in yard, she doesn't require much exercise.
That flowing white coat requires quite a bit of grooming , Derse says. Their gorgeous fur can get matted and dirty, so daily brushing is key. Regular trims will help keep the hair from getting in their eyes, too. But even with consistent grooming, Derse says, owners shouldn't expect their Maltese to look like a show dog. Maltese dogs do require regular bathing and coat conditioning to keep their silky locks looking their best.
And, like other breeds, you will need to maintain their fast-growing nails with regular trimming sessions , paying particular attention to not nicking the quick, as many Maltese have black toenails that make seeing that bundle of nerves more challenging. Other routine grooming—including ear cleanings and teeth brushing , which are particularly important as your dog gets older—will help with keeping your Maltese healthy between vet visits.
Tear staining is also a common—but not usually serious—problem in Maltese, resulting in a rusty tint to the hair around the dog's eyes.
0コメント