| The Maltese is seen as a ball of hair. Glamorous, | | | | happy with some outside play and a regular walk for |
| difficult and dainty. The Greeks put up tombs for | | | | exercise. |
| their dogs and a model was found in Egypt as well. | | | | The smaller size means watching to insure your |
| They've been an aristocrat for 28 centuries, with | | | | Maltese does not get too overweight. Balance the |
| documentations of the breed as early as 40 A.D. | | | | food with exercise always! With small dogs just a |
| These have long been household pets for people | | | | couple pounds can be enough to affect their health |
| with means. They were healthy and although small in | | | | and shorten their lifespan. |
| size large in temperament. They have a long beautiful | | | | Dental care is also important either with teeth |
| coat that is hard to overlook when groomed right. | | | | cleaning by a vet or with natural methods of chewing |
| By the standard the Maltese is less than 7 pounds | | | | toys and bones. Keeping the plaque and bacteria |
| with a preference of 4-6 pounds if the quality is | | | | down helps eliminate not only dental issues but can |
| there. They'll possess a smooth gait with an | | | | lead to heart and kidney disease. |
| impression of fast movement. He projects | | | | A Maltese is a true companion. They want to be with |
| fearlessness with affection. Lively, playful, vigorous | | | | you whether it's sitting near you as you watch |
| describe this breed. This is a companion breed that | | | | television or going for a walk. They like to be with |
| takes regular grooming to keep tangle free especially | | | | their owners and can be playful for most of his life |
| after playing in puddles! | | | | with good care, living well into their teens. |
| His coat should be straight, not curly or wavy and his | | | | Although the Maltese do not shed seasonally like |
| body is slightly longer than he is tall. This is a hardy | | | | many breeds do they do shed, which is another |
| companion that is fine boned but not exactly dainty. | | | | reason for regular grooming. While sunshine and fresh |
| They do need regular maintenance and grooming to | | | | air is good it's important to remember, especially with |
| keep the coat beautiful. Even among pet dogs, which | | | | dog thefts on the rise, that the Maltese is a friendly |
| can be trimmed to have a shorter coat than show | | | | breed that loves people. This makes a huge target |
| dogs, daily brushing helps keep the coat in good | | | | for a thief. Also worth watching - their bone |
| condition. | | | | structure makes them physically not a dog for |
| In a home environment the Maltese is typically active | | | | roughhousing with children or larger dogs. They are |
| and playful with a devoted nature. They generally | | | | apt to play full on and, as such, apt to sustain injuries |
| trust people and are very intelligent. Like most smart | | | | that are serious. |
| dogs they are good at learning things and indeed | | | | A crate is highly recommended for any puppy but |
| need to learn. A balanced attitude is needed to keep | | | | especially small dogs like a Maltese. This allows a safe |
| the Maltese eager to learn and yet disciplined to not | | | | place to be should you travel and it's also a place that |
| learn the wrong things. | | | | he can retreat too during holidays and other times |
| This is generally a healthy breed but not without | | | | when the household is "too busy" for his comfort. |
| issues. Good routine preventative care is essential but | | | | Additionally if there should ever be emergency |
| there are issues that can arise even with that. | | | | evacuation orders, a Maltese comfortable in his crate |
| "Reverse sneezing" is apt to happen when excited, | | | | is much less stressed and much safer than a loose |
| eating or drinking or during exercises. Although | | | | dog. |
| relatively common in the breed it is not something | | | | A happy, outgoing Maltese is a product of a |
| that gathers serious concern. | | | | commitment by the breeder and owner. The breeder |
| However one thing that appears the same can be a | | | | selects the healthiest, best animals to increase the |
| collapsed trachea. This is a condition that seems to | | | | chances of quality animals rather than just producing |
| affect certain breeds of dogs leading some to | | | | puppies. The breeder cannot control things for life - |
| believe it is genetic in origin. The dog may cough or | | | | when you purchase a puppy you pay for a |
| 'honk' and if very light pressure is placed on the | | | | companion and assume the responsibility for his |
| throat causes a reaction it can be a collapsed trachea. | | | | training. |
| X-rays can confirm the condition as well as an | | | | Expose them to as many things as possible and be |
| endoscope. While doing x-rays it is worth taking | | | | consistent. Maltese are small and fluffy - the "cute" |
| chest shots to check for heart disease at the same | | | | factor is in full motion and it's important to be |
| time. There are treatments available but they don't | | | | attentive to having discipline in place. Teaching |
| always work. Use extreme caution in corrective jerks | | | | boundaries and manners insures that your dog won't |
| during training to prevent damaging the trachea or | | | | be a training problem that results in so many dogs |
| lunging at the leash. | | | | being dumped at shelters. Many breeders have a |
| Liver shunts also affect the Maltese and should be | | | | standing offer to always take the dog back should |
| considered especially if under a year old. Typical signs | | | | you not be able to keep them and it's important to |
| can be a puppy that doesn't thrive despite good | | | | honor this agreement if it is in place. |
| nutrition. Poor weight gain, weakness, depression and | | | | Like other dogs with white hair on the face, tear |
| an apathetic attitude are indications of the disease | | | | stains can be noticeable on Maltese. This might be |
| early on. Other signs are weakness, seizures, excess | | | | from the water, allergies, infections or blocked tear |
| salivation, vomiting, poor appetite, bladder stones, | | | | ducts. |
| blindness and balance problems. Lab work including | | | | This is an ideal dog for adults who are committed to |
| x-rays, ultrasound and radioisotopes can verify this | | | | a pet that is just as committed to them. They are a |
| genetic disorder which requires surgery. | | | | fairly active breed but not so much so that it's a |
| Skin allergies, separation anxiety, car anxiety and | | | | marathon to exercise them! With a good balance of |
| retinal atrophy can all affect the Maltese also. | | | | love and discipline this is a breed that takes up |
| This is a good apartment or house dog due to a | | | | permanent residence in your heart. Choose an |
| sometimes low tolerance for damp weather. Inside | | | | individual wisely and prepare for a wonderful pet in a |
| they can be quite active and playful, but they are | | | | Maltese. |