Maltese is a pure dog breed. This is a vibrant, energetic dog who excels as a companion, therapy dog, and contender in canine sports such as agility, obedience, rally, and tracking.
Their rich white coat gives them a haughty nobility appearance. If you wish to add this wonderful fuzzy breed to your family, we’ve covered everything you need to know about Maltese in this post.
Content Overview
- History
- Characteristics
- Temperament
- Is Maltese Good With you & your family?
- Appearance
- Common Health Problems & It’s Symptoms
- How to take care
- Grooming Needs
- How to train Maltese Puppy
- Puppy price
- How to care Maltese in Winter?
- Maltese Mix breeds
- Things to consider adopting a Maltese puppies
- Advantages & Disadvantages
History
Content OMany people believe that the Maltese breed originated from Spitz or Spaniel-type dogs on the Mediterranean island of Malta. Others say he was created in Italy, while others claim he was born in Asia and contributed to the development of many of the smaller Asian canines.
The Maltese flourished wherever he came from. He had a strong place in the arms and hearts of French nobility by in the 15th century. Maltese landed in the British Isles during Henry VIII’s reign. The Maltese had become a beloved pet for noble and royal ladies by the end of the 16th century.
Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth I, and Mary Queen of Scots all adored the small puppy. When attempts were attempted to breed the Maltese to be the size of a squirrel in the 17th and 18th centuries, he was nearly extinct. He lived during the Roman Empire’s demise and the Dark Ages.
Breeders mixed poodles, miniature spaniels, and East Asian miniature dogs with the breed to save it after a nearly fatal attempt. As a result, the Maltese became so diverse that several new breeds arose. The Maltese as we know him now was developed by English breeders.
The Maltese arrived in the United States in the late 1800s. Until the 1950s, the number of Maltese dogs registered with the AKC climbed steadily. The breed has grown in popularity since then.
Characteristics
Breed basic Characteristics
| Weight | Female: 3–4 kg, Male: 3–4 kg |
| Height | Female: 20–23 cm, Male: 21–25 cm |
| Grooming requirements | Medium grooming |
| Litter size | 1 – 4 Puppies |
| Coat color | White |
| Lifespan | 12 – 15 years |
| Suitable For | Families, First time dog owner |
| Purpose | Watch dog, Hunting, Companion, Lap dog |
| Barking Level | High |
| Breed Type | Toy |
| Hypoallergenic | Yes |
| Energy Level | High |
Temperament
The Maltese is a gentle dog breed that is sweet-tempered, easygoing, playful, friendly, responsive, intelligent, submissive, fearless, active, and lively. They aren’t naturally aggressive or domineering.
Positive reinforcement works wonders for them. The Maltese is an excellent lap dog. They find joy in receiving attention from anybody and everyone. If he isn’t given enough attention or exercise, he will bark excessively.
Some Maltese dogs have a proclivity for barking more than others. A little maltese is similar to a small child. They rapidly become accustomed to being the centre of attention, and if they are left alone, they may become angry and jealous of your attention.
Therefore, you do not leave them alone at home for an extended period of time. This breed is ideal for living in an apartment. They are quite active indoors and do not require a yard. They don’t necessitate a lot of physical activity.
Is Maltese Good With you & your family?
This is a wonderful family dog. Even as puppies, Maltese are incredibly trusting of people. Their friendly and trusting character isn’t limited to people. They are frequently sociable with other dogs and pets.
This characteristic makes the breed ideal for homes with several pets. They are normally non-aggressive and like playing with other dogs.
The Maltese dog breed is recognised for being active, energetic, and friendly around children.Teach your children not to annoy them.
Appearance
Body: The body is compact, with the length and height being equal.
Nose: The colour of the nose can fade and turn pink or light brown. It has the shape of a button for a nose.
Skull: It’s skull is slightly rounded on top.
Chest: It has a broad chest.
Tail: The tail is long and curled, and it is carried over the back.
Eyes: Darker skin pigmentation around the eyes. It has a pair of eyeballs that aren’t too far apart.
Ears: They have drop ears with lengthy hair.
Muzzle: It has a medium-length muzzle that is fine and tapered but not snipy.
Teeth: It’s teeth has edge-to-edge bite, or scissors bite.
Legs: Fine-boned and well-feathered legs. The forelegs are straight, with well-knit pastern joints and no discernible bend. At the stifles and hocks, the hind legs are powerful and moderately angulated.
Feet: The feet are small and round, with black toe pads.
Gait: It has a jaunty, smooth, flowing gait.
Coat: It has a single coat, which means there is no undercoat. It almost hangs long, flat, and silky over the body’s sides.
Common Health Problems
The Maltese is a robust little dog with a good coat. However, certain health issues may appear. If owners are aware of the issues that may arise, they will surely be in a better position to deal with them.
Some disorders are inherited and passed down the generations, while others are not. Veterinary advice and treatment are often required.
Maltese may go through the list of health problems given here.
- Leg Problems
- Bladder Stones
- Teeth problems
- Bad breath
- Eye’s problem
- Ear’s problem
- Luxating patellas
- Licking
- Bacterial and viral infections
- Hip and elbow dysplasia
Grooming Needs
Bathing:
Matting and tangles can be avoided by brushing the fur. Never brush a dry coat; instead, spritz it softly with a moisturising spray before brushing. Their coat should be brushed in the direction of hair growth.
Make use of a metal comb. Brushing long show coats on a daily basis is required to keep them tangle-free. Brush their hair every two days if your pup have a moderate hairstyle.
Brushing short hair cuts every three days is recommended.
Bathing:
Baths are required every 1 to 2 weeks for Maltese. Place your dog in the tub or the wash station first. Use warm water to wet your dog. It’s quite fine to check the temperature with your hand.
Using water, dilute the shampoo. Putting the shampoo in a dispenser with water. Shampoo that has been diluted will foam up and spread more evenly. Make use of conditioner.
Leave it on for a few minutes before rinsing it off. Using a soft towl or a drier, dry their coat.
Ear’s cleaning:
Ear infections in Maltese are common, so they must be checked on a regular basis. Clean their ears with a cotton ball wet with a pH-balanced ear cleaner if they appear filthy.
Teeth cleaning:
Brush your Maltese teeth to avoid plaque and tartar accumulation and poor breath. You should brush their teeth at least twice a week. When brushing your dog, make sure you use canine toothpaste.
Nail Clipping:
Using nail clippers, trim the nails every 4-6 weeks, being careful not to cut them too short.
How to train Maltese Puppy
Socialization:
All the dog’s including maltese, needs to be socialised. Take your pup for leash walks and to dog parks. Introduce him to folks he’ll see on a regular basis.
Outside of your home, these people could be relatives or family, the groomer, veterinarian, pets in the neighbourhood, or pet store employees.
Set the expectation that he will sit before they can touch him. Allow them to pet and touch your pup so that he becomes accustomed to this method of therapy.
Obedience training:
Maltese can become aggressive when they feel threatened, so obedience training is essential. Begin basic obedience training with a few simple commands like “sit,” “down,” “stay,” and “come.”
Be sure to have plenty of treats on hand to reward your pup for excellent behaviour and obedience. Obedience training needs a great deal of effort and time.
Potty Training:
How to potty train a Maltese Dog puppy may take some time and effort. Take your pup outside every hour or so and wait with them for a few minutes to see if they need to relieve themselves.
This will make it more difficult for them to go to the bathroom inside and will educate them where they should go. Make sure they have use to their own outside restroom.
You recognise their potty signs, like as smelling the floor, sitting at the outside door, barking, squatting, and circling.
Stop biting:
Akitas are prone to biting. When they are puppies and still teething, it can bite. His sharp teeth can be extremely hurting. Give them chewing toys to chew on.
Chewing helps in the relief of his discomfort. After they’ve bit you, don’t give them anything.
Stop barking:
As guard dogs, Akitas can raise the volume, resulting in a high degree of barking. They bark infrequently, usually only when something requires their attention or as a deterrent.
When they see a stranger or an unknown individual, they bark. Learn the command “Quiet” for them. Say “Quiet” in a calm, strong voice when your dog is barking.
Wait until they stop barking, even if it’s merely to catch their breath, after praising and rewarding them. Just make sure you don’t praise them while they’re barking.
Puppy price
Maltese puppy costs is around $600 to $2,000.
How to care Maltese in Winter?
The Maltese dog breed despises being in the cold. A Maltese can easily acquire the chills and develop a cold, or even more, especially when the weather is chilly. Here are the steps to controlling a cold for your pup.
- Keep humidity levels at 40%.
- Winterize their paws and nose.
- Keep them indoors.
- Give them warm water for drinking.
- Give them regular exercise inside the house.
- Arrange warm and cosy bedding.
- Put the room heater away.
- Wrap your Maltese in woolens or sweter.
Maltese Mix breeds
- Morkie = Maltese + Yorkshire Terrier
- Maltipom = Maltese + Pomeranian
- Maltichon = Maltese + Bichon
- Malteagle = Maltese + Beagle
- Maltipoo = Maltese + poodle
- Malshi = Maltese + Shihtzu
- MaltiPug = Maltese + Pug
- Malchi = Maltese + Chihuahua
- Mauzer = Maltese + Schnauzer
- Maltipug = Maltese + Pug
Things to consider adopting a Maltese puppies
- Finding a good breeder is the way to finding the right puppy.
- A reputable breeder will match you with the ideal puppy.
- A good breeder will reply to your questions.
- Choose a breeder who is not just willing but eager to assist you in training and caring for your new dog.
- Avoid breeders who just seem interested in selling puppies as rapidly as possible.
- Breeders who sell puppies “with papers” for one price and “without papers” for a lesser price. If you buy a make sure it comes with all of the necessary paperwork.
- You are able to find a breeder through their website.
- Maltese prefers to spend more time with her family. So, if you have a lot of time to spend with them, then never adopt them.
- If you live in a very cold climate, then maltese is not a good choice for you. Because this breed is unable to tolerate cold climates.
- If you do not have much time for grooming them, then never adopt them.
- Their grooming is very expensive, so if it is not in your budget, then never adopt them.
Advantages & Disadvantages
Advantages:
- This small breed easy to pick up.
- They are peaceful with strangers and other animals.
- It is a lively, funny, playful, affectionate dog breed.
- Due to sheds very lightly this is good choice for allergy sufferers.
- They usually lives a long time.
Disadvantages:
- They can’t live alone.
- It bark’s a lot.
- They have some health-issues.
- Your children may harm this small size breed.