small Breed Dogs
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Maltese Dog
Average Weight:  4 -7 lbs (1.81 - 3.18 kg)
Average Height: 8 - 10 inches (20.32 - 25.4 cm)
Pronounced: Mall - TEEZ
Group:  AKC Toy
Life Span: 14 Years
Average Litter: 4
Origin: Malta - a small island in the Mediterranean Sea

Description

This one of the most well known small breed dogs, with a fabulous all white coat that covers the dog when left to grow long (known as the show dog look). The muzzle  is medium in length, fine and tapered, but not snipy, with teeth meeting in an edge-to-edge bite (also known as a scissors bite). The nose is always black and the eyes are very round and also extremely dark.  The ears on this dog are low on each side of the head and hang very close, not standing out at all.  The tail is carried very gracefully over the dog's back.

The Maltese dog has 1 coat of hair (as opposed to some breeds who have double coats).  This coat will hang long, elegant and flat when left to grow.  Many owners who to not enter show events prefer the "Puppy cut", a trim that leaves the fur short and gives this small dog a wonderful puppy appearance, no matter what their age.

With long coats, the fur covers the eyes and for this reason "Topknots" are created to hold the fur back. These are usually covered with a bow to make the dog look very neat and elegant.

Color

This breed is very special because it does not have a huge range of colors.  A purebred Maltese dog is pure white.  Lemon or a very light tan may be on the ears, but this is not the desired look for show confirmation. Many Maltese dog owners have white dogs with red or pink around the eyes...this is not fur color!  This is called tear stains and should be removed from the dog's fur with proper grooming.

Personality

This is a gentle mannered, affectionate, loving dog whose trust and responsiveness is very appealing to so many owners.  Despite the small size, this small breed dog seems to be completely without fear!  Very eager to do just about anything with you, very lively and energetic (but happy to sit with you when you wish to relax),  Maltese dogs make wonderful companions.

Origin & History

Originating on the little island called Malta (in the Mediterranean Sea), this breed was considered an object of intense beauty and value for centuries. You can find images of Maltese dogs on many Greek artifacts, paintings and old scriptures which prove to us that the breed was regarding very highly and was kept by Royalty.

Exercise

This is a very playful breed, no matter what the age, so an owner should offer a daily walk (about 20 to 30 minutes) and also play time in the yard as much as possible when the weather is warm (at least 2 times per week is recommended).  It is not suggested to ever allow your Malt to walk around alone!  An owner should be there to play fetch, teach commands and play.

Grooming

For long coats - the fur must be brushed and combed each day...if not tangles will quickly develop and the last thing an owner will want to do to a long coat is have to clip the hair!
For short coats - Care is much easier, however you must keep up the trimming.  A good clip about every 2 or 3 months will be needed.  You do not need to go to a professional groomer for this, any owner can do this at home.

As mentioned above, tear staining is a grooming issue.  Sadly, many owners believe that red, pink or rusty color under or around the eyes is normal fur color.  It is not.  This is called tear stains and is a result of tears and discharge from the small dog's eyes slowly building up on the surrounding hair, thus causing discoloration.  It is also thought that tap water, hard in minerals, may cause this or contribute to this .

While it seems that everyone has a new "home-made" treatment for this and claims it "works best" what really works is professional tear stain removal solution.  Some homemade remedies can actually be quite dangerous!  Also, an owner should offer bottled water if possible to reduce any possible high mineral content.  If staining is very extensive, a vet check must be done as it could indicate mange, yeast infection, blocked tear ducts and other health issues.

Health

The Maltese dog does not do well in damp conditions or overly hot weather.  For this reason, an owner must take care when going outside in the rain, keeping the duration as short as possible.  In chilly wet weather, a warm house will be needed and when the temperature begins to rise, a slight cooling off of the house with an air conditioner will be best.

Those with long coats can quickly get a sunburn where the hair parts, for this reason sunscreen must be applied to those areas if out in the hot sun for more than 20 minutes or so.

Like most small breed dogs, Maltese can be prone to luxating patella (slipped kneecap), hip dysplasia (slipped hip joint) collapsed trachea and back issues.  Digestive problems can occur and for this reason, an owner should understand specific feeding requirements for this breed.

Care & Training

One of the most important aspects will be to become very familiar with all Maltese health and behavioral issues.

In addition, proper training should be implemented to allow housebreaking to be quick, since this breed is very sensitive to the weather . Owners -  Click Here For More Detailed Information

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