The Maltese is a special breed. They always make people smile because they are cute and playful. You won’t be able to resist them even if you give it your best shot. If you have ever met a canine from this breed, then you have probably wanted to own one. Yet, that is a decision that shouldn’t be made after brief contact with the animal. If cuteness were the only criteria, then we would all own every single dog on the planet.
Here’s an introduction to this breed: https://en.wikipedia.
So, if you are thinking of getting a Maltese dog, you should take some time to get to know this breed better before introducing it to your family. There are definitely a lot of amazing, as well as important, things that you should learn about this specific breed and I say now is the right time to start. After you’ve learned enough about this canine, you’ll be able to decide if you want to get it or not, meaning that you won’t be making the decision based on nothing else but their level of cuteness.
Size
Male Maltese canines tend to be a bit taller than the females, but they are all generally between 7 and 10 inches tall. The length of their bodies is most often the same as their height, which makes them perfectly proportionate. Generally, a healthy Maltese dog can weigh anywhere between 3 and 10 pound, with 7 pounds being a sort of an average weight that you can expect. So, if you are looking for a tiny dog that will win your heart over, you should definitely give this one a chance.
Training
Although their bodies might be tiny, though, they do have a huge personality that can sometimes make training a bit difficult. Don’t get me wrong here, though; this breed is rather intelligent and it will be able to pick up on all kinds of tricks and everything you teach it. It’s just that their intelligence can actually make them manipulative at times, meaning that they are rather skilled when it comes to bending the rules, which is why you might not always be successful at training it. Read more on the training topic.
If you, however, want to nip their manipulative traits in the bud and actually manage to train them properly, then the best thing to do is motivate it with rewards, such as healthy snacks or simple praises for example. Don’t let them think that they are in charge and make sure to establish your authority. Once you manage to do that, you will certainly be able to teach this dog absolutely anything you want them to know. Yet, you shouldn’t make the mistake of stopping once you have taught them some basic commands, as their training should actually be ongoing and basically constant. That might sound like a lot of work, but it will definitely all be worth it.
Exercise Needs
People tend to assume that these dogs need a lot of exercise, because they do have high energy levels. Yet, the truth is that they won’t need too much physical activity in order to thrive and be perfectly healthy. In fact, it’s not recommended that you take the Maltese for extremely long walks, but if you have to, the general advice is to allow them to rest every 20 minutes or so. This, of course, goes for adult Maltese canines.
As for puppies, the rule is that you shouldn’t let them engage in too much physical exercise, because that might lead to complications during bone development. So, excessive exercising is never a good idea for these canines, but it can be quite more dangerous for them while they are still puppies. Moderation is the key, which is why you should find the perfect balance and thus keep your Maltese properly, but not overly, active.
Personality
Of course, you would never think about getting any particular canine before learning a bit more about its personality. Well, according to this Holistapet dog guide, the personality of a Maltese is undoubtedly something to look forward to. They are extremely friendly and trusting both towards people and towards other animals, which makes them the perfect choice for families, even those that might already own a pet or two. In simple words, the Maltese will get along with basically everyone.
Their friendliness makes them sort of dependent on human interaction, so to speak. To put it differently, if these dogs don’t get enough attention from their family, they might become anxious which can cause some destructive behavior. That’s another reason why these pets will be happiest in larger families. In any case, your job is to provide it with the attention it needs, so that it can be perfectly happy in its environment. Be prepared to cuddle a lot when you get this canine.
Health Issues
You want to keep your dog happy and healthy. It is a smart decision to invest in pet insurance from Bivvy because Malteses can acquire complicated health issues. They are prone to stomach-related difficulties that can lead to food allergies. Additionally, they are prone to dental problems. If not treated properly and promptly, infections can spread to their joints, liver, kidneys, or heart.
