Origin: Malta
Height: 7”-9”
Weight: 4-7 lbs
Color: White with the potential for black point
Lifespan: 12-15 years
Temperament: Fun-loving, docile, smart, lively
Overview
Maltese or “Ye Ancient Dogge of Malta” dates to somewhere around 500BC. It is said that even Aristotle once wrote about these charming pups. Throughout ages they have been comforters of the sick and still make great therapy dogs today. If they are socialized early, they can make good pets for families, provided the children are well behaved. They are exceptionally alert and make good watchdogs.
Their long flowing hair and angelic gait makes the Maltese appear to glide rather than romp. They shed minimally but do require a bit of grooming to keep them looking in their best shape. Throughout time Maltese have had many aliases including Roman Ladies dog, The Comforter, The Spaniel Gentle, and the Maltese Lion Dog.
Smartest Dog Breeds
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Celebrity Owners
Marilyn Monroe, Mona Lisa, Halle Berry, Susan Sarandon, Eva Longoria, Miley Cyrus, Daisy Lowe, Madonna, Elizabeth Taylor
Fun Facts
- During the Roman Empire white was considered a sacred color. Maltese were kept as royal pets and were specifically bred to only have the pure white coat that we know them by today.
Health
Maltese are generally healthy dogs. They are prone to several hereditary conditions that include:
- Patellar luxation: Luxating simply means out of place or dislocated. Patella is a kneecap. A Luxating patella is a kneecap that chronically moves out of its normal position.
- Heart issues: There’s a myriad of causes of heart disease in dogs. Age, health and nutrition all play a vital role. With 95% of heart diseases coming in small dog breeds who are 5 years or older, thinking about preventative care and coverage is smart to do.
- Liver shunt and microvascular: The portal vein carrying blood bypasses the liver. While most commonly a birth defect, liver disease such as cirrhosis can also be a cause.
- Encephalitis: This condition is inflammation in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).
- Obesity: With over a quarter of the canine population suffering from obesity, this is a very preventable disease in dogs.
- Hydrocephalus: This condition occurs when there is a cerebrospinal fluid buildup in the brain. This places potentially grave pressure on the brain. This condition is typically congenital, meaning they were born with it.
- Dental disease: Dental disease effects 80% of dogs over three. This condition is among the most common seen by vets.
While some of these conditions can be tested for by your breeder some cannot. Be sure to request all the relevant testing of your pup and the parent pups.
While you always hope your pet will live a long and healthy life, it is always a good idea to invest in pet health insurance.
Keeping your dog’s mouth clean and problem free goes a long way to your pup’s overall health. Dental hygiene can be the cause or can be the byproduct of other serious health issues.
Visual inspections can be performed to keep track of the signs of potentially waning oral health. These signs can be anything from bad breath to abnormal chewing to loss of appetite.
Keeping ahead of these warning signs can pay dividends. A preventative approach can delay and stop many of the common dental problems from arising.
Oral health can be tackled in five basic steps:
- Brushing your dog’s teeth to prevent an undesirable buildup of plaque
- Feed your dog a diet where the high quality dog food has dental benefits
- Regularly give your dog dental toys and treats
- Use mouthwash, to help where brushing misses
- At the sign of any abnormalities, consult a vet. You can even do it virtually, from the convenience of your home.
Dogs are just like humans in that they can experience anxiety. The degree to which they are susceptible to anxiety and how they deal with anxiety is breed specific. Left unchecked, initial signs of anxiety could give way to an anxiety disorder. The symptoms of anxiety disorders can lead to a myriad of behavior issues.
Knowing the signs and symptoms will best equip you to keep ahead of it and to nip it in the bud at the earliest signs. There are options available to help with anxiety.
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Grooming
These beauties didn’t wake up like this! Maltese will require daily brushing to avoid tangles and matting. Always use a spray conditioner on the hair before brushing. The best choices for grooming tools are a pin brush or a comb. Bathe your pup whenever it starts looking grimy. Be sure to fully brush your pup before washing.
You will want to towel dry and then blow dry your pup on a warm but not hot setting. Keep your pup’s eyes, ears, and area around the mouth clean and clear of debris. Maintain short and trimmed nails. This breed is prone to dental issues, so aim to brush their teeth daily.
Coat
Medium length, hard wiry density
Exercise
Maltese do not require extreme exercise. Somewhere between 30-60 minutes per day will suffice. Hiking, walking, fetch or other play in a fenced in area will all keep your pup happy.
In cold weather, this breed should spend little time outside or be sure to wear an extra layer.
Nutrition
Your Maltese will eat around 1 cup of food per day. The exact requirements for your dog will vary with age and activity level. Be mindful that little dogs that receive lots of treats and or table scraps end up overweight.
A little dog that is overweight is significantly more likely to develop other health issues.
We’ve taken a look at some premium dog foods, high in nutrition here.
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Training
As with all dogs, early socialization with humans and other pups is essential. These adorable little pups have a way of getting away with stuff by giving a cute look. Be sure to be diligent and consistent with positive reinforcement training and your pup will thrive.
Proper training is essential to ensuring the safety of your dog and those around you. Having your dog come when they should, and in general having them listen is something you want to address early in your pup’s life, as it will pay dividends down the line. There are many tried and true training programs to accomplish this training – faster and better than you might think!
Unless you’re living on a farm, or have the space, a yipping dog, or one that barks all day when you are gone could be an issue with the neighbors and/or landlord. Historically, dogs would bark to communicate with the rest of the pack when hunting and bark as a warning shot to predators eyeing up their flock. Barking is deep rooted in dogs and manifests itself in many ways and for a variety of reasons.
Just like any habit or instinct, there are effective ways you can train this issue away.
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Supplements
A solid Glucosamine Supplement for hips and joints will go a long way to helping your furry friend.
Other helpful supplements include full-spectrum hemp oil or CBD oil. Fish oil skin and coat supplement.
Ensuring a comprehensive preventative vitamin and mineral plan is essential to keeping your dog healthy. Truth is, there are vitamins and minerals that your dog needs, but doesn’t produce naturally. While many of these vitamins and minerals can be found in your dog’s current diet and dog food, the question becomes, are there enough vitamins to ensure they aren’t deficient.
Poor nutrition can lead to some of the most common health issues, such as weak joints, compromised immunity, increased allergies, and low energy.
Vitamins play a vital role in your pet’s health and overall life expectancy. Here are some multivitamin and joint relief options.
As regulations around marijuana have eased, the emergence of CBD oils for humans and dogs have sprung up.
Just to begin to dispel the negative stigma, CBD extract comes from Hemp, marijuana’s cousin. Unlike its cousin, there are no psychoactive qualities in CBD oil. An emerging number of clinical and institutional studies have shown the wide variety of healing qualities in CBD, including pain management, and the containment of seizures and epileptic episodes.
Explore this remedy further to see all the health benefits that have transformed the lives of so many dogs to date.
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The Good
Great comfort and therapy dogs
Showstopping good looks
The "Ruff"
Frequent grooming necessary
Prone to separation anxiety
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