Is a Maltese the right dog for you?

The Maltese, a toy breed that weighs about 7 pounds, is an affectionate pup covered with a long, straight, silky coat. The dog, when moving, seems to be a smooth and effortless flowing of a dog’s body with elegance and balance. Its face has big dark eyes and a black nose, which makes him one of the most beautiful toy dog breeds.

Maltese are tough and adaptable. Despite their cute innocent appearance, they make alert, fearless dogs. They are low-shedding, long-lived, and friendly in general. Aristocrats of the Roman Empire used to have Maltese dogs as the status symbol of fashion and statement.

Before you make your decision, read on to know more about this toy breed. Despite their beauty, the dogs are sometimes stubborn and willful.

Maltese characteristics

Maltese are highly docile. You might want to teach him tricks after you realize that they are responsive to reward-based training. They are lively, sweet-tempered, and playful. Maltese are friendly and can be a great family dog. Warning, they can become snappy when interacting with young, rambunctious kids.

Maltese are sensitive to unknown and suspicious sounds and bark at such noises. The breed is a bold combination of characteristics. The dogs blend a fearless and alert natural with natural beauty.

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Grooming the Maltese

The Maltese are, in fact, a low-shedding dog, but to maintain his good looks, some grooming needs to be done daily. That includes keeping her eyes clean by wiping them with a wet cloth or eye care wipes, brushing her hair daily, and examine for excessive hair in any part.

While you brush your dog, try to remove tangles, matted hair, and dead hair first with a shedding comb. If you decide to bathe your dog without removing mats, it will get only worse. Try to remove mats using fingers or use a detangler with the comb. And if nothing works, you’ll have to cut out the matted fur. Bathing requires good shampoo and conditioner. After bathing, brush their coat from the skin towards the outer edge. Brush the coat while the hair is slightly wet. 

Maltese’s teeth should be brushed daily. Check their nails and trim as needed. Check and clean your dog’s ears as needed. You can also use stain remover with utmost care mentioned, following the product’s instructions to help keep her white coat clean and shiny.

Training

Maltese puppies are intelligent. As discussed earlier, they are quick learners and responsive to positive reinforcement training; they learn quickly and with plenty of enthusiasm. Anna from DogLovesBest says, “Training them in their puppy stage can do quite a lot to strengthen the human-dog bond.” This makes them easily sociable in the later stages of life.

Please keep in mind that you need to use a lot of rewards when it’s due. The praise should be in terms of treats, belly rubs, petting, and also kind words spoken in a sweet voice. The training sessions should be short, challenging, and consistent. Any forceful and punitive behavior won’t work for Maltese.

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Exercise

Maltese are not high-energy dogs but they need a moderate amount of activity each day. They are playful, and adequate physical exercise keeps their muscles toned, bones healthy, and circulatory and respiratory health well.

Their exercise needs include a short walk of 20-30 minutes, free play, and toys, including games like fetch and self-moving toys, and mental stimulation like puzzle toys.

Mental stimulation will keep their boredom away and make them feel happy. As the saying goes, a tired dog is a happy dog; your Maltese shouldn’t have any pent up energy left that needs to be out. Lack of exercise, on the other hand, can lead to destructive behavior.

Health problems

Due to responsible and careful breeding practices, Maltese is one of the healthiest breeds. They live for about 14 years. Maltese are healthy and experience the least physical and mental health problems among all the toy dog breeds.

A few health concerns include tooth and gum problems in the early stage of life like other toy dog breeds, less tolerance towards extreme temperatures, and nutrition. However, hypoglycemia, like in all toy breeds, is common in Maltese puppies. If you think your pooch is behaving oddly, consider visiting your vet.

Final thoughts

The Maltese are among the oldest purebred dogs. They became the status symbol of the aristocrats of the Roman Empire due to their beautiful and elegant look. Their grooming needs and exercise requirements are moderate but necessary. Maltese are playful, docile, long-lived, and healthy dogs in general. If you’re looking for a smart, beautiful, adorable yet an alert, smart toy-watchdog for a family, the Maltese fits perfectly.

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