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Rescue a Maltese
Maltese Puppies
for Sale
Maltese
"Maltese named Prince- better known as NutPup at 3 years old. "Keep your eyes on the road, NutPup.""
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Rescue a Maltese
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Pronunciation |
Mall-TESE |
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Description |
The Maltese is a small, hardy dog with silky hair. The body is compact, fine-boned, but sturdy and slightly longer than it is tall with a level top line. The chest is deep. The skull is slightly rounded on the top with a moderate stop. The medium length muzzle tapers, but not to a point. The pendant, low-set ears are set close to the head and heavily feathered. The black eyes are large, round and set moderately apart with dark rims. The nose is black with open nostrils. The dog has a silky, single layer coat that is white or light ivory. When kept long and groomed like a show dog, it hangs flat, long over the sides of the body almost to the ground (about 8½
inches (22cm.)) hanging on each side of a
center part line and is not wavy,
curly or kinky. A lot of owners choose to cut the coat into a short, easy care puppy cut.
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Temperament |
The Maltese is spirited, lively and playful.
Gentle, loving, trusting and devoted to its master. Highly intelligent. Good at
learning tricks. Bold and quick to sound the
alarm in case of suspicious noises. It is a classical companion dog; graceful
and lovable. They do well with other non-canine animals and other dogs. Maltese love to play outdoors. Some like to jump in puddles. May be difficult to housebreak.
If you feed them table scraps, they can become picky eaters. Do not allow these dogs to develop Small Dog Syndrome, human induced behaviors, where the dog believes he is pack leader to humans. This causes a varying degree of behavior problems. If the dog believes he is boss, he can be
snappish with children and even adults. Do not
over-pamper or overprotect these little dogs, for they will become unstable, and some
may become jealous of visitors. Maltese who are allowed to take over the house, being boss of the humans can also develop separation anxiety, guarding, and obsessive barking. These are not Maltese traits, but rather behaviors brought on by the way the dog is treated by the people around them. These behaviors will go away when the dog is surrounded by stable pack leaders. |
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Height, Weight |
Height: Dogs 8-10 inches (21-25cm.) Bitches 8-9
inches (20-23cm.)
Weight: from 6˝-9 pounds (3-4kg.) |
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Health Problems |
Prone to sunburn along the hair parting; skin, eye issues,
respiratory, and slipped stifle. Some may be difficult
to feed with weak, upset digestion. They may get the chills, and they experience
discomfort in hot weather. Maltese should be kept out of damp areas. Also prone to teeth problems. Feeding dry dog biscuits in addition to their normal food can help the teeth stay clean and healthy. |
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Living Conditions |
The Maltese is a good dog for apartment life. They
are very active indoors and will do okay without a yard. |
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Exercise |
Maltese need a daily walk.
Play will take care of a lot of their exercise needs, however, as with all
breeds, play will not fulfill their primal instinct to walk. Dogs who do not get
to go on daily walks are more likely to display behavior problems. They will
also enjoy a good romp in a safe open area off lead, such as a large fenced in
yard. They remain playful well into old age. They
are very active indoors. |
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Life Expectancy |
About 15 or more years. It may live as long as 18,
but it is important to keep it out of the damp. |
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Grooming |
Daily combing and brushing of the long coat is
important but be gentle, as the coat is very soft. Clean the eyes daily to
prevent staining, and clean the beard after meals for the same reason. Bathe or
dry shampoo regularly - making sure the animal is thoroughly dry and warm
afterward. Clean the ears, and pull out hair growing inside the ear canal. The
eyes should be checked regularly and cleaned if necessary. The hair on the top
of the head is often tied up in a topknot to keep it away from the eyes. Some
pet owners opt to clip the hair short for easier and less time consuming
grooming. The Maltese sheds little to no hair and is good for allergy sufferers. |
| Origin |
The Maltese was developed in Italy. It is said to have miniature
spaniel and poodle blood. The Maltese was first recognized as a breed in Malta, where they received their name. They were once known as "Ye ancient dogge of Malta,". The breed was owned by royalty all over the world. Women carried them around in their sleeves and slept with them in their beds. They were first brought to England by Crusaders returning home from the Mediterranean. The Maltese was first recognized by the AKC in 1888.
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| Group |
Gun Dog, AKC Toy |
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Recognition |
CKC, FCI, AKC, UKC, KCGB, CKC, ANKC, NKC, NZKC,
APRI, ACR, DRA |
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CKC = Continental
Kennel Club
FCI = Fédération
Cynologique Internationale
AKC = American
Kennel Club
UKC = United Kennel
Club
KCGB = Kennel
Club of Great Britain
CKC = Canadian
Kennel Club
ANKC = Australian
National Kennel Club
NKC = National
Kennel Club
NZKC = New Zealand
Kennel Club
APRI = American Pet Registry
Inc.
ACR = American Canine Registry
DRA = Dog Registry of America, Inc.
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Nemo the Maltese at 1 year old. "His puppy dog face can win over anyone's heart!"
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Five week old male Maltese puppy with his two year old mommy.
5 week old male Maltese puppy.
Two year old Maltese female.
Maltese Pictures 1
Maltese Pictures 2
Small Dogs vs. Medium and Large Dogs
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