Toy Maltese weight between three and eight pounds. This small yet hardy dog is characterized by silky hair, compact body, sturdy tail, deep chest, round skull, medium muzzle, low-set ears, large round eyes, black nose and fine-boned body, with a white coat.
The Toy Maltese originated in Italy, the Maltese began as a cross between miniature spaniel and poodle. Malta is where it was first recognized as an official breed and was known as Ye Ancient Dogge of Malta. This breed was especially popular with royals. Women in particular enjoyed carrying them around in their purses and sleeping with them at night due to their small size and cute faces. They first came to England thanks to Crusaders coming home from the Mediterranean. This gun dog is in the toy group.
Personality
Lively and playful, the Toy Maltese is very smart and learns tricks quickly. It comes to the rescue quickly when hearing unfamiliar sounds. This lovable dog is the perfect companion, as it gets along well with older children and other dogs. They like playing outside and especially love puddles. Make sure the dog knows early on that you are the pack leader. This will establish leadership and curb behavior problems like snapping. If you pamper or overprotect these dogs, they will think they are the masters, leading to separation anxiety, guarding and barking. This dog needs to be surrounded by stable pack leaders so teach your children this as well.
Breed Characteristics
| Life Span: | 12 - 15 years |
| Nicknames: | Maltese Lion dog, Melitae Dog, Ye Ancient Dogge of Malta, Roman Ladies Dog, The Comforter, Spaniel Gentle, Bichon, Maltese Terrier |
Toy Maltese Build Information
The Toy Maltese originated in Italy, the Maltese began as a cross between miniature spaniel and poodle. Malta is where it was first recognized as an official breed and was known as Ye Ancient Dogge of Malta. This breed was especially popular with royals. Women in particular enjoyed carrying them around in their purses and sleeping with them at night due to their small size and cute faces. They first came to England thanks to Crusaders coming home from the Mediterranean. This gun dog is in the toy group.
| Size: | Toy |
Behaviour and Personality
Lively and playful, the Toy Maltese is very smart and learns tricks quickly. It comes to the rescue quickly when hearing unfamiliar sounds. This lovable dog is the perfect companion, as it gets along well with older children and other dogs. They like playing outside and especially love puddles. Make sure the dog knows early on that you are the pack leader. This will establish leadership and curb behavior problems like snapping. If you pamper or overprotect these dogs, they will think they are the masters, leading to separation anxiety, guarding and barking. This dog needs to be surrounded by stable pack leaders so teach your children this as well.
| Activity Level: | Active |
| Affection Level: | Very affectionate |
| Kid Friendliness: | Kid friendly |
Appearance
As part of its regular grooming schedule, the Toy Maltese needs combing and brushing of its long coat every day. You'll also need to clean the eyes each day as well as the beard after it eats. A regular bathing and shampooing schedule is important but make sure you dry him thoroughly afterwards because Maltese get chilled easily. Pluck stray hairs out of the ears. They don't shed and therefore are great for those who suffer from allergies.
| Shedding: | None |
| Grooming: | Medium maintenance |
Toy Maltese Common Health Conditions
These dogs tend to get sunburned easily where the hair parts. They also have skin and eye issues, respiratory illnesses, digestions problems, teeth problems and slipped stifle. They get the chills quite easily but also don't like hot weather. Keep them away from damp areas or they could get sick. Dry dog biscuits will keep their teeth clean and healthy.
Toy Maltese Pet Insurance
When adding a dog or cat to your family you want to make sure your pet is happy, healthy and protected. During its lifetime your pet is exposed to many illnesses and diseases and some breeds are affected by a congenital disease which is a condition existing at birth. At these moments when your pet is ill or maybe needs surgery, you want to be protected for the unexpected and high veterinarian costs.
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Breed Talents and Facts
Quite active indoors, Toy Maltese don't necessarily need a large yard. However, they do need at least one daily walk to curb potential negative behavior issues. This dog breed's nicknames include Maltese Lion dog, Melitae Dog, Ye Ancient Dogge of Malta, Roman Ladies Dog, The Comforter, Spaniel Gentle, Bichon and Maltese Terrier. The life expectancy of the Toy Maltese is about 15 years.
| Training: | Moderately easy |