Living with a Maltese
The
Maltese is a very special sort of dog, with the spirit, heart and loyalty of a much
larger animal contained in a very small body. Anyone who has become acquainted with a
well bred member of this breed has a respect and affection for its attributes and its
history. This spirited little breed is very intelligent, sensitive and responsive. Most
of all they are extremely loving.
Your Maltese will constantly want be your companion. He
will be happy sitting by you side while you read a book or watch television. But he will
also like to accompany you wherever you go. They enjoy a walk with their owners and a
trip in the car is always welcome. 
Maltese
make good watchdogs and will sound alarms when a stranger comes to the door. But once
welcomed into the home everyone is his or her friend. Phrases known to many are that
"they will kill you with their kisses" or "they would go home with
strangers". Maltese despite their diminutive size are a very hardy dog. Compared to
many breeds they are quite free of genetic or congenital medical problems (see chapter 7
for more on this). Your Maltese will live well into his teens and you can expect him to
be his same playful and mischievous self for most of those years.
How Big Will My Maltese Be?
Maltese breeders usually use the weight at about 10 - 12
weeks to gauge the size of a Maltese when they are adults. Double the weight
-- a female will be slightly smaller and a male perhaps slightly larger. For
example, if your female puppy weighs 2 1/4 pounds at around 3 months of age (the age you
bought your puppy from the breeder) I would expect that your little girl will weight
around 4 - 4 1/2 pounds as an adult. A male puppy that weighs 2 3/4 pounds at 3
months will probably mature out to around 6 pounds. Both of these puppies would be
well within the standard for the Maltese breed.
How Many Years Will My Maltese Live?
Maltese are a breed that relatively free of many of the
serious genetic diseases that can cause premature death. With good veterinary
attention and loving care of its owner many Maltese will live well into their middle
teenage years. Link to more information on Maltese Health.
Maltese are one of several long coated breeds, but they
are the smallest and the only one with pure white coat. The coat is much more like human
hair and people who may be allergic to other breeds of dogs or cats may find that they
can get along just fine with a Maltese. They do not shed their coats seasonally like
dogs with short coats, with the few dead hairs failing out periodically when they are
groomed. Because of the long hair they do require more maintenance than a short hair dog
and owners should expect to provide these frequent grooming sessions or regular visits
to a professional groomer.
Sunshine is good for the overall health of your Maltese.
All dogs need to go outside daily for fresh air. If you don't have a fenced yard or
exercise area a walk around the block on his leash will give him his needed daily
outside exercise but caution must be taken as the Maltese is such a friendly fearless
little dog, he meets no strangers and could be hurt by an approaching larger dog who is
not so friendly.
Many people are concerned about the pigment or lack there
of on their Maltese. When noses turn grayish, fade or have patches of white at the
corner they are sometimes referred to as "winter noses". What you Maltese
needs is more sunshine. Breeders and exhibitors have long know that the deeper and
darker the pigment the more time a Maltese spends outdoors "soaking up" the
sunshine. While you should ensure that your Maltese has plenty of fresh water while he
is out and that the temperature is not exceedingly hot, he will enjoy some time lolling
in the sun "working on his nose tan".
Maltese love to walk, day or night, winter, summer spring
or fall, even in the rain or snow. If you plan to walk when the weather in inclement you
should consider investing in a sweater and/or raincoat for your Maltese. Tiny doggy
boots are also available to protect little feet in extreme conditions. As if a Maltese
was not adorable enough on their own they are probably even more adorable with their
sweaters on. And their sweater or raincoat will help them enjoy their frequent
excursions.
Maltese are definitely entertaining little characters and
with their love of people and small size many children are naturally drawn to them.
While they may look like a stuffed toy they are not. Maltese can break -- if you have
children that wish a dog to ruff house with, to roll and play with on the floor you may
wish to consider a different breed. Because of their delicate bone structure they can
easily break bones falling off chairs, tables and when caught in the middle of pile of
overly zealous children. Many reputable Maltese breeders will not sell puppies to
families with children under six or seven years of age.
Many people, when they first become aware of this lovely
breed, soon come to the conclusion that it would be a wonderful idea to buy a female
puppy and raise litter from her in the future. The main objective would be to gain a
hefty profit. Before you think of this think about the following: it is nearly
impossible to make money breeding dogs. There are so many things that can do wrong and
the heartbreak associated with this is not easy. Many times Maltese females cannot
deliver their puppies on their own and may require a cesarean section, if the female
survives the anesthesia her milk may be scarce, the puppies may then need to be raised
by hand requiring around the clock feedings every three hours. If your female is your
only Maltese and she survives and is able to raise her family she will be busy with them
for nearly two months and you are no longer the center of her attention. Your faithful
companion now has other interests. Are you willing to give up the companionship of your
Maltese for that period of time?
One need only go visit some of the animal shelters to
look at the problem of the overly bred pet population. Maltese are very lovely elegant
bred and very rarely seen in shelter populations. They have retained their breed
elegance by dedicated breeders that know and understand the breed standard and breed to
that standard. Understanding the standard and the genetics in the breed may take many
years. Not understanding the standard and haphazard breeding practices may lead the
Maltese breed to deteriorate to a "me too" breed that is over bred, looks
nothing like the standard and ends up in shelter populations. Is this what you want to
see happen to the Maltese breed.
Maltese because of their lively personality get along
well with most other animals in the household. 
But
do remember that your Maltese will probably be the smallest of the animals and you may
need to supervise a rambunctious larger dog more closely when playing with a Maltese.
Maltese are also with out fear regarding these larger dogs. On a lead in a strange
environment a Maltese will more often than not have no fear approaching the larger dog.
Do be careful as this larger dog may not return the affection.
Maltese will get along well with cats in the household
however do be cautious as a cat may choose to use her claws in play which can cause
severe damage to the eyes of a tiny Maltese. Older cats sometimes need to be watched
closely with a new Maltese puppy as they can consider them a prey much like a small
rodent. As the Maltese matures and knows how to approach the cat this problem should be
alleviated.
The key to good house habits is consistency by the owner.
The puppy should, if he must be left alone, not be expected to refrain from relieving
himself.
When
the puppy is in the main part of the house, the owner should be present. When the puppy
wakes from a nap, he should go outside and be praised when he relieves himself. Watch
the puppy for sniffing and circling in the house, this probably means he is looking for
a place to go. Take him outside and again praise. If you catch him too late, "in
the act", do not spank him but scold him slightly and take him outside or to a
place that he is allowed to potty. Soon the puppy will go to the door and
"ask" to be let out. Praise the puppy for this action. A crate is a handy tool
for housebreaking. Most dogs do not like to relieve themselves where they sleep and this
teaches some control. Do remember that a puppy does not have a great deal of control and
use the crate only for short periods of time. When he comes out of the crate, he should
be immediately let outside and after he relieves himself, allowed to play in the house.
Maltese as adoring little companions love to travel with
their owners. The easiest and safest way for your Maltese to travel with you is in his
crate. If you will be going on a trip for an extended period of time remember to take a
few of his favorite toys, his food and water dishes, a collar and leash and his food.
Taking some of your home water along in a bottle can eliminate diarrhea that may be
caused by changes in water. 
Alternatively
you can use a squeeze of lemon in the water to help with problems of water away from
home. Don't forget you doggy first aid kit and any medications he may take.
Maltese also travel by airplane. Before an airplane trip
your Maltese will need to visit his veterinarian to acquire a health certificate,
insuring his vaccinations are up to date and he is healthy. A Maltese can travel in the
cargo hold for a small charge or can easily travel in a soft-sided specially designed
pet carrier that most airlines allow in the passenger cabin. Make sure you check with
your airline when making your travel plans and indicate that you will be traveling with
your Maltese. While on the airplane in the passenger cabin you Maltese should remain in
his carrier. He will most likely spend most of the trip sleeping from the hum of the
engines. Don't forget to take his traveling needs mentioned in the paragraph above.
Modern veterinary medicine has made tremendous strides in
protecting and repairing the health of family companions, and pets are living longer
than ever before. Like people, pets go through life stages of growth, maturity, and
aging. The passage from one stage to another is often blurred, and owners must be on
guard to recognize the signs that their Maltese is getting old. A Maltese may easily
live to be 15 years old or more. A strong, healthy dog will probably age later than a
dog that is stressed by disease or environment early in his life. 
Dogs
that are spayed or neutered before six months of age ordinarily live longer than dogs
that are kept intact.
Good nutrition is critical to good health at all ages.
Exercise is also of critical importance in keeping the dog in good shape. Even old dogs
generally like to play with a favorite toy for a few minutes each day or take a walk to
the corner and back. Other steps to delay the onset of aging in their dogs include
regular teeth cleaning to prevent gum disease; regular grooming to keep his skin and
coat healthy and to discover any problems such as dry skin, thin or brittle coat, thin
coat, body odor, or sore spots; and checking his ears for odor or gunk produced by
infecting organisms.
Aging begins at birth, but its manifestations are not
noticeable for several years. The first sign of aging is a general decrease in activity
level, including a tendency to sleep longer and more soundly, a waning of enthusiasm for
long walks and games of catch, and a loss of interest in the goings on in the home.
Extremes in temperature and changes in surroundings
affect aging and old dogs to some degree. Hearing loss is a frequent consequence of
aging, as is some deterioration of sight. Dogs can compensate for these conditions;
partial or even total blindness may not be noticed if the dog is in familiar
surroundings and has learned to adjust as his eyesight failed.
Skin and coat change, too, as the skin loses pliability
and the capacity of the oil-producing sebaceous glands diminishes. Wounds heal more
slowly, allergies often worsen, non-malignant tumors may appear in the mouth or on or
under the skin, and infestations of intestinal parasite may occur.
As aging advances, heart, liver, and kidneys lose their
efficiency, and the immune system is less able to fight off attacks by bacteria and
viruses. Bladder control may be affected, and muscles decrease in size and function.
There's a fine line to walk between easing your pet's
transition into old age and ushering him into the life of a canine invalid. A dog that
enjoyed his puppyhood and his mature years should have the opportunity to enjoy his
aging years as well.
One of the most difficult decisions to be made in any pet
owners life is the day when one realizes their Maltese has lost its zest for life, its
pains and tribulations are too much to bear. Euthanasia is never an easy decision.
Sometimes it just makes sense to let go.
American Maltese Association
Pamela G. Rightmyer, Corresponding Secretary
2211 S. Tioga Way,
Las Vegas, NV 89117-2735
The AMA can give you information on all aspects of the
breed, including names and addresses of breed clubs in your local area as well as a
breeder referral list. The club maintains a website at http://www.americanmaltese.org
for club information, news and schedules of club sponsored events. The club publishes a
newsletter entitled the Maltese Rx to which
fanciers can subscribe. For information about the Rx as well as membership information
please contact the corresponding secretary.
Shown With Pride
