Frequently asked questions - the Maltese

What are the main things to look for when purchasing a Maltese pup?

It is probably most important to buy your puppy from a reputable Maltese breeder. As a general rule, we recommend against buying a Maltese puppy from a pet store because you typically cannot know where the puppy came from and under what conditions it was bred. Pet stores typically do not provide any health records for puppies and their health guarantees are very limited. A pet store would typically not provide any registration papers with a puppy, so the purebred status of a puppy could not be proven. Many pet store puppies are from so-called "puppy mills" where the parents of the puppies are not in good health nor clean, and the puppies are separated from their mothers at far too early an age. Enough said about pet stores.

A reputable Maltese breeder should guarantee your satisfaction by allowing you at least enough time to have your vet check it's health and give you a chance to decide that the puppy is right for you (and vice versa)--usually 24 to 48 hours from purchase date--and allow you to return the dog for refund or exchange if necessary. The breeder should also guarantee the puppy against death due to congenital defects for up to one year of age, in which case you should receive a replacement puppy.

Once you've found a good breeder, look for a puppy that fits your lifestyle. If you are active, playful and energetic, or you have children, look for a puppy with those qualities. On the other hand, if you want a lap dog or you need a more quiet relaxed atmosphere, look for a puppy that is perhaps more shy or reserved. Maltese personalities vary as widely as do humans. If possible, try to visit the breeder and spend a little time with the puppies to determine which has the personality to suit you. The breeder should also be able to help match you with the right puppy.

How many puppies do Maltese usually have?

From our experience, an overall average of about two to three puppies. Although it's not rare to have four puppies, and on rare occasions even five puppies in a litter, with larger litters there is a higher risk of having a stillborn puppy, or a puppy born with a serious enough defect that it dies shortly after birth. Occasionally, there will be only one puppy born, but again that's somewhat rare.

How big are Maltese puppies when they are born?

On average, newborn Maltese puppies weigh from 3 to 6 ounces, and are from 4 to 6 inches in length.

Is there a way I can tell how big a puppy will grow to be as an adult?

Typically, a young adult Maltese dog will weigh approximately twice what they weighed at 3 months old.

How do I get my under-weight 10 month old puppy to eat when she doesn't want to?

It's possible that she is not eating because of her teeth. Puppies at that age have some of their adult teeth, but they may also have some of their puppy teeth remaining, which can cause them discomfort while eating. In that case, they may avoid eating to avoid the pain. However, it is very important for Maltese, especially Maltese puppies, to eat and maintain their body weight. You should have a Veterinarian check her and remove the baby teeth if he feels she is carrying enough weight to sustain her for the procedure (she will likely have to be anesthetized). IMPORTANT! Make sure that your Vet agrees to use a mild anesthesia, like Isoflorine, so that your dog recovers from it's effects more quickly than it would if some other type were used. Not only have we heard reports of Maltese dogs that did not recover from anesthesia, but we have lost one of our own dogs to it and nearly lost another. You should find a Vet that really understands, and preferably has experience with, the toy breeds.

Whether your Vet decides to remove your puppy's baby teeth or not, you can try cooking up some boneless, skinless chicken breasts and mix that in with her food. You can also try the chicken sticks made for human babies. You will find them in the baby food department of the grocery store. Cut up a little and mix it in with her food along with a little of the broth. If that doesn't work, try giving her the chicken sticks alone. Also, have dry food and fresh water down at all times. Sometimes Maltese dogs will eat in the middle of the night when no one is paying attention to them. They are often too busy to eat--they want our attention all the time and can't be bothered to stop and eat.

To determine if your dog has good body tone, when you run your fingers down her back, it should feel fleshy and you should not be able to feel her hip bones or spine portruding prominently.

My Maltese's hair gets very tangled--what can I use to keep her hair from being so matted!?

While there are at least a few great products we will recommend to help reduce matting, it should first be pointed out that there are also important preventive measures to be taken. Consider this: if you loved to romp, roll, play & sleep hard, but did not groom yourself, how long do you think it would take for your hair to become tangled and matted? I'd guess less than a week. And so it is with our Maltese. A Maltese dog should be bathed about once a week with good shampoos & conditioners AND, if possible, groomed with a brush and comb every day, or at least once every few days, to keep her hair from getting matted between baths.

I have never owned a Maltese. What are they like?

The Maltese makes a great companion. They have so much personality, they really talk to you just by the way they look at you. They are playful, loving and subservient, while remaining independent. They adapt well to their owners lifestyle--they just want to please you and be with you no matter what. They are also very beautiful to look at, and they do not shed. They are not a "yappy" breed the way some other toy breeds are, but they are fearless in their watch duties and play.

I have allergies. Would you recommend a Maltese for me?

We have encountered many people with allergy problems who could not tolerate other breeds, but were able to live with Maltese dogs with no adverse reactions. A probable reason for this is that the Maltese are a "single coated" dog; in other words, Maltese dogs have no undercoat, therefore they do not shed like other breeds do. Of all the breeds of dogs, the Maltese is probably the least likely to cause allergy problems.

How often should I bathe my Maltese?

A bath once a week is often enough in most cases, unless you are preparing for the show ring. But, grooming should be done at least every other day, which if done regularly only takes about 10 minutes. Keep the face clean, and brush or comb the coat using a spray or liquid detangler product between baths to keep the coat from getting tangled and matted.

What is the best way to bathe and dry my dog?

You should shampoo and rinse twice. After the second thorough rinse, apply a conditioner. Finally, blow dry the coat while brushing out the tangles with a pin brush if there is not too much matting; on heavily tangled or matted areas, use a comb along with a spray or liquid detangler product. Brush the hair as the dryer blows into it. Start with a section and stay with it until it is dry, working your way around the dog. If the hair in some areas gets dry before you have reached them with the brush, mist those areas with water or apply a spray or liquid detangler product. Combing or brushing a tangled coat that is bone dry will break the hair.