A Superb Dog – The Maltese
The Maltese is a small toy group dog breed with silky white hair that is lively and cuddly and intelligent, so makes a great pet for city living. Though if living in a flat, you will need to take them out for regular walks or use professional dog walkers such as London dog walking The fur can grow long, so those with busy lives often give them a puppy cut, otherwise the hair becomes difficult to manage.
They have dark round shaped large eyes. Whilst it is small, about eight and ten inches high, it is solid and weighs between 3 and 7 pounds ( one and a half to 3 kilograms). The dog care of a Maltese is relatively straightforward. They are relatively long lived, up to around fifteen years.
They is often protective to its owners, which can mean they are known for barking at strange noises and people. The Maltese’s high activity level can also lead to them snapping. Dog socialisation at an early age is key to removing this problem. They are brave and will go up to dogs far bigger than themselves, being secure they mix well with other dogs.
They suffers from a few health issues, that includes problems with the skin, eye and teeth. As well as the risk of sun burn on the top of the nose and some respiratory problems.
A routine of brushing is required with the Maltese, otherwise they will get matting. As well as brushing daily, one ideally should also clean them after eating, to minimise hair staining. Tear staining is also a common problem which is related to the size of the tear ducts and how much the Maltese’s eyes water. Tear stain can be minimised or reduced by using regularly a fine-toothed metal comb that is moistened with lukewarm water and pulled through the hair below the eyes. This ideally should be done every couple of days.
Whilst they have thick hair, they do not shed too much and like the akin Bichon Frisé and Havanese will not give as much allergic reaction to people as other dog breeds. A lot of will tie the hair on top of the head in a ponytail to ease cleaning the eyes. The ears also need regular cleaning.
Whilst the name suggests the dog comes from Malta, its origins are unclear, though generally felt to come from around the Mediterranean area. It is also known as a Maltese Terrier or the Maltese Lion Dog ( a reflection on its character), though its official kennel name is “Maltese”.
Its origin could have been either from the Asian Tibetan Terrier or the Swiss Spitz dog. Records show that they date back to when it was found on a Greek amphora around 500 B. C. and is often mentioned in Greek / Roman writings.
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Nov 13, 2009 | 0 | dog care tips
