Pros and cons of the Maltese lapdog breed

Maltese lapdogs belong to companion dogs, they are shortly called maltese. These are decorative dogs that are convenient to keep in apartments and take with you wherever you go. This breed is often chosen by people from high society, it has happened since ancient times.

When choosing any breed, it is worth studying the characteristics of the care and character of future pets in order to exist in comfort and mutual understanding.

The first mention of these decorative dogs, according to some versions of scientists, dates back to the times of the ancient Egyptians. Wall paintings depicting creatures similar to Maltese serve as evidence. Disputes about the origin of this dog are still ongoing. Someone thinks that the breed originated in Malta, others consider China to be the birthplace of the breed.from where she was brought to Europe.

Now the majority of breeders are in Italy, it was this country, after the first exhibition in 1864, that officially announced the standards of this breed and called itself its homeland.

Dogs were brought to Russia in 1812 during the Patriotic War. They were kept by the royal people.

Dogs are most often white in color, there are other color variations, but these are considered a disadvantage. The description of the standard is as follows: the lapdog's hair should fall in long strands and reach the floor. The head is oval, the ears are set high and have a triangular shape, often hidden behind a long coat.

Dogs' noses are black, rounded, not elongated. The jaws should be flat against each other. Dogs' eyes are slightly protruding and should be dark in color.

The growth of dogs reaches 20-22 cm, in some males it can be 24-25 cm. The physique is quite graceful, the back is straight. Pay attention to weight: by standards, it should be 2 to 3 kg.

A distinctive characteristic is considered playful and friendly dog ​​disposition... Since they are lightweight, you can safely carry them on your hands.

At the tiny representatives of the secular society quite a few pluses.

• Dimensions. Due to its decorative size, they will be comfortable in apartments and in small rooms. With them, you can go to shops and shopping centers.
• Molting. Maltese lapdogs, in principle, do not shed, this is their great advantage.
• Ability to train. Intelligent and quick-witted, they are easy to train, especially if trained in a playful manner.
• Health. Many decorative dogs have genetic diseases and pathologies, but Maltese does not belong to such. With proper care, these dogs will not get sick and will live for a very long time.
• These animals are suitable for people with allergies to the hair of dogs and cats.
• Friendliness. Pets treat adults and children very well. The owner for them becomes the center of the universe, and strangers are more an object of interest than aggression.

Any breed has its own negative traits. Future owners are required to pay attention to the following characteristics of pets.

• They do not like loneliness. Maltese lapdogs need to be distracted from loneliness, they are not the type of calm dogs that can lie for hours and enjoy life. You need to play with them at home, regularly take them outside and often communicate with them. Without proper attention, they can become lethargic.
• Hair care... Despite the absence of shedding, the silky coat of the Maltese needs to be looked after daily. In addition to combing, dogs need to be washed regularly, as their color is snow-white. The coat should be checked periodically for fleas and other parasites.
• Activity. Very hardy dogs have an endless supply of energy that needs to be directed in the right direction. Walks with a Maltese should take a long time: regular trips are desirable 3 times a day for half an hour, an hour should be devoted to games.
• Fearlessness... This trait is negative because of the small size of animals: lapdogs can pounce on individuals 2-3 times larger than themselves and cause counter aggression.
• Loud barking. The voice of these dogs is more suitable for sentry purposes: it is very clear and loud. People who don't like noise should consider a different breed.
• Gourmet. You won't have to spend fabulous money to feed the lapdog, but dogs are picky about food, they can refuse expensive food in favor of cheap food and vice versa.
• Diseases. As with any other breed, before buying a lapdog, you should carefully study heredity and pedigree, so as not to take a puppy with an armful of diseases.

Being a breed of a secular circle of people, these dogs need constant care and attention.

Despite the large number of advantages, you should really evaluate your strengths when choosing this breed: all the nuances of care and feeding must be observed in order for your pet to live a long and happy life.

• You need to wash the animal every week. For show dogs, curlers are used to avoid frequent soiling. After washing, be sure to clean your pets' ears with a special lotion using cotton pads.
• Dogs need to be combed daily. special rubber combs designed for the wool of Maltese lapdogs, it is advisable to treat the wool with antistatic agents.
• To make it easier to care for your coat, you can cut it short, but this option is prohibited for show breeds. For exhibitions, neat trimming of the lower curly ends is allowed. You need to accustom puppies to all procedures from an early age; for convenience, you can braid and tie ponytails around the crown of the head.
• Feeding for puppies - a very important question, breeders should help with the choice of feed, and a visit to the veterinarian for consultation is also desirable.
• It is worth adding meat products and cereals to the diet, chicken feeding is undesirable due to the frequent development of allergic reactions.
• Feed puppies from 2 to 4 months it follows 4 times a day with dietary meat (turkey, rabbit) and add rice or buckwheat to the diet.
• You can't give sweets to Maltese lapdogs spicy foods, meat with bones, cheeses, salted or smoked foods.
• Puppies should be taught from childhood to dental examinations. for the purpose of cleaning from tartar. To shorten visits to the doctor, you should brush your pets' teeth once every 2 weeks with a special dog paste and a brush.

More information about Maltese lapdogs can be found in the video below.