Maltese Dogs are good dogs for families with older children. This dog is a cuddly little companion and loves attention. The Maltese dog is known to have a lot of energy and to be very playful. Maltese prefer enclosed spaces and do well in small gardens and even in apartments or houses.
FACTS ABOUT MALTESE DOG AND HOW TO ACT WITH IT
Due to its small size, the Maltese dog is physically very fragile. This is why the breed is not recommended for small children. Accidentally stepping on the dog, or sitting on your Maltese can cause the dog broken bones and other serious injuries.
A Maltese requires a lot of socialization as a puppy to be comfortable in a variety of social situations. This breed may bark and bite young children, because the dog does not understand quick movements, noises, or indirect horseplay from children (such as pulling on ears and tails).
When properly socialized into the family’s daily routine, Maltese can feel anxious when left alone. Separation anxiety causes the dog to display many destructive behaviors when the family is out of the house.
This breed is often brought to shelters or abandoned by owners who cannot tolerate their barking, increased agility with young children, or separation anxiety issues.
THINGS TO KNOW Before you bring a Maltese into your family
Before you bring a Maltese into your family, make sure that your family can tolerate the behavior of the Maltese, both for the good and the bad personality quirks. It is unfair to the dog and children to break hearts when the dog is not the right fit for your family.
These dogs are known to be hypoallergenic and may be more palatable to people who are normally allergic to animals. This breed requires daily grooming of its skin and coat.
It is a great opportunity for children to take on age-appropriate tasks of responsibility. These dogs also have teary skin around their eyes on a daily basis, they need daily eye cleaning. Caring for and grooming your Maltese helps promote a bond between your family and your dog.
History of the Maltese Breed
It is believed that the Maltese dog originated from the central Mediterranean area, from the island – Malta, where the dog was a companion to noble women.
The Maltese was specially bred to achieve its diminutive size. In the 17th and 18th century the breed was made even smaller so that the dogs were the size of a squirrel. The breed traveled with nomadic tribes through Europe and the Middle East, where the dog protected people from rodents.
In 1888, the purebred Maltese was recognized by the American Kennel Club. This little dog has a classic “halo” effect around the eyes, meaning the dark eyes are surrounded by darker fur. Maltese noses can become pink or brown in winter, “winter nose” and darken in summer as a result of sun exposure.
In recent years, Maltese have been bred with Poodles, Poodles and Shih Tzus to achieve new, more interesting and social properties such as being smaller, friendlier, and shedding as little as possible.
Maltese Dog Health
Although most Maltese are healthy, the breed is susceptible to some specific health problems. Some health problems that can affect the Maltese breed are:
- Luxation of the patella – Or slipping of the knee cap, causes pain when walking. Treated with surgery.
- Liver Shunt- When blood circulates abnormally and passes through the liver which is important for detoxification and cleansing of the blood. Treatable through diet, medication, and surgery. This condition can also cause the dog to become anemic if treatment and diagnosis are delayed.
- Eye infections from improper cleaning, or frequent cleaning.
Developing a strong relationship with a trusted veterinarian is important to maximizing your animal’s health.
