Spotlight Breed: Maltese

Welcome to our Spotlight Breed article of the week!  This is where we feature one of the most interesting dog breeds from around the globe.  Today we are excited to spotlight the Maltese!  This happens to be one of the most gentle and fearless dog breeds out there, but there are so many more features to note!  Be sure to continue reading the article to learn more.

The Maltese is truly a dog who has never met a stranger.  They have a glamourous white coat that sets them apart from the crowd.  The breed not only excels as a companion, but they are also known to be great therapy dogs and often compete in agility, obedience, rally, and tracking!  They absolutely LOVE to be around people.  They are affectionate with their family (pack), kids, and even other dogs.  They may struggle when it comes to strangers because they want to protect you with all their heart.  Socialization training will do the trick though.

The Maltese is a very adaptable breed.  They can live in apartments or small houses, and they are good for novice owners.  The only thing is that they do not really tolerate being alone for long periods of time.  This is a breed which bonds very closely with family so they may panic or worry if they are left alone at times.  No need to worry though!  There are many things that you can do to address separation anxiety with your four-legged friend.

Let’s talk about the health and grooming needs for the Maltese.  Be prepared to make frequent trips to the groomer with this breed!  The Maltese requires regular bathing, clipping, and other grooming to ensure that they stay clean and healthy.

You may experience some difficulties while training the Maltese.  They are adept at forming an association between a prompt, an action, and a consequence very quickly.  However, since the breed is so intelligent, they may possess a “what’s in it for me?” attitude? This is where you will need to implement treats and rewards into your training program.  Another thing to know is that the Maltese has a high prey drive.  If they see something that they want, they will do whatever it takes to get it!

If you are looking for a dog breed that is sweet, intelligent, and happy-go-lucky, then the Maltese may be for you!  We will leave you with our favorite quote about the breed: “When the world around me is going crazy and I am losing faith in humanity…I just have to take a look at my Maltese and know ‘good still exists’.”