The Maltese is our breed of the week. A tiny dog with silky hair, the Maltese is one of the perfect lapdogs. Meet Sophie, a Maltese who recently met up with a Jones Pork Skin from the Variety Bag:
I got just one or two cute shots of Miss Sophie before she discovered the Pork Skin. She spent the next 45 minutes posing for shots like this one:
And this one:
But what is a Maltese, and why would it make a good pet for your family? Or not? Here’s what the AKC has to say about this adorable little dog:
[quote align=”center” color=”#999999″] A toy dog covered from head to toe with a mantle of long, silky white hair, the Maltese is gentle-mannered and affectionate, known for being lively, playful and fearless despite its small size. Maltese are intelligent little dogs that are very fast learners if they feel sufficiently rewarded. Today, their refinement, cleanliness and portability make them a popular choice as a companion dog.[/quote]
So the AKC photo is obviously different from the appearance of Miss Sophie above. The AKC version is the Fabio of the Maltese world, yes? While Miss Sophie has the puppy cut and the long hair on her tail. So there are grooming options, obviously.
Also, the Maltese is a toy breed, meaning they’re tiny, no more than seven pounds for a well-bred dog. Know that going in.
Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of owning a Maltese of your very own. We’re going to draw from Dog Breed Info’s site.
Pros:
- They call the Maltese the classic companion dog – my Hunny would have loved this lap dog nearly as much as he loves Chewy – loyal to its owner
- Does well with other animals, dogs and non-dogs
- Great apartment dog – active inside, but they don’t require a yard
- Long life – 15 years of more
- Almost no shedding – rather like a human and less like a dog, with hair that continues to grow
- Beautiful and soft, if kept groomed
It’s a pretty dog, with lots of personality, loyal and playful, great for older people who want a dog to dote on. But the cons?
Cons:
- Plenty of health issues, including digestive, skin (they sunburn easily, believe it or not), respiratory, eyes, and they can’t be exposed to damp conditions for any length of time
- Grooming – there’s a lot to grooming this tiny dog, including its beard, ears, hair and eyes, but as you see with Sophie, there are grooming options which make it simpler
- Prone to Small Dog Syndrome, but this is a human issue, learning to train and handle your small dog appropriately – if you own a toy dog, please click on the link and it will open in a separate tab
While the pros seem to outweigh the cons, the cons would be enough for me to say no to a Maltese, but that’s my temperament and parenting style. There are plenty of people who would be the perfect parents for a dog like this one:
As to which Jones Natural Chews a Maltese might like, I already know that Miss Sophie loved the pork products from the Variety Bag. She didn’t care for the hoof, but her big sister, the Great Dane, loved it. I’d guess that Miss Sophie would also love some Lamb Lung Puffs and Windee Rings.
I’d love to hear from Maltese moms and dads! I know you love your adorable toy dogs.
Until I write again …
Flea
