Maltese
An ancient breed thought to have orignated on the island of Malta in southern Europe, this good-natured little dog makes a good companion for apartment dwellers. Despite their long fur, they get cold easily, because they have no undercoat. While they do not require much exercise, they will need a daily brushing. A Maltese owner also has to be able to tie the fur into a topknot so that the dog can see and eat. If you are considering getting a Maltese, see if this is the right dog for you with the Maltese Dog Profiler. Like many breeds, the Maltese is a victim of the "teacup" fad. Normally a Maltese is supposed to weigh about 3-7 lbs. Sometimes an individual dog will be smaller or larger. These smaller dogs are called "Tinies" but are also called "Teacups" by misinformed people. Deliberately breeding "Tinies" is frowned upon because it jeopardizes the health of the animal. If a three-pound dog is too big for you, get a hamster instead. Probably the most common problem that Maltese have is "tearstaining". The Maltese is easy to recognize. The coat is long and silky, and is white or ivory, and they have drop ears and a long tail. Eyes and eyerims are very dark as is the nose, although the nose can turn brown or pink if they do not get much sun.
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| "Buttons" (female) courtesy of Happy Hills Animal Foundation Status: verified, Age: 5 yrs Size: very small Weight: 6 lbs
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"Buttons" (female) courtesy of Happy Hills Animal Foundation Status: verified, Age: 5 yrs Size: very small Weight: 6 lbs
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"Spancky" (male) courtesy of Happy Hills Animal Foundation Status: verified, Age: 15 yrs Size: very small Weight: 6 lbs
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"Little Bitty" (male) courtesy of Happy Hills Animal Foundation Status: verified, Age: 3 yrs Size: very small Weight: 4 lbs
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