Is The Maltese The Right Family Dog For You?

The Maltese is a fun little breed of dog that can make a terrific choice for a family. These are kid-friendly dogs that are well mannered and will play well with children of all ages. They have a lot of energy so they’re always happy to just keep right on playing. And yet, these dogs are quite sturdy for being a small dog breed so you don’t have to worry much about the dog getting hurt when playing with the kids. The only thing to take into consideration before getting one of these dogs for your family is that they do have some high-maintenance requirements that might be a bit overwhelming for someone already busy taking care of a family with children.

Well-Mannered Little Dogs

According to the American Kennel Club, Maltese dogs “are one of the most gentle mannered of all little dogs, but are also full of energy and very playful”. That is exactly the combination that you want when you are looking to add a small dog to your family. The small dog will be gentle in playing with your kids but won’t shy away from playing with them at all. They will basically just be that fun family dog that you’re looking to add to the mix.

Brave Little Dogs

Along those same lines, you’re getting a brave dog when you get a Maltese. Whereas some small dog breeds are skittish, this dog isn’t like that at all. It can be almost comical to see these little dogs stand up for themselves and their owners. This bravery is great in a family dog because it makes the dog sturdy and, for lack of a better word, durable … you don’t have to worry about the kids playing too rough with your Maltese because this dog will stick up for itself. And yet, with its gentle nature, it’s not going to hurt the kids in doing so.

High Maintenance

You should be aware, however, that there are some characteristics about this dog breed that make it a little bit high maintenance. The biggest issue is the dog’s coat. Its fur is long and gets tangled easily so brushing daily is recommended. That can be a lot to add to an already busy family schedule. However, this dog tends to keep itself very clean so there’s some give-and-take as far as daily care goes. If you’re willing to get the dog groomed on a regular basis then it should be manageable despite your busy family life.

Fast Learners

Finally it’s worth saying that the Maltese breed is a breed of dog known for being fast learners. That’s always nice because it means that you can train them fairly easily. Once the dog is trained, it should fit easily into your household in terms of daily care and home scheduling. It may take a period of adjustment to add this additional family member to your home but that should be well worth since in exchange you get a friendly, playful, brave little animal for every family member to enjoy.