The Maltese, a member of the toy dog family, is a fluffy bundle of snow white affection.  From the breed’s large, expressive eyes to its floppy ears to the tip of its perkily curled-up tail, the Maltese is a tiny dog that packs about one hundred pounds of cute onto a 7-10 pound frame.  Maltese were bred to be companions, and they thrive when showered with love from a devoted owner.  Naturally long-haired, with a pure white, floor length coat, the breed is lovely and elegant, not to mention irresistibly adorable.  

Love Is Everything

If Maltese can be described best with one word, it would be affectionate.  Maltese love everyone they meet, both human and animal.   Maltese require a lot of affection and attention from owners, as well, and are not the ideal choice for an individual who is uncomfortable showering a pet with love.  They make excellent therapy dogs, providing love and companionship to those who need it most.

Maltese are eager to please, and will be faithful, loyal and protective of their owners.  The boundless affection in this breed make it an ideal choice for companion dogs, providing owners with a non-stop flood of affection.  Perfectly sized for portability, Maltese are frequently seen accompanying their owners everywhere, stylishly riding in a small bag or carrier.

Maltese are very delicate dogs, and great care should be taken to ensure they remain safe.  Although the Maltese has a great temperament with children, families with kids under nine or ten years old may want to consider a different breed.  Rowdy or rambunctious play may cause a child to accidently injure the fragile breed, as even something as simple as jumping from the sofa can cause fractures in their delicate bones.

Maltese Manners

The Maltese have the faces of angels, so it’s easy to underestimate how mischievous they can be.  Maltese are also easily startled, and like all dogs each individual dog will have its own unique personality and traits.

A friend is the proud owner of a four year old Maltese.  She often relays the story of her dog’s first encounter with a fly – after the insect flew to close to the pup’s nose, she barked inconsolably for several hours.   Like most other breeds of dog, the Maltese will also chew on whatever it can fit into its mouth, so make sure the dog has plenty of safe and acceptable chew toys available.

It can be difficult for some owners to train the sweet faced Maltese, even gently correcting or scolding the dogs can be too much for a soft-hearted owner.  Like all dogs, Maltese do need a good obedience program to help them learn how to behave appropriately in the home.

In the long run, not providing a loving obedience program can hurt a pet.  While it can be hard not to spoil a Maltese, the gift an owner provides with gentle discipline will reward her with a lifetime of wonderful pet memories.