Anyone own a Maltese dog?

[helloedchen]

We may be adding an addition to our house soon. Anyone have a maltese? Are they easy to manage? Anything we should look out for? We're in an apartment, so space isn't exactly big so we decided on a smaller dog. Any input would be great.

 

[Russ]

They have very sharp claws, a powerful beak and an enormous wingspan. They also look good as small statues made of jade.

Russ, NCNE

 

[helloedchen]

ok...thanks for that input...anyone else?...

 

[Varmot]

I thought the maltese was a falcon. Or a walking dust mop.

I?m sure they make great pets. I just don?t have any experience with the breed. Here is a link that might give you some insight.

Maltese

 

[loup garou]

The ones I came into contact with when I worked in a vet's office were all mean little suckers. I wouldn't judge the whole breed by my experience, but I personally would never own one.

 

[helloedchen]

eek...ok...i think i'll 'test drive' this one first in my house before i decide on anything...

 

[The Dancing Peacock]

i'm not a fan of yippy little dogs, I don't like them much. Maybe a beagle or a terrier that's a little bigger, and not as yippy.



late.


TDP

 

[pg22]

My mom dragged me to the vet 3 years ago to get a dog (to make her happy..she was depressed at the time)....she told me about it..and I was like..are you kidding (I was 18...little dogs...uh, no ). I remember going to the store with her, she got it, and we walked into the vet's across the street. As she was doing the paper work, she made me sit down and hold it. The pup was so small, that when I tried to get her off my lap, one of her legs actually started going through the bench and at that point, some guy made a comment that read my mind: "Ha...looks like you don't like that dog too much".




She's now 3 years old, and she is without a doubt, my absolute best friend. I love her so much. This little pup somehow managed to grow on me so much that it was I who taught her everything (not my mom), and as she was growing up, she would sleep in my bed. She was so little, that I would worry that she would sufficate in my comforter sheets . I don't know about werk's opinion (and really...they're prolly all diff.), but this dog has more love in her than almost everyone I know combined. You should see her when I come home, when my Dad comes home, and then when my mom comes home...it's like she hasn't seen any of us for years. She jumps up and down, gets so excited, that sometimes she even start choking...lol...I kid you not

Another thing that's kinda funny is that whenever she gets into trouble (well..rarely now, but when she was a pup , she would run from wherever she was, and go and hide under my desk...knowing full well that I would pretect her And when she has this nice comfy bed in another part of the house, she'd much rather sleep on the cold marble floor, cuzz I would be off studying and she just wanna kick it with me

Sorry I went off, and like I said, I love dogs, but little dogs were not my thing. But there was one thing I learned about this expereince...it's the inside that counts

Here are some pics:


pic one
funny look

close
Obi-Wan
Thone one I explained where she hides


P.S. I just realized I really never even answered your question...yes, they are absolutely house dogs...We take her out for one walk a day..but you can just play with her and get her quite pooped out just playing in the house . Oh, and my #1 advice....get a goodfball...cuzz they're the best

 

[pg22]

My God....could I have used any more smilies? lol.....

oh ya, Russ, if you need a guard dog for your store, you know where to look ;-)

 

[helloedchen]

cool, glad someone actually has something good to say about a maltese.. anyway...i'll see if i can get some pics up of this one real soon. Hopefully i'll have the same experience as you

 

[xraymongral]

Personaly, I would not have any little yap dog, but I would get a Rat Terrior. They are like a real dog in a tiny body.

 

[Total Refected Power]

My family has had a bunch of them.

1. They are house dogs!! Ours didn't care for outside at all.

2. They love being with family/people.

3. Some were yappers/some not.

4. Not a mean streak at all.

5. Excellent companions.

6. Small dogs/small mess.

7. No shedding.

8. Some don't jump up at all. Others are very athletic.

9. They don't destroy your house/apt.

 

[8602081]

Sounds like a Kodak moment..

 

[BigSmooth]

Check out dogbreedinfo.com. The Maltese sounds like a pretty good dog for apartment life, except for the fact that they "like to bark".

 

[Isla]

From working with them at the vet's and the groomers, I think they are nice little dogs BUT you will need to put a lot of energy/$$ into grooming them. You will need to brush it once if not twice a day to avoid tangles in the coat. They can get snippy when they have tangles and you have to brush them out... they usually have very sensitive white skin and don't like being brushed too vigorously.


Nothing sadder than a knotted little white dust mop getting shaved because the owner's didn't keep the matts out of the fur...


Edit: They DO tend to be snippy at the vet's office and groomers, but only because they are sensitive and don't like being messed with. As long as YOU don't have to be the one to draw blood for a sample, don't worry.

 

[BDawg]

The maltese in our obedience class doesn't obey very well. In addition, he barks a lot and doesn't take kindly to the other dogs.

He doesn't seem to enjoy the rounds of butt sniffing the other dogs do.

Edit: The owners say that maltese are also VERY energetic dogs that require a lot of play.

My collie requires about 30 minutes of frisbee throwing to be content.