Maltese-Mania

Would you feel better if you left your Maltese Small Dog with your friend when you went on vacation?

2006-08-03T22:28:00.000-07:00

maltese small dog breed.

On July 10th, I posted an article entitled,”How best to organize a Kennel Holiday for your small dog….” I listed three choices and I’d like to elaborate on my second choice “Give Max to a friend……..”

In October 2005, the family were heading out to Portugal for a month. So what do I do with Max, my Maltese Small Dog, friend and companion?

My second option was the kennel but I considered giving him to a family friend. This friend already had a dog, a Golden Retriever and Max and his dog, Sam got on like a house on fire. Everytime, we visited each other the dog came or went with us too. They played and strutted around like a couple of male models! One was big and the other small. They looked funny together. Excellent choice, I thought.

But, is that enough?

Sam had his own little patch and he was trained to do his business in that patch. Max wasn’t and one day decided to do his business in the patio, while we were visiting. This caused my friend to get annoyed with Max. Then I noticed other behavior that I did not like. My little small dog, when excited tended to yap, much to the annoyance of my friend, who to my utter disbelief started to actually kick and throw things at Max.

I started to think whether leaving Max in the care of my friend was a good idea or not and finally reconsidered my option. Its not enough two dogs being best friends but there are other points to consider.

1.Would the friend or other members of the family treat your Small Dog well?
2.You would need to be adequately covered by insurance.
3.You would need to make sure your friend’s home is securely fenced off, especially if your dog is small.
4.You would need to openly discuss requirements regarding feeding, bathing. Every person has a different outlook.
5.Finally, would you trust your friend enough to have a worry free vacation.

In my case, some of my answers were sort of okay and in the end, I decided against it.

maltese small dog breed

Maltese-Mania

2006-07-13T04:35:00.000-07:00

Maltese-Mania

how best to organise a Kennel holiday for your Small Dog when you need to go on a vacation?

2006-07-10T05:24:00.000-07:00

Its vacation time and the excitement is mounting as you feverishly make plans, but wait.....what do you do with your greatest little friend, your little Maltese lap dog?

You think about this carefully and you have 3 choices:

1. Put him in a dog kennel. That prospect for many is not appealing. How can I stick my Max into a Kennel with all those other animals there. Little Max will pine to death or so you think.
2. Give Max to a friend for the duration of the holiday.
3. Get a pet sitter to look after him. A pet sitter is someone who comes to your home for the duration when you are away and stays at your home and looks after the dog. In some cases the pet sitter has the key to your home and turns up on a daily basis for a short time to feed the little lap dog and take him for a run.

Looking at all the possibilities and you’re particular circumstance, maybe a Kennel seems the better deal, but before committing your dog to a particular kennel, you should visit the facility for a personal inspection. You need to know if it appears to be clean, does it smell clean?, is it well lit and ventilated? How is the temperature? Are the cages and runs of an adequate size? Call the boarding kennels association of your neck of the woods and then determine if the kennel under consideration meets accepted standards and is accredited.

At this point, you can decide firmly which Kennel you are happy with and after making the selection, it’s time to prepare your Maltese for his/her visit. First and foremost, make sure your dog’s vaccinations are up to date. Make sure you have all the necessary proof of vaccinations. A kennel will reject your dog if his rabies vaccination isn’t current. Furthermore, even though you’ve selected a sparklingly clean boarding facility, your dog is subject to any number of communicable illnesses always present in a boarding population. A current vaccination record is good insurance against some of these diseases.

If possible, you should consider stopping by the kennel with your small dog for a brief visit. He can meet the staff and become somewhat familiar with the surroundings. An overnight stay will do wonders to prepare the dog for his longer visit. Always provide as much information as possible to the kennel staff. Obviously they will need to know about any medications they’ll have to administer, food allergies, whether or not the dog socializes well with other animals and what, if any, particular fears or phobias he might have. If you happen to be boarding more than one dog, you might want to request that they be housed in the same pen or allowed to exercise at the same time in the same run.

If Max requires a special diet, the kennel may request that you provide them with a supply of his food. This will usually depend on the extent of the dog’s special requirements and will be settled in advance of the dog’s visit. Make sure the kennel has the name and phone number of your veterinarian and a phone number where they can reach you in case of an emergency. Most dogs will benefit from bringing familiar items with them. A special toy, their blanket, or even one of your slippers will comfort them and stave off feelings of being abandoned. Remember not to wash them as familiar smells are half the battle, so don’t destroy them.

When packing and preparing for your trip, try to go about it as calmly and casually as possible. Hectic packing and rushing about will alert Max that something is amiss and by the time you’re ready to transport him to the kennel, he’ll already be under stress. Gather his kennel items and have them in the car prior to getting Max.

When dropping him off at the kennel, try to remain as nonchalant and as calm as possible. Don’t be overly affectionate or do anything that might cause Max to attach too much significance to his plight. The objective is to minimize, rather than exaggerate. Keep it low key - no long goodbyes, no tears and no emotion.

After handing Max’s lead to a kennel staffer, allow the staffer to distract the dog and quietly slip out.

If you’re a frequent traveller, Max will get used to being boarded and in most cases will look forward to the experience, especially if he gets an opportunity to mix with other dogs at the kennel. He’ll get to know the staff and look forward to seeing them. Once both dog and owner get used to the idea of boarding and become completely comfortable with the experience, being separated will become much less stressful.

While away, the owner will be at peace, confident that his faithful friend is safe and being well cared for. And, Max will be able to lay back and enjoy his vacation as well.

Do we really need to think carefully before we decide if we need a pet?

2006-06-28T03:48:00.000-07:00

Maltese-Mania

There was a small dog named Fifi; she was a Maltese and also extremely spoiled.

Fifi was purchased by her owner, Judy, five years ago and spent a delightful half-decade with her. They spent a lot of time together, the owner was a consultant and worked from home so she could spend a lot of time with Fifi, and in fact they had never spent a single day apart since Judy brought the tiny puppy home.

Even when it was necessary for Judy to travel she would take Fifi with her everywhere. After all she was such a small dog it was easier to carry her in the special bag they bought or if need be in a little carrier for the airplane. They had formed an incredibly close relationship over the first three years they spent together, and then Judy's husband entered the picture.

At first, Fifi was downright unhappy with the presence of a new man in her house and she was even more upset when one night Judy actually made her get off the bed and would not allow Fifi to sleep there. This was an outrage to Fifi as she had never been banished from the bed until this man showed up and started taking Judy out all of the time, leaving Fifi to be alone in the house, something that previously had rarely happened. Eventually Fifi adjusted to Judy's new husband and it turned out that he was usually a pretty decent guy, although he clearly lacked the appreciation that Judy had for Maltese. Fifi could live with that though as she realized she had a lot more in common with female humans anyway, rather than gritty, rough, males whose hands were not nearly as soft as Judy's.

All of that work and adjustment to make room for Judy's husband was nothing compared to what Fifi had to face now and she had no idea just how hard it was going to be. Fifi had noticed Judy's belly getting much bigger over the last several months and she wondered why her owner had let herself go so quickly after getting married.

Then one night Judy was gone for the night and then the next. Fifi was freaked out because she had never spent a night away from Judy before. Then on the third day, her loyal owner returned, only she had a tiny human that was screaming in her arms. Fifi ran to Judy to be lifted up and adored after the separation they had just endured and the owner actually shooed her away and refused to pick her up. A slap in the face like this would not be taken well by anyone, let alone a pampered, spoiled Maltese named Fifi. People must be aware when making any significant changes in their lives how it can affect their spouse, kids, friends or even pets.

Animals are far more in tune with human emotions than a lot of people give them credit for and they can respond a great deal to certain changes in their surroundings, especially dogs.One of the most difficult adjustments dogs have to make is the addition of a new baby to a family. A common sequence of events is for an adult to get a dog after college or once they are settled down and in need of some companionship, but not ready for marriage yet. The dog is their best friend in the whole wideworld and that relationship becomes very special to both the owner and the dog.

Eventually the owner finds that special someone they have been looking for, only this time it is a human and they get married. Now the relationship with the dog is a lesser priority to that owner because their spouse naturally becomes the primary focus.

Some dogs go through a lot of adjustment in these stages but most do all right. While dating it is wise to make sure your potential future mate loves your dog.This is all too common with families who have major adjustments. Usually the four legged family member has to go.

Needless to say, poor Fifi suffered tremendously as the new baby took over every element of the house and Judy. Eventually, Fifi went to live with Judy's mother, which was better than staying in the baby house but not the same as the life she had once shared with her beloved owner Judy.

So when deciding to add a four legged one to your family please consider all the factors before bringing a puppy home. Buying a new puppy should be a commitment for the life of the dog
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Author Biography:Steve Allison is a third generation of professional dog breeders along with his brother Gary. It all started with his grandparents in 1970 with the BostonTerriers and has expanded to Maltese, Yorkshire Terriers, Pugs, Shih Tzu's andPomeranians. He is also actively involved with dog rescue and has a websitethat showcases the puppies they occasionally has for sale at their website

Does Your Maltese Stand Up to the Supposed Standard?

2006-06-16T00:24:00.000-07:00

Maltese

Breed standards are a set of guidelines commonly used to ensure that dogs measure up to certain characteristics typical of the breed. Breed standards are used to judge dogs in competitions and are considered to be the hypothetical ideal of the breed.

If you want to compete with your Maltese and are concerned about following these requirements to the letter it might also be helpful to take into account that these ideal specifications can vary in different countries. These are the standards from the American Kennel Club.

So you must be wondering.. how does your Maltese measure up to the official 'conformation' points?

Keep in mind that these refer to the ideal dog and variations in your own Maltese are not in any way a poor reflection on your pet. Unless you want to enter your Maltese Toy Dog in for competitions,that is...

The following is adapted from the American Kennel Club Maltese Breed Standard guidelines which have been in effect since 1984.

General Appearance:The Maltese is a gentle-mannered and loving toy dog, covered from head to foot with smooth, silky hair. Despite the dogs size it should be eager and energetic.

Head:The head must be in proportion with the size of the dog. The skull should be slightly rounded on top and the stop should be moderate.The ears are low set and hang close to the head. The ears should be covered with hair hanging over them. The eyes are not set too far apart and should have a gentle but alert expression. The eyes are surrounded by black rims.They should be black. Some Maltese have blue eyes and that is considered a fault. The muzzle is of medium length, fine and tapered at the nose. The nose is black.The teeth should meet in even bite.

Neck:The neck is long enough for the head to be held high.

Body:The body is compact. The shoulder blades are sloping and the elbows well knit.The back is level and the ribs well sprung. The chest is deep and just slightly tucked underneath.Tail covered in long hair and gracefully carried over the back and the tip should lie to the side over a quarter.

Legs and Feet: The legs should be fine-boned and feathered. The forelegs are straight and the joints well knit. The hind legs are strong and slightly angled at stifles and hocks. The feet are small and rounded. Toe pads are black.

Coat and Color:The coat is long, flat and silky. It should hang over the sides of the body almost to the ground. The long hair on the head may be tied up or left hanging.Any curl, kinks or woolly texture is considered a fault. The color must be pure white. Light tan or cream shades are allowed but frowned upon.

Temperament:The ideal Maltese is without fear. A gentle mannered dog with an affectionate manner is the ideal. Lively and playful.

Size: The weight must be less than 7 pounds. Between 4 - 6 pounds is preferred.

Gait:The Maltese moves with a smooth, flowing gait. When in motion the fore legs reach straight and free from the shoulders. The hind legs move in a straight line.Cowhocks,hind leg toeing in or out are faults.

Whether you want to compete or are just interested in how your dog measures up, these are the most widely recognized guidelines.Caring for your Maltese will require grooming to prevent the coats from matting.Try to keep the face clean especially around the eyes to avoid the typical "tearstaining" which can spoil the lovely expression of the Maltese.

Maltese are excellent companions and lively playmates. This aristocrat of the canine world is a pleasure to own and love. And if your Maltese meets the breed standards, its a pleasure to show off your beautiful Maltese small dog breed. If for some reason they don't meet the standard,you're going to love this beautiful little dog, no matter what.
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Author Biography:Steve Allison is a third generation of professional dog breeders along with his brother Gary. It all started with his grandparents in 1970 with the Boston Terriers and has expanded to Maltese, Yorkshire Terriers, Pugs, Shih Tzu's and Pomeranians. He is also actively involved with dog rescue and has a website that showcases the puppies they occasionally have for sale at their website

Flea Infestation

2006-06-13T05:17:00.000-07:00

RIDDING YOUR HOUSE OF FLEAS

Chances are if you have pet's you have had to deal with the almost inevitableflea infestation. All pet owners know that once a flea infestation has grippedyour living space it can be the start of a long battle.
In order to properly rid you home and pets of fleas you will treat theinfestation as a whole. The fleas do not only live on your pet. Some researchindicated that fleas spend less than 15% of their time on you pet. The rest ofthe time they are comfortably tucked away in a variety of warm places. Yourcarpet, your couches and even in your garden.
Summer and warmer weather will also bring out these evil little critters. Thisis because the warmth speeds up their life cycles. Depending on where you liveyou could face a flea problem all year around.
RECOGNIZING INFESTATION
Chances are you will know all about a budding flea problem. Fleas leave itchybites on the ankles and beyond and make life for everyone in the area a misery.Fleas also leave telltale black or dark brown droppings.
One way to gauge the severity of the infestation is to comb your dogs coat overa white paper. The number of dark crumb-like bits that fall onto the paper willindicate the seriousness of your infestation.
If the fleas are leaving a lot of bites on the people in your home you will knowthe infestation is bad. Calamine lotion will provide some relief if the itchingis bad. You can also experiment with one of the many natural repellents. Varioussubstances rubbed on ankles or exposed skin will help keep the fleas from bitingthe humans; so you can concentrate on killing all the fleas.
THE DANGERS OF CHEMICALS
Many experts agree that the current chemical warfare on fleas is doing little tolesson the problem. Not only are these chemical treatments ineffective; they arealso dangerous.
The dangers of these chemicals being ingested by dogs or even your children arehigh.
And thereâ€™s the fear that repeated, prolonged use of these chemicals iscreating a new "super flea'. Eventually fleas will become completely resistantto our treatments. This evolution of fleas will create a need for stronger andstronger chemicals. Who knows what kinds of super chemicals we'll need 50 yearsfrom now.
Those in favor of natural flea remedies claim that natural treatments workbetter than the chemical ones. In order to treat the problem effectively youwill need to adopt a holistic action plan.-----------------------------------------
Author Biography:
Steve Allison is a third generation of professional dog breeders along with hisbrother Gary. It all started with his grandparents in 1970 with the BostonTerriers and has expanded to Maltese, Yorkshire Terriers, Pugs, Shih Tzuâ€™s andPomeranians. He is also actively involved with dog rescue and has a websitethat showcases the puppies they occasionally has for sale at http://www.allmypuppiesonline.com

Maltese Training Institute

2006-06-09T06:05:00.000-07:00

Here at last is the site I have been waiting for. Its a complete site created for the Maltese dog lovers. If you are serious about training your Maltese, then you really need to subscribe to this Free Mini Course from the Maltese Training Institute. Nancy Richards the President of the Institute sure knows her stuff!!! Full of knowledge with tips and tricks, the course will guide you through the steps required to remove any bad behavior and fully train your Maltese into a well mannered dog to be proud of.

Maltese-Mania

The Little Maltese can trace their Ancestry to the Wolf

2006-06-01T05:28:00.000-07:00

Whether you knew this or not, its true. All dogs, large and small, cute, gentle or ferocious can trace their ancestry all the way back through the ages to the Canis lupus-the Wolf. Gradually, through the years, the Wolf became domesticated. Humans could see that they could manipulate breedings of these animals and in time customized them to suit their growing needs.

The Maltese Toy Dog’s are covered from head to foot with long white silky hair. That’s the standard look, but they are not always like that. Sometimes, they can have short curly hair also.

They are affectionate, sensitive and gentle mannered, eager and vigorous, exciting and fun to have around. They’re also smart, easily trained and devoted to their owners. Its not unusual to find the Maltese latching on to the owner and following the owner around where ever they go.

Got to see a Maltese puppy dog. They are cute little bundle of joys. If you are a dog lover and see one, you’ll want to take one home.

If you want a dog that lies around, sleeping for most of the day-forget this breed. This one is full of energy and loves attention and a good play around the garden or in the park. Sometimes, they can be pretty restless and you wonder where they get their energy from.

They are “lots of personality” in a small package!!

So, what’s the history?

It is said that Darwin placed the origin of the breed as far back as 6000BC.

The Maltese dog can trace their early beginnings to the Mediterranean island of Malta back in the days of Ancient Greece. The Greeks and the Romans named them the Melitaie Dog and the island of Melitaie was the ancient name of the Island of Malta. There are numerous historical accounts of this tiny lap dog being prized and nurtured by the people of Malta.

In ancient times, Malta was a bustling center of trade and it seems that the highly prized Maltese Toy Dog made its way out of Malta to surrounding areas via the trading routes and gradually moved around to various parts of the world.

The ancient Greeks have known to have held this breed in high esteem. They fed them with the best foods and commanded high prizes in the markets. The upper class ladies of Ancient Greece carried these little beauties everywhere they went. They were a source of decoration and amusement and made loyal pets.

Talking of loyalty, there are numerous stories of undying devotion of the Maltese to his master in ancient Greek texts. There are recordings of specific instances where the loyalty was so great, they followed their masters to the grave.

Years later, during the Roman period, the existence of the Maltese toy dog was well documented. Even, Roman Emperor Claudius is recorded as being an owner. In those days, these Maltese dogs were very expensive and it was fashionable for the well off Romans to have them as pets.

Gradually, through the years since then, the Maltese populated almost every corner of the globe. Its not hard to imagine why this breed is so popular. If you are looking for a loyal, happy, friendly, small pet dog, then you can’t go wrong with deciding on a Maltese Toy Breed.

Quite simply, Gorgeous!

Maltese-Mania

Welcome to my Maltese Mania Blog

2006-05-30T05:08:00.000-07:00

Here you will discover tips, tricks and secrets to looking after the Maltese toy dog breed from puppy dogs to fully grown dogs.