Ideally suited to small areas and indoor living, the Maltese dog breed is diminutive, intelligent, responsive, and gentle. Maltese pups are fearless fickle-eaters and challenging to housebreak. They greet every individual as a friend and are vigorous and sprightly as well. They boast of a gorgeous white coat that offers them a haughty nobility appearance. But remember, appearances can be highly deceiving. These canines are not just perfect companies, but they even excel as therapy dogs. In addition to this, they are ideal participants at rallies and dog sports that call for obedience and agility.
Brave And Lively
Though these dogs are small in size, they are extremely brave. At the same time, they can also be playful and lively. They are powerful and can easily keep with larger dogs. The Maltese loves playing with strangers and other canines and are generally unaggressive. Unlike all the other smaller dog breeds, the liveliness in these dogs does not necessarily mean that they require a lot of exercises. But without proper training, even well-mannered Malteses’ can get destructive.
Positively Respond To Affections
Since the Maltese have this ability to respond to affection, it gets along very well with strangers. The dogs are quite trusting of people they do not know. In simple language, they are lap dogs comfortable with almost anybody they come in contact with. They enjoy affection no matter where it is coming from. Their good manners make them perfect family companions. You will find to be excessively gentle and uninterested in vigorous activities.
Prone To Separation Anxiety
Separation anxiety is one thing that you will find in a Maltese more than any other small dog breed. The Maltese is an attention-grabbing pup that requires a lot of companionships. It does not like to be left alone. The dog can cope up with a few minutes of loneliness but not an isolation period of more than two to three hours. You will find them expressing their distress through destructive barking and chewing.
Living Environment
A Maltese can easily thrive in small confines and apartments. Positive reinforcement is one thing that works for this dog breed. If you are behaving with it harshly or indulging in physical corrections, it will send the dog into defense stage or mode. This will not get you anywhere. Since they are small dogs, they consider their teeth to be the only defense tool. And when they are poorly treated, they will prolifically use their teeth. You cannot house train this dog breed very easily. They have small bladders, which means that you need to take special care of the surroundings they are in. They urinate several times during the day and night. So, you need to make proper arrangements.
All in all, it can rightly be said that a Maltese dog is an excellent family pet that settles well in homes with sensible older kids and grownups. It is a trusting and friendly dog that craves human company. But also keep in mind that the dog is fragile and can get hurt very easily.
