USEFUL INFORMATION

Something To Think About~~ As a puppy buyer, you have a major responsibility to yourself and to the potential *new addition* to your life. It is your responsibility to do your homework and research the different breeds to make sure the breed you choose will fit into your family and fit your lifestyle. Adding a new pet to your life should be a *lifetime commitment* and nothing less. The Maltese is an absolutely wonderful breed of dog. They are intelligent, beautiful, & loving.....what more could one ask for? BUT, then again, they are not for everyone. In fact, there is not a breed out there that *is for everyone*. Many folks contact us wanting to get a Maltese for their very young child or children. Truth is, the Maltese makes a wonderful pet and is a very gentle & loving breed BUT young children can inavertantly be way too rough for such a small breed of dog. This is something which absolutely must be seriously considered. Maltese do require a good deal of grooming.....they need a lot of your time and attention as they are bred to be companions....they live to be with you. That's their job so please take this into consideration as well. You also have a responsibility to the breeder of your next pet......as a breeder, we are entrusting you with the well-being and care of this little life which we have brought into this world. Please do NOT purchase your next pet on impulse!! Take some time and make sure you are choosing wisely when looking for your next *best friend*. Make sure this breed will fit into your life and be happy. Make sure you have the time and are absolutely sure you can make the commitment to turning your new puppy into the companion you desire. You will be better off for doing so.......and so will your next pet. We are asked many times over --- will my puppy be a good dog? The answer to that question is ---- how your puppy turns out will be determined on how much time and training you are willing to commit to.

Why do you want a puppy? Here are a few common terms you may hear when searching for a puppy. If you are a novice in dogs, you may not understand the terminology breeders use. So, we have decided to post an explanation of a few of the terms you'll most likely encounter: Are you wanting a puppy as a pet or companion?  Perhaps you are possibly thinking of breeding your puppy in the future?  Maybe you'd like enter the world of dog showing?  There are different qualities you will be looking for depending on your intended purpose for your new puppy and due to these qualities or lack thereof, the prices will vary. Pet / companion~~ If you are wanting a puppy as a pet or companion only and you have no intention of breeding or showing, you will be able to find a good, healthy Maltese *pet* puppy at a somewhat more reasonable price. Of course, good health is a must....that goes without saying, but a "pet quality" puppy will have some (phsical) flaw(s) that the breeder will deem as not being suitable for either breeding or showing. This will be something that will make no difference in the puppy's health, longevity or ability to be a wonderful companion.  Some of these flaws may include: a) ~ Incorrect coat texture -  the coat may have curl in it or is wooly or cottony instead of silky. b) ~ Lacking in pigmentation - The nose, rims of the eyes, and lips should be completely black & full. Ideally, so should the footpads, but some breeders can overlook lack of pigment on the feet. c) ~ Overbite or Underbite. The teeth/jaw may not line up properly. According to the standard, a Maltese should have an even or scissors bite. d) ~ Bad tail set - tail may not lay over the back properly or may be set too low or be what is called a *gay* tail. e) ~ A flaw in conformation / bone structure. f) ~ Size. May be too large or even too small (more often in the case of a female) -  the standard is up to 7 pounds but 4-6 is preferred.  g) ~ Testicles (in males) may not have dropped properly. Puppies sold as "pet quality" are usually sold with a limited registration (meaning any offspring cannot be registered) so that these flaws will not be passed on. Many are also often placed with a spay/neuter agreement. Breeding~~ In reality, there is very little difference between breeding quality and show quality. Some breeders will sell a prospective show quality dog as a breeder between 3-6 months of age. A dog of breeding/show quality is generally priced in the four figure range.  **Just because a dog is AKC registered does not mean it should be bred. If the dog has several of the flaws listed above......there is a very good chance those flaws will be passed on to future generations. Indiscriminate breeding will just be doing harm to the breed you love** Show~~ If you are looking for show quality, many breeders who are knowledgeable about the show world will wait and place the puppy at about 6-9 months of age.  At 12 weeks of age the puppy can be sold as "prospective" show quality but a better evaluation can be made when the pup is a little older.  By waiting until the puppy is more mature, the possibility of overbite or underbite can be ruled out.  One will also be able to better assess it's movement, structure, pigment, and coat quality and determine how closely it adheres to the breed standards. An outgoing personality.....even a bit of attitude, is needed for the show ring.  Keep in mind though, that no dog is perfect.

AKC MALTESE BREED STANDARD General Appearance The Maltese is a toy dog covered from head to foot with a mantle of long, silky, white hair. He is gentle-mannered and affectionate, eager and sprightly in action, and, despite his size, possessed of the vigor needed for the satisfactory companion. Head Of medium length and in proportion to the size of the dog. The skull is slightly rounded on top, the stop moderate. The drop ears are rather low set and heavily feathered with long hair that hangs close to the head. Eyes are set not too far apart; they are very dark and round, their black rims enhancing the gentle yet alert expression. The muzzle is of medium length, fine and tapered but not snipy.The nose is black. The teeth meet in an even, edge-to-edge bite, or in a scissors bite. Neck Sufficient length of neck is desirable as promoting a high carriage of the head. Body Compact, the height from the withers to the ground equaling the length from the withers to the root of the tail. Shoulder blades are sloping, the elbows well knit and held close to the body. The back is level in topline, the ribs well sprung. The chest is fairly deep, the loins taut, strong, and just slightly tucked up underneath. Tail A long-haired plume carried gracefully over the back, its tip lying to the side over the quarter. Legs and Feet Legs are fine-boned and nicely feathered. Forelegs are straight, their pastern joints well knit and devoid of appreciable bend. Hind legs are strong and moderately angulated at stifles and hocks. The feet are small and round, with toe pads black. Scraggly hairs on the feet may be trimmed to give a neater appearance. Coat and Color The coat is single, that is, without undercoat. It hangs long, flat, and silky over the sides of the body almost, if not quite, to the ground. The long head-hair may be tied up in a topknot or it may be left hanging. Any suggestion of kinkiness, curliness, or woolly texture is objectionable. Color, pure white. Light tan or lemon on the ears is permissible, but not desirable. Size Weight under 7 pounds, with from 4 to 6 pounds preferred. Overall quality is to be favored over size. Gait The Maltese moves with a jaunty, smooth, flowing gait. Viewed from the side, he gives an impression of rapid movement, size considered. In the stride, the forelegs reach straight and free from the shoulders, with elbows close. Hind legs to move in a straight line. Cowhocks or any suggestion of hind leg toeing in or out are faults. Temperament For all his diminutive size, the Maltese seems to be without fear. His trust and affectionate responsiveness are very appealing. He is among the gentlest mannered of all little dogs, yet he is lively and playful as well as vigorous. Approved March 10, 1964 *****PLEASE NOTE***** There is no such thing as a *t-cup* Maltese......or anything else when it comes to toy breed dogs. As with people, individuals will vary in size and some are smaller than others, but the term *t-cup* is simply a catch-phrase that unethical breeders use to sell their goods. You can check out the breed standard for ANY of the toy breeds recognized by the AKC and you will never see the term *t-cup* mentioned. The Maltese is classified as a toy breed, period. That means the Maltese IS a small breed. Maltese are not divided into groups such as toy, miniature, or standard. The term *t-cup*, mini, micro-mini or whatever other crazy term you hear out there does NOT apply to Maltese dogs in any way.