Dog's Name & Age
Francie, 5 years old (B. Jan 13, 2005)
In a Word, My Maltese Is…
Sweet, 'endearingly stubborn,' playful, smart, funny, shy with strangers.
Best Characteristics of the Breed
Compact & portable, a great little companion, very smart, sweet personality
Most Challenging Characteristics of the Breed
Constant grooming, tear stains, barks a lot, can be fragile, health issues
When, Where and How I Got My Maltese
I bought my Francie from a breeder when she was 10 weeks old.
I'd Describe My Dog As…
Francie has a shy personality until she knows a person. She's a one person dog. She doesn't like being left alone for long periods. She is very playful and demands playtime at least twice a day. She likes going outside with me and for medium length walks but can't manage more due to her size. She is very nervous around small children. She was fairly easy to housebreak. Francie is healthy and doesn't have any health issues but I was told by my vet that this breed has a potential for developing heart murmur issues as she gets older. My overall description of Francie is a very sweet little dog who needs a great deal of attention and is a perfect companion for an older adult or family without small children. I've heard so many really sad stories of people getting a Maltese only to totally neglect it when they begin having children because they no longer have the time or inclination to keep up with grooming and the great deal of care the breed needs.
Advice
- I personally do NOT think a Maltese is a good breed for people with small children due to the fact that this is a small dog who could be easily accidentally injured. Children can be very heavy handed and all it would take for serious injury is a child holding the dog incorrectly and drop it. Also, this breed requires a great deal of attention, time, and physical care - grooming, etc. And, it would be difficult to give the care it needs and deserves with small kids to attend to as well. Saying that, a home with older kids (12+) might be OK as long as the dog was treated properly and not teased or mishandled.
