An Ancient Breed - The Maltese

Maltese dogs are playful, intelligent, and very active members of the household. They like to cuddle and be a lap dog, but they enjoy activity as well. The Maltese is a great indoor, apartment, condo, or small urban dwelling dog. They are more comfortable is smaller spaces, so a small inner-city yard is ideal for them. The attitude displayed is one of an aristocrat. Maltese makes a good watchdog and will watch everything going on around it. It is comfortable with strangers. Owners of Maltese should monitor the interaction with children at first - they can become snappy around children. They are easily trained with treats and enjoy doing tricks and have good agility. the owner should be careful, however, the Maltese is smart enough to manipulate the human. This can result in a poorly behaved, spoiled little dog. Due to the small size of Maltese puppies, it is recommended that they do not live in families with small children, where the Maltese could be dropped or stepped on. Mostly, they are show dogs or family pets and lap dogs.

This is a toy breed, which is the attraction as a lap dog and companion. The adult dogs are roughly between 3 to 10 pounds. Show dogs should be between 4 to 7 pounds. Maltese height is between 7 to 12 inches. With the long silky white fur, characteristic of the breed, small is good. Grooming may not be as difficult as one would believe if care is taken. The Maltese should be groomed daily by brushing the fur. Despite the long coat, Maltese shed very little. In fact, many people allergic to dogs are not allergic to the Maltese. Tear staining can be a problem with these dogs. This may require intensive effort to keep the staining out of the coat. It is recommended by many sources that the Maltese visit a professional groomer about every 6 weeks. Many pet owners will have the coat cut into a generic puppy cut to decrease the grooming effort needed. The Maltese can exhibit a snorting or gagging sound, especially when excited or playing. While this concerns many owners, it is usually not a problem, will clear in a few minutes, and is particular to the breed. For any real concerns in the is area, visit your vet to be sure there is not a physical problem with the dog.

Maltese will live for 10 to 13 years, typically. They are generally very healthy and the biggest problems are the tear staining mentioned previously and teeth problems. Because of the teeth problem, it is recommended that the dog's teeth be brushed regularly. Also mentioned previously, is the problem of reverse sneezing (snorting). Without proper socialization, the Maltese can become a yappy, snappy little dog. They already have a tendency to be fearless, so if not socialized this can get out of hand, if the owner is not careful.

The Maltese is a great companion and a beautiful little dog that likes small spaces, being with the family and playing. This makes the breed a good family dog. Grooming can be an issue because of the time needed to care for the long silky white coat.  With some attention, socialization, and training the Maltese could be a low allergen, small family pet.

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How To Choose A Puppy For The Family Pet

Choosing a new puppy to be the family pet can be somewhat of an overwhelming task. You need to take into consideration your lifestyle as well as environment and choose an animal that will fit well. The first consideration is whether the family wants a large active puppy or a small cute one.

Mixed Breed Puppy

A purebred puppy or a mixed breed puppy will be the first decision you need to make. Each breed of dog has its own personalities and comes with some common predictable traits. Consider what your intended purpose for the pet will be. Companion dogs love a warm lap and are drawn to comfort. Dog breeds that are protection dogs tend to be serious, to not like a chaotic or unpredictable life. Retrieving and hunting dogs tend to be high energy and need to fulfill a sense of purpose.

Choosing a mixed breed puppy also has its advantages because they offer the same love, devotion, and loyalty as other puppies. Some may argue that this type of puppy is healthier because of their combined gene pool. Whatever breed you decide, it is important that they will be able to easily adapt to your lifestyle and environment to avoid serious issues down the road.

Mixed Breed Puppy

If you can, you want to observe the litter to see how the puppies interact with each other. This allows you to see the type of personality that they have. By observing the litter you can also see the type of energy level that the puppy has as well.

Make sure that the puppy has clear bright eyes that have no discharge, and that the nose is damp, cold and clean. A puppy that does not have this may have some health issues. See how the puppy reacts when you first walk in the room.

A puppy that will come up to you right away means they have a good personality for meeting new people. The puppy that ignores you and is more interested in its surroundings will tend to be a lot more independent. They should not show any signs of being fearful or very shy. That is the puppy you do not want for a family pet.

Taking into account all these considerations before making your purchase will allow you to choose the best puppy possible as your new family pet. Remember puppies have their own personality and energy levels. Choose the one that fits in your lifestyle and environment the best, and all of you will have a happy relationship for years to come.

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Hypoallergenic Dog Breeds For Allergic People

There are a number of hypoallergenic dog breeds for allergic people that will be perfect for you and your family. Some people are allergic to the dander (flakes of dead skin), as well as the saliva and urine.

Here are some dog breeds that can be in your home if you are allergic. I am sure you will be find a companion for you.

Afghan Hound

The Afghan is the aristocrat of the dog breeds. He has an aloofness about him. This is a dog that needs attention and cannot be left unsupervised for long periods of time.

He is social with other dogs if he has been socialized as a puppy. He is a hunter and can hunt smaller pets. He needs a lot space so an apartments life is not for him. He needs to be exercised daily. These dogs need a gentle leader that will always take the lead.

Bichon Frise

This is an amazing family pet. He has such a cute teddy bear face and is great with children. He loves to play and is very sociable, they are always happy and are very gentle.

The only draw back is that they do suffer from separation anxiety and cannot go for long periods of time on their own. So if you are going to be away for long periods at time, this dog is not for you.

The Bichon is a very active dog and they do need a lot of exercise as they are normally high energy dogs. They will love walks and playing with you.

Labradoodle

This beautiful crossbreed is intelligent, friendly, and affectionate towards people and other dogs. This breed does not shed but does require grooming about every 6 weeks. At eight weeks old, your puppy is ready to do some training,

Start your training at this age and not older as they then become more headstrong, start taking him to puppy kindergarten class between 10 to 12 weeks if you can.

When it comes to grooming these are high maintenance dogs and needs to be brushed at least every second day with a slicker brush. Keep their ears dry and clean as they are prone to ear infections.

Xoloitzcuintli

You do pronounce it as "show-low-eats-queent-lee." This dog has also been called the Mexican Hairless. They grow to 1 foot, 6 inches to 1 foot, 11 inches tall at the shoulder.

If you are a first time dog owner I would not suggest that you get this breed of dog as they do need a lot attention and hate being alone. They love being with the family but are somewhat intolerant towards other dogs.

They are easy to train as they are intelligent, but are barkers and if left to do their own thing they could wander off.

There are a lot of families missing out on knowing what it is to have a dog love you and you loving it right back. However there are dog breeds out there for those who love dogs but are allergic to dander. Come and see a few breeds that could share your home.

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