| Choosing the right breed of dog to match your specific | | | | problems and are not prone to many diseases. The |
| living situation and taste in pets can be tricky, but if you | | | | Maltese dog tends to be very affectionate, both with |
| are looking for an excellent companion dog combined | | | | other dogs and members of the family. They are good |
| with a pet that is relatively low maintenance, then the | | | | with children, although they do not tend to show any |
| Maltese dog may be for you. Maltese dogs have been | | | | special preference towards them. They are |
| bred for over two thousand years, and have earned a | | | | somewhat fragile animals, however, and children might |
| reputation both as excellent friends and competitors in | | | | actually be more of a danger to them, rather than vice |
| agility and obedience courses. In this article, we'll take a | | | | versa. |
| look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of | | | | These are excellent dogs for novice owners, as they |
| owning a Maltese, so that you can decide if they are | | | | do not require a large amount of exercise and yet are |
| right for you. | | | | rather playful. They are easy (not to mention a lot of |
| The Maltese stands at roughly ten inches high at the | | | | fun) to groom, making them great for someone who |
| shoulder, weighing in at no more than seven or eight | | | | likes to be on the neat side. They do well in an |
| pounds, ideally. Their coats are long and silky, although | | | | apartment setting, and are easy to train and |
| they do not have a tendency to shed. They typically | | | | housebreak, although they often have problems being |
| live between twelve and fifteen years, and their good | | | | alone and will often bark or howl when nobody is |
| overall health means that they have few chronic | | | | around. |