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If
you are looking for a small, energetic dog that will
be a great home companion and fun to be around, you
may want to consider a Maltese. This breed,
considered a toy dog by the American Kennel Club and
others, is not only cute but also beautiful.
Additionally, a Maltese makes a wonderful pet that
is very loyal to family members. You may be
attracted to the Maltese because of its long, silky
white coat that hangs from a center part to the
floor. However, this little dog is also a lot of fun
to be around, proving to be a great pet, eager to
please, and seemingly always in motion.
The
key first step to buying any purebred dog is to
visit at least three reputable breeders to look
closely at the living conditions and the litter from
which the pet will come. Be prepared to ask
questions about the Maltese in general and about
care and feeding. It is always better to have too
much information rather than not enough when it
comes to a decision as important as getting a family
pet. Just be careful not to pick the “cutest” puppy
from a litter or the first one that seems to
“choose” you.
Instead, try to remember that sometimes the best
pets are those that might not be so forward when you
first see them. They may later prove to be an ideal
companion and just independent enough to fit into
your life. You could buy your puppy from a retail
store or someone who is a Maltese owner that decides
to sell puppies, but if you do this, you may not get
all the information you need about the breed, its
background and the care and feeding the puppy
requires.
Take your time when visiting breeders and ask to see
both parents of the puppy you are considering. Look
closely at how the puppies are fed and housed, to
get an idea of the health and overall treatment of
the dogs. Remember that a key to getting a good pet
is to start with a breeder that takes the time to
socialize his young dogs, spending time with them to
get them comfortable with people and other dogs. In
addition, you should feel free to ask your breeder
questions about feeding the Maltese and ask about
any health problems that may be natural to the
breed.
Maltese are prone to retinal atrophy, a degenerative
eye disease that may lead to loss of vision. Then,
the breed sometimes has a tendency toward knee
dislocation, something that is more common among
small dogs. We also recommend you ask the breeder
about these conditions to determine if the parents
have had problems, or if any special tests have been
performed on the puppies.
When buying any new pet, it is always best to make
sure that you understand what will happen if the
puppy becomes seriously ill soon after you take him
home, for instance, would you be able to get a
replacement dog if the animal were to die or become
ill? A reputable breeder should ask you more
questions than you ask, wanting to make sure the
puppy is going to a good, loving home. After all,
the breeder has put tremendous time and effort into
breeding and raising the puppies so they too have
reason to check you out.
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