Maltese Bichon

The Maltese Bichon, that beautiful white dog that is considered one of the smallest dogs that exist. With a soft coat, attractive for its appearance and its captivating personality, it is one of the most popular dog breeds that exist worldwide. They are highly appreciated all over the planet as companion dogs for their affection and sociability. In this article we are going to introduce you to everything you need to know about the Maltese Bichon. Their physical and temperamental characteristics, their origin as a breed, curiosities and all the care that is recommended for these small and beautiful pets.

History of the Bichon Maltese

As its name suggests, the Bichon Maltese is native to the Mediterranean area, and is inevitably related to the island of Malta, where its ancestors lived for around five hundred years. It is a possibility that initially, these specimens were raised for the Phoenician sailors to trade in the Mediterranean. The Greeks and Romans knew them in this way and adopted them in their society. Thus it was that they began to have a certain popularity that was preserved over the years as companion dogs for the ladies of the European royal courts. Throughout this period, the Bichon Maltese has changed relatively little in terms of its physical appearance.

From the 19th century onwards, the breed has gained tremendous popularity and has become one of the best-known canine breeds out there. Such is the point that it currently has many followers and lovers of this breed in all parts of the world.

The appearance of the Bichon Maltese is quite similar to that of its origins, but something has changed. The old portraits represent him with a more matted and wavy coat, while now it is more soft and with a very silky texture. It has a single coat of hair, without the inner coat, and it extends to the ground and around the body, hiding the legs and feet. The hair on the head is usually collected. This breed of dog is believed to be the ancestor of the Bichon bolognese

Currently, most of the specimens of this breed are white, but they can have blond and tan tones in the ears, while in the past, their coloration was much more varied. The fur of the head is usually gathered with a bow to protect its dark ocher eyes, they are bulging. This hair will be blended at the back of the head with the long hair from the ears.

Physical characteristics of the Maltese Bichon

The Maltese Bichon is one of the smallest dog breeds that exist in the world and for that reason it forms the group of dwarf or toy breeds in the breed classification by size. These beautiful and friendly pets also make up Group 9 of the FCI classification, Group 9: Companion dogs, Section 1, Bichons and dogs of similar breeds. Next we are going to physically detail the specimens of this breed.

The body of the Bichon Maltese

He Maltese Bichon It is a small dog that has an elegant appearance and a Body which is longer than it is tall- This makes it appear elongated, almost rectangular in appearance and narrow. The skin of these animals is well glued all over the body, including the head area, and does not show wrinkles anywhere. The cross of the Maltese Bichon is just slightly above the top line. Their loins are plump and muscular but not above the level of the top line. As for the belly of the Maltese Bichon it is slightly collected. In turn, the depression on the sides should not be deep. The rump of these dogs is wide and they have muscular thighs.

Its tail is aligned with the rump and is very thick at the base and tapers towards the tip. It is widely curved, with the tip touching the rump between the hips, although it can also be carried to the side of the back. The Maltese Bichon has a broad chest that reaches at least to the elbows. Its ribs are moderately arched and its legs are thin and muscular. The feet of these dogs are round in shape and compact with well arched toes. The neck is lean and almost as long as the rise, it is high, so it gives the impression that the head is tilted back.

The head of the Maltese Bichon

He Maltese Bichon has a head que presenta una longitud equivalente a la sexta parte de su alzada. En cuanto al hocico, la longitud es de un tercio del total de la cabeza. Los arcos ciliares de estos perros están bien definidos; tanto el surco medio-central como el occipucio no son muy nítidos. لعبة فلوس حقيقية El stop del Bichón Maltés es profundo y tiene un perfil sen donde se puede apreciar que la caña nasal es paralela a la parte superior del cráneo.

The nose of these dogs is quite large. So much so that it appears vertical if you look at it from the side. They have triangular and flat ears that measure approximately one third of their height. These have a high insertion and are hanging and glued to the head. The eyes of the Maltese are quite large, with well-set lids. These should not be deeply inserted. His teeth are always scissor-shaped.

How tall is a Maltese Bichon?

The Maltese Bichon has a height that ranges between 21 centimeters and 25 centimeters in the male and ranges between 20 and 23 centimeters in the female. Some specimens, especially outstanding, can measure a maximum of 1 centimeter more than what we have specified. Both in males and females. It should also be clarified that these are cases that do not occur very frequently.

How much does a Bichon Maltese weigh?

The approximate weight of the Bichon Maltese dog breed is between 3 kilograms and 4 kilograms. On the side of adult females, they usually have a weight that ranges between 900 grams and 3.5 kilograms. Adult males tend to weigh between approximately 1.5 kilograms and 4 kilograms.

The coat of the Maltese Bichon

The Maltese Bichon has a coat composed of thick, shiny, heavy and very long hair with a silky texture. The average measurement of its coat is approximately 22 centimeters. This measurement implies that the coat of a Maltese Bichon tends to reach the ground, hanging from the back. His coat does not have an undercoat.

Color of the Maltese

The coat of the Maltese Bichon must be pure white, although it is also permissible in a soft ivory tone. The lemon yellow tones are also given in this breed but in competitions they will be considered a lack. The eyes of the Maltese Bichon are dark ocher. His nose, pads, lips, and eyelid edges are black and his nails should always be dark. An important clarification is that the nails, in competitions, are preferred in black. The skin of these pets must have good pigmentation.

Maltese Bichon temperament

In order to make understanding information about the temperament of the Maltese Bichon much more practical and organized, we divided it into two sections. On the one hand we will talk about his character and on the other hand we will mention general characteristics about his behavior.

Character of the Maltese Bichon

The Bichon Maltese is a dog that tends to be cheerful and always in a good mood. They are generally pets that have a very flexible and friendly character, they are charming, extremely playful. They have a sensitive nature, which means that faced with a risque challenge or the use of harsh or abrupt words will cause the Bichon Maltese to be noticeably affected. He is a fairly intelligent dog who enjoys learning new things. They also have the characterization of being calm and rarely flustered. They are never aggressive and tend to have a very strong bond with their family. They are always showing their love for those with whom they share a home and have a hard time when left alone.

Leaving them alone is not usually a major problem, since due to their tiny size they can be taken to a lot of places. Maltese Bichons have a very high level of adaptability, which allows them to be dogs that do not generate any kind of discomfort in daily life. They adapt perfectly to urban life and rural life, they can live in large houses and in small apartments. What won't do you good is living in a doghouse and sleeping outside. They are dogs that feel much more comfortable being indoors with their family. They will bark when they notice something strange, but compared to other small breeds it is not very barking and not at all rowdy.

Behavior of the Bichon Maltese

The Maltese Bichon is a dog that has excellent behavior in all areas. They are very sociable with everyone, both with other animals and with humans. They get along well both with other dogs and with animals of various species. They also get along well with children, but they can avoid them if they constantly bother them or are very rough with them. Although they are not dogs that tend to bark a lot, like most plus-size or toy dogs, they tend to receive visitors with a lot of fuss and barking.

El Bichón Maltés no es un perro que tienda a ser muy destrozón de cosas del hogar. Salvo que queden solos por mucho tiempo dentro de la casa. Es en esos casos, donde más ansiedad sienten y pueden llegar a ser un poco destrozones. العب اون لاين مجانا Por lo general son perros muy tranquilos que disfrutan enormemente de la compañía de su familia en el hogar.

General care of the Maltese Bichon

In this section we will discuss the most important points to consider about the general care of the Maltese Bichon. To facilitate your understanding, we will segment the information and process it in parts. We will write about brushing, the training process, feeding, possible diseases and recommended exercise for the specimens of the breed.

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Grooming in the Bichon Maltese

The Maltese needs a thorough brushing. The coat of these pets should be long and fall to the ground from the back, where it forms a visible stripe. The hair is usually pulled back from the face with a headband. The coat must be carefully brushed every day and washed quite frequently. It is very laborious to keep it in good condition for a contest: in these cases, oil is usually applied to the coat, keeping it aerated with paper rollers so that it does not break.

If you have your Maltese simply as a companion dog, you can keep the hair shorter to facilitate the care of the coat or so that it does not suffer too much heat in times of very high temperatures. Sometimes hair can grow on the edges of the eyes, causing irritation, so it is advisable to remove them if they affect the comfort of the animal. Not trimming these hairs can cause future eye problems. There are special lotions to clean stains in the tear duct area. Although the demands of the coat in terms of care are many, the Maltese Bichon has the advantage of not suffering hair loss; dead hair remains attached to the coat in the molting season and is removed by brushing.

When the Bichon Maltese is not participating in competitions, it is not necessary to brush it every day. One or two brushings a week is usually more than enough. Keep in mind that in times of shedding, it is necessary to intensify the frequency of brushing to three or four times a week. If you want to know what are the recommended techniques and the recommended brushes to brush a Maltese Bichon do not forget to read our article «What is the right brush for my dog?«.

How to train a Maltese Bichon?

El Bichón Maltés es un perro bastante fácil de adiestrar. arab casino Solo precisamos ser claros y firmes para captar su atención y que se centre en entender nuestra orden. También es muy productivo ser alegre a la hora de dar las órdenes y generoso en los premios que les damos por su buena conducta. Esto hará que el Maltés aprenda con mucha mayor rapidez. Es muy sensible a las palabras duras y gritos o levantamiento de voz más de lo normal. Recomendamos que cuando se le quiere marcar un error o un mal comportamiento no ser demasiado severo y centrarse en la firmeza más que en levantar la voz.

The socialization process in Maltese Bichons is not at all lengthy, much less a difficult task to carry out. It is an ideal dog for beginners, therefore it is easy to carry out the socialization task.

Now you may wonder How important is the socialization process in my Bichon Maltese? It is necessary, it is not of vital importance but it is very necessary to achieve a good relationship with other pets that live in the house in the first place. Whether they are dogs, cats or other animals of various species, the socialized Maltese will get along very well with any of them. On the other hand, without this process there may be unnecessary fights and encounters. Socialization is also important if there are children in the home. This is because the Maltese Bichon is an excellent companion but when it feels abused or the children do not respect it as it should, it will run away. That is why we always recommend that in addition to socializing the dog, the same process is applied to young children so that they understand that they are dealing with a living being.

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How much exercise does a Bichon Maltese need?

The Maltese Bichon does not need to take long walks or burn a lot of energy, but it will not mind accompanying its master wherever he goes. Let us remember that it is a companion dog and there will be nothing more satisfactory than accompanying it wherever it goes. These dogs never lose sight of their owners and are usually very quiet inside the home.

As a recommendation, our advice is that at least 30 minutes a day go out to move your body and walk. Either through a walk or entertaining with a family member in the park of the same house. The good thing about these animals is that, due to their size, we can exercise them even inside the home. We can practice games with them where an object is thrown and they have to look for it, they like intelligence games such as hiding an object and that he must find it.

Maltese Bichon diet

You have to take good care of these little white dogs when it comes to food. Giving him a quality dry dog food or feed is paramount in his balanced diet. Clearly, croquettes with a high content of protein of animal origin, with a lot of fiber content and without cereals are the best to provide a good diet for the Bichon Maltese.

On the other hand, food with omega 3 is highly recommended, as it helps your coat look even better, prettier, but above all healthier. The amount of food that must be given to these dogs is important, since they are very small dogs, that is why the veterinarian based on the age, weight and physical activity they perform, will determine how much food to give and how many servings up to date; in this way they will know the exact amount of feed to give the dog and will prevent it from becoming overweight. Well, another way to avoid being overweight is to remove the plate of food in case you have stopped eating, since it means that you are satiated.

On the other hand, the hydration of the dog is very important, so it must always have clean and fresh water available to drink. a good diet should always be a combo, which should not be lacking at any time; In case it is dirty, the dog will not drink, so it must be constantly renewed.

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Health and most common diseases of the Maltese Bichon

The Bichon Maltese breed of dogs are dogs that have a good quality of life, there are some health problems or diseases that are more prone in these dogs. Retreat atrophy, White Dog Shaker syndrome, and patella luxation. these complications are very common in dwarf or toy breed dogs. Therefore, it is important to approach the trusted animal health specialist once a year so that they can verify the health of your little one.

How long does a Bichon Maltes live?

Although Maltese Bichons are in good health, they must always be cared for properly so that they can have a good quality of life. In this case, these dogs have a life expectancy that is between 12 to 15 years of age; so some may call them long-lived, since there are some specimens that have managed to live a couple of years more. However, it is always important to carry out medical check-ups with the vet every 1 year approximately; in this way we will avoid inconveniences or diseases, or at least we can treat them in time.

Uses of the Maltese Bichon

The Maltese Bichon is a typical companion dog. It does not adapt well to somewhat chaotic, noisy homes or even those homes in which there is not a family member always present in it. The preference of these dogs is to live in harmonious, orderly environments and of course, in those where there is always someone to keep them company.