Live Abundantly with Forever Green

Small dogs? -- Maltese? (this is not a recipe! ;)

hi Aimee,

Chris and I are thinking about getting a small dog, and we were considering finding a Maltese. Being the animal expert that you are, I wanted to ask what you know about them.

I've heard good things about their temperment, playfulness and intelligence, but am concerned about "accidents" in the house (my cat had issues with finding her litter box, so I'm a little tired of this sort of problem at the moment ;).

Anyway, I'd be interested to hear what you, or anyone else, thinks. And if there are any other small dogs you would recommend. Our main requirement is that they be small enough to take with us on a plane when we travel.

Oh, and where to find them... we've looked at www.petfinder.com
is there anywhere else you reccomend?

thanks,
:) toni

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Permalink Reply by Aimee Accinno on September 23, 2007 at 11:57am: Hi Toni,
Maltese dogs make terrific companion animals, and their size makes them a good choice for travelling and apartment living.

Pros:
They have minimal shedding, get along with cats (if you ever decide to get another one), are good for people with allergies, typically weight between 6 and 10 pounds and live on average between 13-15 years. They are very intelligent, playful and loving animals.

Cons:
Due to their beautiful long coats, they require a lot of grooming, so regular trips to the groomers will be in order. They are very social dogs, so they can experience separation anxiety if left alone all day. They may bark if they get lonely or bored. If you will be away from home for a long period of time, you can always hire a pet sitter to come by and play with or walk your dog. If they aren't housebroken at an early age, they can be prone to accidents in the house. However, they can be trained to use Wee Wee Pads or a cool invention called the PuppyPark Potty. It's a litter box for dogs, which feels like grass to them, so they're more likely to use it than the floor or rug! : )

Other small dog breeds that I'd recommend include: Havanese, Shih Tzu, English Toy Spaniel, Japanese Chin, Toy Fox Terrier, Papillion, Brussels Griffon, Chihuahua and Pug. All of these dogs are lightweight, require minimal training and do well in small spaces.

Here's a helpful link to check out when you're ready to travel: http://www.bringfido.com/airpolicies.htm
It's a quick overview of some airlines' pet policies. Most do not have weight restrictions. They just require that the dog fit in a carrier that can be stored under the seat. Also, many charge a fee to bring the dog on the plane and they count the dog as one carryone piece of luggage.

As far as where else to find them, I am not a advocate of breeders, since there are so many homeless animals in shelters. Petfinder.com is the best place to look online. You can also call around to your local shelters and tell them what you are looking for. Most will put your name on a list and call you when they get a dog that matches what you want. Also, look online for various dog rescue associations. There's one for Maltese dogs right in NYC: http://www.malteserescue.com/ If you find one that's out of state, many rescues have volunteers who will drive the dog to where you are located.

That's all the info. I can think of right now. Let me know if you have any other questions!

-Aimee; ▶ Reply to This