7 things to consider before getting a Malt-Tzu
So, is the Maltese Shih Tzu a stable mix or is this one of those crossbreeds that can look vastly different depending on which parent they take on? Despite having one European and one Asian parent, the Malt-Tzu’s look and features are actually quite consistent. It’s still a designer dog and not a purebred dog, of course, but that doesn’t matter much if you just want a healthy and fun family companion. Here’s exactly what you can expect from this breed:
Clubs Offering:
The breed standard for the Maltese sums it up: “The Maltese is a toy dog covered from head to foot with a mantle of long, silky, white hair.” But words cant really convey the flashy visual drama and glamour of a Maltese in full show coat.
When a stunningly groomed Maltese champion enters the show ring, it’s as if Angelina Jolie just stepped on to the red carpet at the Oscars. With a gleaming coat flowing behind him and a top knot held in place with a bedazzled clip, the Maltese seems to be floating on air.
But let’s step back from all the fawning for a minute. There’s another very appealing look for the ancient dog of Malta: The puppy cut. Despite the name, a dog of any age can sport this style. It basically just means a shorter coat, clipped to all one length.
So how does a Maltese owner figure out which way to go for her feisty little charmer? Well, for one thing, you don’t necessarily have to choose. If you give the longer coat a whirl and decide it’s not right for you—or your dog—clipping it down is a fairly simple matter. Here are just a few of the benefits of either style.
Physical Description
The Maltese has a long, straight, silky coat of pure white. The fur at their ears may have a light tan or yellow tint. They have no undercoat.
Maltese: Pros & Cons Of This Charming Little Companion
You might find it strange that some dogs with long, flowing coats like the Maltese and the Yorkshire barely shed, while other dogs with short coats seem to leave tufts of fur wherever they go.
The difference in shedding prowess is not the length of the coat, but whether a dog has a single or double coat.
A single-coated dog has a layer of fur that looks more like hair, while a double-coated dog has two layers; a top coat, and an undercoat. The top coat is sometimes called the guard hairs, and these coarse, tough hairs protect the undercoat from dust, burrs, and grime.
The undercoat is a softer, downy layer that provides insulation. The undercoat is usually shed twice a year, in conjunction with the seasons. Some dogs have denser undercoats than others, depending on their breed and purpose.
Dogs who were bred for cold climates, like Huskies and Samoyeds, have very thick double coats to keep them warm. In contrast, dogs with thinner single coats, like Greyhounds and Pit Bulls, don’t have much of an undercoat at all.
No matter what type of dog you have, though, it’s important to brush their fur regularly to prevent matting and tangles – especially during shedding season!
If you’ve ever wondered how to tell if a dog has a double coat, you’re in luck! In this blog post, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the difference between single and double coats, as well as how to tell the difference between the two.