Training | |
Sensitivity to strangers | |
Affection for family | |
Suitable for first-time owners | |
Ease of grooming | |
Energy level |
Contents
The Mal-shi is the perfect family dog, a little furry companion that besides being absolutely adorable is smart, lively, and cheerful.
This tiny teddy bear comes from the crossbreed of the Maltese and the Shih Tzu; we are talking about a designer dog or hybrid dog, which was created to be the most complete companion dog. The Mal-shi is truly adorable, beautiful, and has an excellent temperament.
One of its main characteristics is its ability to adapt to any place and situation; also it has a great relationship with other dogs and animals. It loves being the center of attention and receiving all the affection from its favorite human and family.
Mal-shi: Origins
This modern four-legged friend comes from Europe, although its exact place of birth is unknown. In the past, dogs were raised in order to perform useful work, such as hunting, herding, or guardian dogs. During the process of selection of the Mal-shi, two historical companion dogs were used.
As we mentioned before, this type of dog is known as a designer dog breed, this refers to the delicate process used to create a new dog breed.
Nowadays, there is a lot of controversy around these types of dogs that come from the crossbreed between two pre-existing dog breeds; but let’s remember that historically every pup comes from the same selection process to create breeds with certain specific characteristics useful for particular labors.
Mal-shi: Physical Characteristics
An adult Mal-shi can weigh around 6-17 lb (3-8 kg) and its height can be between 11-17 inches (30-45 cm), it has a compact and strong body structure and short extremities. Its head is similar to the Shih Tzu but slightly wider. The nose is small-sized, black-colored, and triangle-shaped.
The ears are furry and placed very high on its head. The eyes of this cute pup will make you fall in love instantly, they are dark-colored, rounded, and with an extremely sweet expression.
The most stunning characteristic of the Mal-shi is definitely its coat which is shiny, soft, and wavy, it is considered as part of the hypoallergenic dog’s group, and it does not shed hair. Also, we must highlight the fact that it can resist low temperatures because it has a double coat.
The colors of the Mal-shi can be:
- White
- Black
- Brown
- Bicolor or Tricolor
Mal-shi: Temperament
We can say the Mal-shi is a large dog inside a small body; it is not fearful with animals and people, in fact, it is very sociable. It is a docile and affectionate dog that loves to spend time with its family and enjoys every second it shares playing with its owner. We could say that it loves companionship more than anything in the World.
The Mal-shi has a lot of energy and it is always prepared to play, go for a walk or investigate a new place, it is a very curious animal. It forms a strong bond with its owner and is willing to defend him with the same strength of a large dog, or maybe that is what it thinks.
It is important to keep the Mal-shi busy because it can get bored easily and therefore make mischief to call for attention, so we recommend you buy a lot of toys. There are numerous types of toys you can buy for your dog pet, some of them are more interactive and defy its intelligence, this is beneficial to its mental development, and this kind of stimulus makes training a lot easier.
Mal-shi: Health and Feeding
It is important to mention that designer dog breeds have less chance to suffer from hereditary diseases thanks to the process of selection, so in general these dogs have good health. Despite this fact, you must always take your dog to get vaccinated and dewormed; regular visits to the veterinarian will keep you informed about the health condition of your pet.
Some common diseases related to the dog breeds involved in the crossbreed (Maltese and Shih Tzu) can be: patella luxation or respiratory problems.
Proper feeding is one of the main aspects to keep your fluffy friend healthy; a well-balanced and nutritious diet can prevent problems such as overweight and obesity. These conditions can be kept under control with regular exercise; take into account the Mal-shi is an active dog that needs to unwind, daily walks and playing will improve its mental and physical state.
Another significant factor is grooming its gorgeous hair, this little friend requires brushing at least 3 times a week, this will prevent entanglement and it will keep its hair dust and dirt free.
Mal-shi: Puppies
Every puppy is active, energetic and playful, but we can assure the Mal-shi is restless. During puppyhood it is extremely curious, adventurous, and reckless.
The Mal-shi is adaptable, affectionate and sociable with people and different animals, it is very important to socialize your dog during puppyhood. As a result, we will have a well-balanced and docile dog in adulthood.
Mal-shi: Price, Breeders, and Puppies for Sale
A Mal-shi puppy can cost around 800-1600 dollars, 700-1400 English pounds: a designer dog breed can cost as much as a purebred and officially recognized dog breed.
In this section you can find the best registered breeders in countries such as: the US, Canada and UK; but also Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Scotland, India and South Africa; where you can find all the information you need. It is important to purchase from a reliable breeder, to insure that your puppy has been:
- Raised to have good character and good health;
- Carefully selected (its parents were chosen without any genetic diseases);
- Properly socialized, so that it is not too aggressive or fearful;
- Vaccinated and well-cared for.
When you adopt a puppy, a reliable breeder provides you with an official veterinarian certificate, in which it is formally stipulated that the animal is in perfect health and dewormed.
Now that we have mentioned the most important aspects, you can go to your new four-legged friend, who is certainly waiting for you.