dirthappy....you put the smile on my face on a day that I am pretty down. Reading your post was like a joyful flashback. Our boy used to do the same thing, the howl...as your Cody does when he is excited. We used to crack up at it. Thanks for reminding me~

Moonie- I've groomed all age stages of maltese and the vast majority have been horrible for grooming. They get worse and more aggressive with their age. When I get a pup for it's first grooming, it is a great opportunity to get them started on the right foot (or paw). All of the bites I have received have been from small breeds, my most frequent biters are maltese and shih tzus.
As far as grooming yourself, I encourage it! I have shown people how to groom their own pets. I usually go to their home with my supplies and give step by step instructions and tips. We also discuss supplies to use and where to buy them. I do one and you do one kind of method. I normally only do this twice for each client and they have the hang of it. They always get better with practice, so the first few clips are not the prettiest. I think you could do it and I would be more than happy to answer any ?'s you might have.
I used to live in NC but I'm in TN now. I charge $45 for small breeds and if they are full coated (to the floor, high maintenance coat) I charge $80. I am also located in the richest part of a major city and actually have the lowest prices. I used to work in the country and charged $28 for small breeds.

Groomingal,
I think you're rates a very reasonable. I usually pay 60-80. It depends on how much he has done. The "works" is the most expensive but he doesn't always need it done.
Moonie, I'm curious why your husband wants a Maltese? I fell in love with them from the dog shows I watch. I wanted one of those beautiful coated dogs for a long time. In reality, I don't have the time required to keep him in a long coat. He's all boy and one trip to the garage with Dad and he'd be a mess. He also loves to ride in the wheelbarrow and garden tractor cart when we work outside. Not a good idea for a long white coat.

I don't know anything about Malteses other than I've been watching Cesar Milan a lot lately and have seen at least six Malteses that were biters and hated grooming. They all had bad tear stains too. I was surprised that there were so many of the breed in the twenty or so shows I watched. None of them looked like the darling/gorgeous ones on the dog shows.

His cure was to treat them like a dog, not a baby.

To provide daily walks and to insist that the people were the pack leaders.

I'm the one who started the grooming problems that a maltese could have but I caused my dog's problems because I wasn't doing daily grooming. I could easily have given him a short cut and solved any of these problems. Maltese are the only breed I'll ever own. Fezzy is our second maltese. They are extremely sweet dogs and the perfect lap dog. When on the couch, mine loves to also sit by your neck, just like having one of those neck pillows. We got Fezzy at 8 weeks and he was extremely easy to train. He is a bit yappy now and then but a shock collar broke him of the habit and we now hardly ever put it on him.

I would just say that I wouldn't not get a maltese if the grooming is what is stopping you. On the bright side, they don't shed and so that helps a lot with vacuuming.

Dirthappy- I do cover pretty much everything. Now I do have some that get hot oil treatments and nails painted- I do charge an extra $5 for each service. I'll brush teeth for free as long as you provide the supplies, if not I charge what the clinics retail on the products are. I'm not trying to price gouge anyone- it will only discourage them from getting their pet groomed.

Marie26- I'm so proud of you! Keep up the good work with your furbaby!!

Patches-02 - You are very lucky to have had such an easy time with your furbabies. They are hard to housebreak, I have had so many people that have come to places I have worked asking how to housebreak and how long does it take. They are also easily given up on by owners because of this reason. This is how I obtained one of mine a few months ago. Neither of my girls are 100% trained.
The groomer that you use must be extremely busy, but the fact you said she has 300 clients and only works part time seems farfetched.
All that aside, I have worked for groomers and spoken with other groomers that refuse shih tzus at their groom shops. The vast majority of the ones I have groomed are bad. They cause me to spend more time and in return I end up losing money by working on a bad dog. Poodles can be time consuming depending on the clip. I only do basic clean feet, clean face, topknot, paint nails if wanted, and body length to customer request. Anything else, they can find another groomer. Once again these can cost a groomer, I can do more dogs with less demand, make more money, and keep more clients happy or I can make one client happy, spend more time, and take home less money. This may explain why you're groomer has so many available of these breeds to groom.

Moonie I would also like to know-why does your husband want a maltese? Maltese are on the other end of the spectrum of a golden. See if you can google or search a pro and con for the breed. I have to give you credit though for trying to find out about them before buying a breed! So many people buy unknowingly and it can turn into a disaster. If I find any sites I will link them on here for you.

A good breeder is going to give you both the good points and the bad of any breed. If they only give you pluses with none of the negative aspects then look elsewhere. Has your husband had breeds other that Retrievers or has he always had Retriever type dogs. Breeds from the same or a similar group tend to have similar personalities, learning rates etc and after living with a particular breed or group of breeds you may find that something different is really just not for you. There's just something that doesn't fit right. For example Labs or Goldens either are really nice dogs in the right household. My house is not one of them. They just don't do it for me and I know that I would never really be happy with one. Give me a Dobe,Chow or Akita any day plus a few of the terriers and I'm happy as can be. Those are the personalities that mesh with me. I couldn't for the life of me tell you how I ended up with the Greyhounds. Sweetest dogs on the face of the earth the hounds were, and in the right home great but again not really what I was looking for in a dog personally, at least not in this stage of life. And then again there are plenty of folks who can have a huge variety of dogs pure and mixed and be just as happy with one as another. The main thing is to really know what you need and not get snowballed into a pup that isn't going to work in your situation by doing exactly what you are. Asking questions and learning about the breed before you jump into something.

dobesrule - I see so many people with smaller dogs treating them like children, or thinking it's funny when a little itty bitty guy acts so big and bad. My BIL has always done that with their small dogs, yet the dogs will get in trouble when they act aggressive when they aren't supposed to. It annoys me. Also, so you're saying a full coat is probably too difficult to maintain, even with proper grooming? I'm not against the shorter cut and sure, that would be much easier.

groomingal - just may take you up on that offer to answer questions if and when the time comes. I've been reading up on the grooming and it seems like alot of work but I love messing around with my pets so it's not that I am against going to a groomer, it's just that it's my kinda thing to do... I think! :)

Honestly, I can't say why husband wants a Maltese. I haven't actually voiced that exact question although we have discussed the difference in that breed compared to goldens. But, he's one to ponder and ponder over something before stating his opinion so I do know he's given it some thought and has done some research.

What I do know is that in the long run, this will be my responsibility... always turns out that way... so my feelings on the subject are the only ones that will count in the end. *heh* But, if a Maltese is something I decide will fit in here, then I'm glad to indulge hubby. :)

Okay, okay grommingal please do not be angry about this:) but I have to stand up for the Shih Tzu (my breed of choice) I got my first one (a male) at 6 weeks of age, he was housebroken by 8 weeks (but is was September, warm enough to let him go outside) I started to groom him as soon as his hair began to grow, and his is so good about it!
okay the downside, he does matt, and the more he itches, the more he matts (same with the maltese breed)
However, if I would keep him shaved, he would never matt, but as he is a skinny Shih Tzu (9 lbs, and he is not a imperial) I don't want him to be cold.
My mother also has a Shih Tzu, she is a very healthy weight (14 lbs) she keeps her shaved (except face and tail) and she looks good her face almost looks like a flower.
as for the Maltese, I really love those little buggers, my neighbor has one, it has been 3 years and honestly, she is still not fully housebroken.
I have had female Shih Tzus that I could not housebreak, but I got them when they were all older, my mother has no troubles with hers, so I don't know why I couldn't get mine broke, all I could think was the people that had them before did not make a effort to get them housebroken.
poodles are excellent companions as well, but as my husband owned one I can attest to the fact that they have their share of behavior issues as well.

No a fuller coat would not be easier to maintain, but if you are willing to brush it at least once a day, and have it to the groomer often you can obtain the beautiful full length coat they sport.

just as a interesting fact did you know that the Shih Tzus hair is like human hair and never stops growing? Don't know if this is true of the Maltese but anyhoo.......

My cousin has one and I am not a fan of Maltese. As a matter of fact, the dog just bit his 3 year old daughter right in the belly. This dog can be nippy, is extremely hyper and it is already 7 years old. Also, it can no longer go all day without a potty break -- it is locked up and pees on pads. The worse part is the barking -- it barks at everything and everyone (and of course jumps all over you when you walk in the door). Also, it is not a "lap dog" as you would expect it to be.

Now another family has a maltese/bichon mix -- LOVE that dog. He is so loving and want nothing more then to sit on the couch with his head on your lap.

If you have second thoughts about Maltese, look into Bichons -- they also don't shed but are a little bigger of course.

Reading these posts makes me wonder... If some dogs of a breed are a pain, it doesn't mean all dogs of that breed are. I think there are so many factors to consider once you're past the big dog to the lap dog decision of which breed to get. My first maltese wasn't yappy at all. This one can be but when it gets out of control I'll use the shock collar for a short time and he understands that I will not accept his yapping. The only time my maltese ever came close to wanting to nip me was the first time I tried to demat him. He didn't break my skin. He seemed to know how hard to go to get his point across. He hasn't done this since because he now knows I won't accept that behavior. And when my 4-year-old gdd was visiting and driving the poor dog crazy, I scolded her. The dog never tried to get back at her; he just tried to get away.

What I'm trying to say is that isn't each dog an individual and there are bad apples as well as those who are the perfect pets?

I don't think there are bad apples...........just bad owners, or I should say uneducated owners!

I have to ask................when you said you scolder her..........did you scold your gdd or the dog? The gdd is who was out of order! :)

Micke! Hey good to hear from your! Oh yeah i'm ticked :) Not really. I agree that they can be the right dog for some people. I have seen firsthand so many issues they can have. I love my girls dearly, no matter how many bloody urine samples they give, piddle spots in the floor, the poo one of them eats, the endless grooming I give them, I would never trade them for anything. Having said that, I will never own another one.
Here are my girls, Paisley and Lucy. Paisley is in the pink sweater and Lucy is the buff and white.

Here is a link that might be useful:

Groomingal they are adorable. I'd love a shih tzu but my husband won't allow it. A friend of his has had one for over 3 years and it still isn't housebroke. Personally, I blame the owner not the dog. She dogsat for us when we went on a cruise last Jan. We went to pick him up and My dog was in a diaper as well as hers. She says she uses them all the time. Well, good for her but my dog is housebroken. How humiliated he must have felt.
But anyway, her dog turned my husband against the breed.

annz, of course I scolded my gdd and not the dog. I didn't mean to sound so strong when I said bad apple. What I meant was that aren't there some dogs within a certain breed that have traits not indicative of the whole breed?

Dirthappy thank you! Yeah my husband tells me how much he can't stand the girls, but I catch him snuggling and being sweet with them. Don't blame the owner, trust me she isn't the only one. I myself have the same problems and have been consistent since day one with both girls. Blame her for diapering your dog though, poor thing. I put a diaper on Lucy sometimes, like when I get everything perfect for company. It seems to help her need to randomly piddle and poo. I just took Lucy in a few months ago from owners that couldn't housebreak her. I've had Paisley since six weeks old and she isn't 100%, she has an accident every now and again. It took her up to the last 6 months to make that much progress.

It just depends on your lifestyle and how much time you are willing to put into the coat. At one time I had seven Chows and six Pekes and they were all in full coat. It's just a tremendous amount of work.

Lisa

Lisa,
do you think that experience has anything to do with "dobes rule?" Ha Ha! ;-)

Hey Nancy,The Pekes were inherited from my DH's Dad when he became ill and couldn't care for them any longer. Not a breed I would have chosen personally but in their own ways were nifty little characters. Still miss them but wouldn't be interested in another. Didn't really mind the coats tho. I still have one Chow and she is still a hairball. Obviously it's just me but I guess I just believe that if a dog grows hair it should keep it. I just prefer hairy dogs for some reason, a gluten for punishment I guess.
I worked with a man that had Dobes for several years and he had tried to convince me that there was no other breed for most of those years. I had always kind of liked them but never really considered one until this lady came into work with a Dobe and for some reason then I just HAD to have one. Come to find out Jon had been right all those years, there's nothing like a Dobe. The breeds intelligence is just what floors me about them. Buttons loved a little frozen treat called Frosty Paws, don't know if you are familiar with them or not but they come packaged in little single serve dishes. About once a week she took one to bed with her. There was still a container laying in the bedroom floor one night when she picked it up and carried to the fridge. Dropped it then stood looking up at the freezer barking. She wanted another one. I think thats when I knew for sure that I might have other dogs but there would always have to be a Dobe in my life.

Lisa

Marie26 said: "What I'm trying to say is that isn't each dog an individual and there are bad apples as well as those who are the perfect pets?"

I think that there are always individuals who are exceptions, but when you choose a breed and look at their typical characteristics and tendencies you can get a pretty good idea of what you'll probably get if you choose that breed. Also, the pet that's the bane of one person's existence could be the perfect pet to someone else depending on what they're each looking for.

groomingal, I agree with you that the owner shouldn't necessarily be blamed with the housebreaking issues. I think with some toys especially, the capacity to learn that behavior just isn't there.

I've owned and housebroken many dogs in my lifetime and I know all the right things to do. I'm also home all day, but my toy fox terrier just won't become reliable. I've researched the internet trying to find any clues for something new to try, but never find anything I haven't already done. I put her in diapers as a last resort because I couldn't take the mess anymore and she wasn't getting better.

I know she can hold it for a long time, because I travel with her and she doesn't like to go in unfamiliar places. I end up walking her constantly trying to get her to go. But at home, the minute she has to go she'll just do it even though she gets out at least every two hours. She'll even run around the house playing with pee or poop in her diaper without caring at all. I've never seen anything like it. I've had her since she was nine weeks, she's crate trained, I kept her under supervision constantly until I gave up and went to diapers, and I still go out and praise her when she goes outside. What more can you do than that?

groominggal, my mothers (Gidget) looked just like Paisley, and mine (Gizmo)looks just like Lucy, but with a darker gold color (actually if he was shaved he would look just like her I am thinking, but he is considered a white and gold) that is the exact shave my mother uses on hers. I have had no health issues with mine other then the fact that he won't put on any weight, vets are no help, they say he is this side of skinny, but that he is fine (had one run all sorts of tests)
I free feed him as well, but he gets bored very quickly so I have to keep changing the food or he won't eat as often.
He has never had a accident in the house, wonder if it is just the females, LOL!!!
micke

Yes, there are differences within certain breeds regarding personality traits but I can't stress enough the importance of buying a pure-bred dog from an ethical, reputable breeder. The dogs that come from backyard breeders or pet shops (puppy mill animals) usually do not meet the breed standards in looks or temperament and they usually have health issues. I can only liken it to a home appliance like a stove....do you buy the cheaper, plain version from a sales person who knows nothing about it or the one that looks good and has many features and comes with a guarantee from a person who is knowledgeable about it. For good info about Maltese and breeders go to the American Maltese Association website.

All breeds are wonderful....all dogs are wonderful. You just have to find the one that best suits your life and personality.

Jan

shell8 - female vs male.. thought it would be the other way around. I've always preferred males to females for the most part. You said yours had a full coat so how much of a problem with matting did you have even when groomed on a daily basis? And thanks.. you haven't discouraged me... yet. :)

MOONIE: It has just been my experience but I do prefer females, however all were easy to train for me. I like the bond better with females tho. As long as you faithfully comb the coat everyday you shouldnt have a problem with the upkeep. You may still get new "tiny" ones everyday but they are easier to get thru than if they arent addressed daily. Their coats were beautiful but after time not only is it alot of work but I do feel the dogs get less tolerant of the time it takes; you know as they age. As someone else mentioned before grooming while watching tv at night is a nice way to do it...my pup seems good with it too...I put her on my lap and do one side then switch to the other side. HTH's. I really do love the breed and it is also one of my DH fav breeds; he never thought of himself with a toy dog before we got ours and now he wont be without one.

I'm getting ready to catch a plane so this will be short.

I LOVE MALTESE! I have had four Maltese since 1988. My first two died of old age, losing my male last August at age 17. I currently have two 3-year old Maltese siblings, a brother and sister.

All four have had different personalities, but all four have been equally loving. They have always been with other dogs; currently we also have two yellow labs and a 13-year old Golden. They all have lived with our 13-year old Golden, and they all get along and play. It's funny to watch the little Maltese play with 100 pound labs and a Golden, but they do great. When we had our first two, we also had two Dobermans.

Lots of grooming yes, but lots of loving even more. I just can't begin to tell you the joy that they have brought us over the years.

And our two little granddaughters, 7 & 5 1/2, have so much fun playing with them when they visit. And my niece dresses them up and puts bows in their hair. And my DH is 6'2" with a big beard who looks like he wouldn't go around holding and loving a Maltese, but he does!

However, I did a lot of research on them before I bought them to make sure that they would be a compliment to our household, and they have been!

I have always had goldens. Our last passed away almost 2 years ago. My GF has a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel? Small dog and I swear it has the same temperment as a golden. This will probably be my next choice if we get another dog.
Will your DH be doing the grooming?

We've discussed alot over the weekend about a new puppy and we -may- have come to the conclusion that a toy breed is not for us. There's more to research so, we'll see.

bluesbarby - believe I'll google that particular spaniel.

ltcollines - do you work? If so, how long are your pets home alone? just another theory I'm exploring. Thanks.

oh yeah bluesbarby - *laughing hysterically* no, DH won't be doing the grooming.

bluesbarby - what about the housebreaking situation with a CKCS? This is one of my concerns with any breed. *still chuckling from the question* I did a little googling but tell me more about your GF's dog, please!

((and I apologize for laughing, but all those types of responsibilities fall on me. :)

Those are EXCELLENT dogs (CKCS) they are alot like the Cocker Spaniel, they are so lovey and sweet.
don't know about the housebreaking, but I hear they are extremely smart, one of my friends had one, she had it in the house and I never heard anything about difficulties in that area, and her dog was not hyper or a barker either.

DH fell in love when he saw his first CKCS in a lady's cart at Home Depot. He already was quite attracted to them through seeing them on the Westminster Kennel Club show every February. This weekend I found the CKCS rescue site and he completed the application. We don't "need" a new dog right now, the two boy dogs are getting along fine. But whenever one comes available and he is offered one, you can bet he'll be ready! He even said he wants to attend the Detroit dog show in March. It is a benched show, so you can talk to the breeders and see the dogs up close.

What makes me laugh about posting this is that my husband IS half Maltese - or Maltasian, or whatever you call someone from the island nation. His dad emmigrated as a boy.

Cavaliers are sweet dogs. A co-worker has one that I just love to pieces. I found out from her tho that they do have a lot of health problems in the breed including some type of heart problem but I don't know if it's the same as the cardiomyopathy that Dobes get or not. Murphy is a little vocal at times but he's not obnoxious about it at all.

Lisa

Mitral Valve Disease... and just when I believe I have found yet another breed to research! This sounds like too serious a deal for me to even consider. 50% of all 5 y/o, and 98% of all 10 y/o! 20 times more prone to MVD than other breeds.

The Cavalier Health Foundation has created an open heart registry where dogs are certified by vet cardiologists and deemed "heart clear" before breeding. Their first goal is to RAISE THE AGE OF ONSET OF MVD, so clearly this is a huge problem that I'm not willing to chance. Maybe in years to come good breeding will have a drastic reduction in MVD.

*hehe* that's cute.. Nancy in Mich is married to a Maltese. :)

Isn't it awful what Puppy Mills and Backyard Breeders have done to animals by breeding without respect for health?

So many dogs have severe health problems because they became popular etc. Really really sad.

I'm sure 100% not linked to mills and BYB but I bet it is at least 80%

buyorsell888 - I don't believe these health problems can be contributed to puppy mills or backyard breeders. It would be a much more easily addressed problem within the breed if that were the case.

But I am concerned about popular breeds because of that very reason. Sometimes, just for fun, I'll search the internet for puppies, then become disheartened that these breeders have so many different breeds up for sale. I've become very scared of puppy hunting... so scared, in fact, that I may end up not getting another dog at all. Sheesh! Somebody just dump a dog on me, please!

Just playin' :)

Wow that's even scarier than cardio. I think they estimate that about 70% of Dobes may be affected.

Lisa

I don't buy popular breeds anymore due to a sad experience with my pug, whose health begin to fail at nine and a half and who had to be put down at eleven due to congestive heart failure.

There are still breeds that are relatively healthy and it is my first consideration when choosing a new dog. I have a good book of dog breeds called Harper's Illustrated Handbook of Dogs that tells you what each breed is prone to and which have no specific health issues common to them. It also covers breed standards, temperament, grooming and exercise needs, and what type of home it's best suited for.

I use it first, to narrow down my choices and then do additional research on the net for the ones I'm considering. There are lots of new breeds and lesser known breeds that are good choices, but people don't realize they exist.

hi Micke- how funny we have matching shih tzus! Paisley used to be full coated. She likes her hair cut short much better, but i miss her pigtails. I'm trying to get their ears long enough to braid. Lucy had weight issues when I took her in, I put her on Nutro and she has gained 2lbs in the last couple of months. Some shihs are skinny and i've seen some be large and around 25 lbs. I'm thinking it might be a female thing, ugh, it's so frustrating.

Moonie57-CKCS are great, I just groomed 3 this past week. All of them have heart conditions. 2 are brother and sister and around 7 years old. The other is no relation and is 5 years old. I'm glad you are checking out everything about the breeds you are interested in. I told everyone at work your situation and we have all been racking our brains trying to think of a great breed. Well no luck yet, we're trying to weigh out health problems, temperment, and grooming. We're still thinking though, i'll keep you updated!

groomingal - Thanks for giving this thought, and bringing your peeps at work into it! And how sad for the CKCS breed. Let's hope for better in the future. They are such cuties! How are they on the grooming side?

On the shih tzu... i've seen so many skinny ones. Is this genetic, you think? Wish I had some shih in me. :)

deb18 - I'm considering getting that book but it's so helpful to hear from people that actually have hands-on experience with their breed of choice.

Moonie- too funny! I wish I was full of shih! I think it is genetics when they are skinny (unless they have a health condition), i've seen shih tzus in all sizes, from 5 lbs to 25lbs. CKCS have so much expression in their eyes and so adorable. Hopefully some research will bring up a resolve to the heart condition or what makes them prone to heart problems.
They are fantastic for grooming. All of the ones I have get shaved down to 1/4", one owner leaves the paw hair long (i call them grinch feet) and the other two get the paws trimmed. I don't have many that I groom, maybe 6 total. All of them are very well behaved. We'll keep working on something for you! Have a lovely day!

*hehehe*

Thanks, groomingal!

My moms female Shih Tzu is pretty hefty, she picks up weight easy, especially since my moms other dog (can't remember the breed, some sort of wire haired Jack russel) takes her treats and hides them, then prissy goes and finds them:)
Gizmo has always been this way, thought he would pick up weight when he was neutered, but nope, mom says she thinks he keeps it nerved off, he is pretty high strung for a Shih Tzu, he worries over his toy basket all the time, he doesn't want anyone touching them, then if any other animals come into the yard he thinks it is his job to keep them out (including squirrls and birds, thats a tough one around here) I am so glad you said you have seen other skinny Shih Tzus, he is the only one I have seen like this.

Ok, I know these are designer dogs but what about a Cavachon - a mix between a cavalier and bichon? Or whatever it's called. Maybe they're healthier? My GF has never mentioned any health problems with her cavalier.
If I had listened to the naysayers when we got our goldens (who have a tendency to skin problems and hip problems)I might never have had a dog.

I would not use the basis of a designer dog being healthier. You don't eliminate the health problem, it may or may not be reduced or it may or may not be increased. So you take a cavalier that is prone to heart conditions and breed it with a bichon that is prone to skin conditions. Eventually you end up with a great dog or a dog with a failing heart and no hair.
Remember, buying "designer dogs" only encourages poor breeding at ridiculous prices.
It also goes to say that a purebred CKCS may or may not have problems just like bluesbarby with the GF that doesn't have problems. If this is a potential breed you want to purchase, I would ask your vet about them and find a reputable breeder.
Bluesbarby- I used to have 2 goldens growing up and they never had medical problems. They were great and would consider another one day!

moonie_57

I've been gone, so I'm just now answering your question about working. When I got my first Maltese in 1988, I was working. She was so little that I just put her kennel in a small room, a bathroom works well, and then put a puppy gate across the door. She did find. I did train her to use "piddle pads" because I didn't want to take her outside late at night since I lived near downtown Houston. My next Maltese used the pads too.

Today I do not work, but I do lots of volunteering here in our community. My Maltese that I have now, will use the pads only if I don't let them out. Like today when it is cold and rainy.

I give them all baths, but about once a month, I take them in for professional grooming because I don't like to do the ears, footpads, anal glands, toenails.

Like I mentioned above, read up on them and see if they meet your criteria for living in your household. Also find you a reputable breeder. And there are some Maltese rescue websites where the dogs are older and just need a good home for various reasons.

Like I said I LOVE MALTESE!

ltcollins - At this point we have ruled out a maltese for the most part. We still talk about it, hoping that there's some unknown reason that we -must- have one in our home. All in all, we just don't think it would be a good fit. It could be that we are strictly Golden people. In time, we'll see. :)

moonie,

Like you and your DH I've been researching all breeds, including mixes, the past week. The two small breeds that I found would match our lifestyle were the Papillon and the Tibetan Spaniel. ...........both can be found thru rescue.
The only fault I found with them thru all my research is their typical 'independent/stubborn' trait when it comes to training. My last two dogs were small......and my dog prior to them was a ShepherdX.. I loved my small dogs (2 poodle mixes), but I've always missed the ShepX and her personality.

I've really tried to be honest with myself on selecting my next (rescue) dog and concluded that I need/want a dog I can train, one that I can walk off leash on our acreage, and one that will come to me when I call.
Still on the fence as to whether I'm willing to go thru the puppy stage! ;)

I'm heading out tomorrow to check out a 1 yr old Shepherd/cattle dog mix..........less than 30 lbs.

A recommended book is "paws to consider" which goes over pros and cons of the various popular dog breeds. The maltese is covered. I recommend this book to everyone looking for a dog.

They are generally very hard to train, especially in the area of potty training. Granted, most people I've known who own Malteses are not good trainers, but I think it would take a REALLY good trainer to handle them. They are also high strung but the training is the real issue IMO. Especially if you are used to good natured Goldens, I think it would be a tough transition.

I have had Poodles and mutts. All are wonderful. Small dogs are really good for cuddling. I hate the expense and logistics of having to groom so I now only want short-haired dogs. I think Maltese are wonderful...except for the grooming thing. It's a lifetime commitment and is hard on an older dog with arthritis. Mine could hardly walk after grooming.

Hi,
just thought I'd share my story real quick. A year ago my family wanted a small toy dog. My sister, who was 15 at the time, was having back surgery and my parents finally allowed us to get one. Well, my sis researched all the breeds and it came down to the Bichon Frise and maltese . We ended up getting a male maltese. The lady told us Males are more loving and females are more independent.
My dad didn't want one at first, he could care less. He was a big-dog-type of guy (We purchased 3 labs within 1 year of each other-all colors)
But now he loves him just as much as the other dogs. Although everyone says he's mom's dog bc he follows her EVERYWHERE! They have a really strong bond.
Anyway, at first, he'd bite a little. Usually our pant legs and he wouldn't let go. But I think that was just his puppy stage bc now he will only lick us to death. Seriously, he is too happy all the time.
We give him a puppy cut every month and the only big issue was tear stains but we bought some stuff for that. Potty training wasn't bad either. Although occasionally there are times when he lets one out. lol (It's not bad though compared to labs!)
Overall I'm happy with our family maltese. I am planning on getting one someday myself and I can't wait. Here's a link to a youtube video of 10 reasons to love a maltese. This describes how I feel about my dog but I don't know how to post videos. :()

Here is a link that might be useful: 10 reasons