By Teacup Maltese Dog is a delightful breed to consider adopting if you are looking to do so. They are a dream pet for anyone who does not want a large dog, since they usually weigh an astounding 4 pounds, which makes them similar in size to the Teacup Chihuahua. People have started to adopt or buy these dogs in more recent times. In particular, their playful nature makes them the ideal pet for many people.
What Is a Teacup Maltese Dog?
A Teacup Maltese dog is essentially considered to be the smaller type of Maltese dog. By mixing the breed with small Poodles along with Spaniels, the Teacup Maltese breed emerged.
In certain places such as America, the Maltese dog is not recognized as an individual breed.
If you have adopted or bought a Teacup Maltese in the United States of America, your dog will be labelled as a small Maltese dog by the competent authority.
The origins of the Teacup Maltese dog can be traced back to the country of Malta, from where the Maltese dog emerged. It is theorized that the Maltese dog was a descendant of the Swiss Spitz dogs. Some believe it may have descended from the Tibetan Terriers
The Teacup Maltese, as we know it today, was bred from the 17th and 18th centuries onwards.
What Is a Teacup Maltese Puppy?
It is honestly very difficult to differentiate between a Teacup Maltese puppy and a Teacup Maltese dog since the breed is anyway a very small-sized one. Very rarely do they grow much in size from their infancy to adulthood. Yet, this is also one of the reasons they attract many people to adopt them.
One may not want a dog who grows larger as they age, if you are such a person, the Teacup Maltese puppy is the perfect choice for you.
What Is a Teacup Maltese’s Lifespan?
A Teacup Maltese usually lives up to the age of 12 to 15 years.
Teacup Maltese Appearance
As we have mentioned earlier the Teacup Maltese dog is a very small specimen. Let us look at some more of its physical characteristics.
For a breed to be recognized as a ‘Teacup’ dog breed it should weigh less than 7 pounds and be shorter than 7 inches. Contrastingly, the Maltese Shih-Tzu is twice the size of such dog breeds.
A Teacup Maltese dog can reach a height of anywhere between 3 inches to 6 inches.
Dogs belonging to this breed can weigh up to 3 pounds to 5 pounds
Its little circular face and black-colored eyes make it easily recognizable to anyone.
They have one layer of coat, however, this singular layer is quite hefty.
The Teacup Maltese’s lack of an undercoat means that it is hypoallergenic. As a result, they are ideal pets for you if you have an allergy or multiple allergies.
Teacup Maltese dogs have white fur all over their body, any other color is not accepted by breeders.
6 Fun Facts About the Mini Maltese
Here are some fun facts that you should know about the Teacup Maltese and can share with others.
The breed has its origins in the ancient past. Evidence of its existence goes back to 500 BCE.
When it first began to be seen from the 19th century onwards in public spaces, it was referred to as the Lion Dog.
In the past, the Teacup Maltese was a breed associated with royalty. Queen Victoria’s mother supposedly had one as her pet.
A relation can be seen between Teacup Maltese dogs and the Bichon Frise breed.
Some references to the Teacup Maltese’s existence can also be seen perhaps in the writings of ancient philosophers such as Aristotle.
Due to their size and agility, Teacup Maltese dogs are used for competitive animal sports.
Teacup Maltese Personality and Temperament
Before you decide to adopt or buy a Teacup Maltese puppy/dog, you should familiarise yourself with their personality and temperament.
The loving and jolly character of Teacup Maltese puppies has been one of the reasons for their popularity.
Because of this they also loved to be pampered and embraced as much as they can by their caretakers.
If they are not provided love along with attention, the puppy may begin to feel unconfident in themselves.
You should not take their tiny bodies to mean that they are timid. If you adopt a dog belonging to this breed, you get a courageous little guardian as well.
Surprisingly, despite their small stature, Teacup Maltese can be loud. However, you can train them to reduce their voice when they bark, but in certain situations, they can resort to using their loud voice, irrespective of training
Caring for a Teacup Maltese Dog
Like any other dog breed, you should ensure that your Teacup Maltese dog or puppy receives the love and affection they deserve.
It could seem that Teacup Maltese need a lot of time, attention, and care, but in reality, it is very easy to take care of them.
You should keep a daily routine for your dog, which includes grooming them and feeding them a proper diet.
Unlike many other dog breeds, your Teacup Maltese does not need too much space for playtime and adventure. Having an interior area designated for them to freely play should be enough.
You must not be tempted to pick them up and carry them everywhere because of their adorableness. Teacup Maltese dogs need exercise, a lack of which could be detrimental to their health. They could get illnesses such as obesity or muscle atrophy.
An ideal routine for you and your dog would be to go on 2 walks a day, both of 15 minutes duration.
Another 15 minutes should be dedicated to playtime. Teacup Maltese usually prefer games that test their brain and wit.
How to Train a Teacup Maltese Dog
Training is the most important part when you just brought your Teacup Maltese dog home. With proper training, the rest of the journey can be smooth. Here are some tips on training your Teacup Maltese.
Use their need for validation when training your dog. By rewarding their good behavior with love and affection, and ignoring their misbehavior, you would be effectively training your pet.
Do not think of these dogs as just centerpieces for attraction to yourself and others. Nature has given them an effective brain, as their caretaker, you must ensure that it remains active.
While toys will keep them distracted during playtime, they would not like you not participating at all. Therefore, you should involve yourself as much as possible.
As a result of their small bladders, these dogs need to go to the toilet more quickly than other breeds. Toilet training must be done where a particular spot is demarcated for them whenever they have to do their business.
Buyer’s Guide for a Teacup Maltese Puppy
If you are considering buying a Teacup Maltese Puppy, we have a guide of pros and cons to help you make your decision.
Pros–
They will be after your validation, warmth, and kindness.
Teacup Maltese Puppies are compliant and will listen to your orders.
Their playful personality remains when they become older.
Space is not an issue for them, which also allows you to take them wherever you want.
Cons-
If not given enough incentive, they can be lazy, which may lead to obesity
While their craving for attention makes them lovely pets, the slightest lack of it could cause issues to their confidence. Thus, one has to tread carefully.
Too much love and attention can see them become spoilt
Summary
Teacup Maltese dogs can be amazing pets if you put in the correct effort and care towards them. These small and loveable puppies can bring much joy to your life. Living 12-15 years they can be a large part of your life, and you of theirs. Along with their loving nature, Teacup Maltese are also very smart. Another bonus is that they don’t shed much fur. Yes, they can cause some issues such as toilet accidents, but with the appropriate training and love, even these small hurdles can be overcome.
Adopting or buying a pet is equivalent to adding one more member to your family, before going ahead with your decision you must make sure you are ready to take this step.