* Do Maltese require alot of grooming? ***The Maltese coat is unique to the breed and their hair grows in much the same way as human hair. A quick brush through every other day will prevent mats and tangles if you are growing the coat long.  Once a week you should go through the coat in detail if you are growing it into the long, silky white coat that defines the Maltese beauty.  Many Maltese owners prefer to keep their Maltese in a shorter "puppy cut" which is also adorable.  Maltese do not shed or have a "doggy" odor. Maltese are small dogs so even thoroughly combing out a long full coat should not take more than 15 minutes if you give your Maltese a quick brush through every other day. * What is the difference between Full and Limited AKC registration? ***AKC stands for the American Kennel Club.  Full AKC registration means you are allowed to participate in all akc sanctioned events.  Full akc registration also means that future offspring produced can be registered with the AKC. Limited AKC registration means the puppy comes from fully registered, purebred parents and can be registered with the akc.  Limited registration does not allow for any off spring produced by "limited" akc registered dogs to be eligible for akc registration.  Limited participation will be allowed in some akc sanctioned events. * Is there a difference between temperament in males and females? ***All Maltese are loyal, affectionate and make excellent companions. There is not a clear difference based on gender alone. Maltese, just like people, are individuals and each one has it's own unique personality.  Some people have the mistaken perception that males are less affectionate and are more rambunctious....I have not found this to be true at all, in fact if anything my males are even more affectionate, and that is not to say females are less affectionate...as both are extremely loving, loyal and affectionate.  If you get your male neutered at about 5 months, before his hormones come in, he won't hike his leg either. * What is a Teacup Maltese? ***The word Teacup is just an adjective used to describe an extra small Maltese.....teacups are not a separate breed....they are all purebred, akc registered Maltese.  The original standard for Maltese was under 3 pounds....the current akc standard is under 7 pounds, with 4-6 pounds preferred, but overall quality is to be favored over size. * Are Teacups frail and sickly? *** Teacups are much smaller than the average Maltese you will see, but not sickly if they are cared for properly.  In any dog, in any size you can find sickly dogs due to bad breeding practices.  Teacups do need some special care as they are so small they can burn up their energy reserves quite quickly so you do have to watch for hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and make sure they eat frequently throughout the day.  I keep a product called Nutra Cal on hand at all times....it is a vitamin/mineral supplement in paste form that is used for show and working dogs and all dogs love it.  Teacups are placed carefully and explicit education is given to those considering a teacup to insure the health and safety of these extra small little blessings. You can read more about teacups on our info page and view pictures on the favorite's page. * What is Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar)? ***Hypoglycemia or low blood sugar can be caused by stress, improper diet, a missed meal, being chilled, or to much energy being used during the day, or playing to long at one time.  Puppies that are usually affected are the toy breeds between 6-12 weeks old.  The liver stores energy, but in a small puppy it cannot store enough for long periods, especially if additional stress factors are involved.  Signs of this can be as slight as a depressed attitude or as serious to finding your puppy in a coma.  Treatment can be as simple as giving a small amount of karo syrup to as extreme as dextrose solution by i.v. given by your veterinarian.  In teacups or tiny Maltese you should monitor the color of your dog's gums so you can tell if they are getting low blood sugar so you can treat it right away.  Repeated episodes of low blood sugar can lead to more serious complications.  Consult your veterinarian if you suspect low blood sugar in your Maltese. Healthy/normal gums are bright reddish/pink, like human gums....gums that are light pink, pale is a sure sign your puppy is low on blood sugar.  White gums are very dangerous and your Maltese needs immediate intervention to restore blood sugar levels, or he/she will die. * How long do Maltese live? *** The average lifespan is 10-14 years.  I have talked with people who have had a Maltese live 16 or 19 years.  Diet, exercise, rest, nutrition, teeth cleaning, and proper vaccinations and veterinarian care all play a key role in how long your Maltese will live. * Are Maltese good with Children or other pets? *** Yes, Maltese get along well with children, pets, and everyone.  The flipside is you have to watch children (especially young children) closely with a Maltese puppy or a Teacup as they can be injured by a child very easily, although un-intentional, it can traumatize your Maltese or injure him or her for life.  Introduce other pets with great supervision, cats have been known to "stalk" or have their "prey" instinct kick in and want to go after a small Maltese puppy or Teacup as if it were a mouse to kill.  I screen to find out about all pets and children, ages etc... in the potential home so we can both be alerted to any potential problems to insure my Maltese go to the safest homes possible. * Do you provide stud service? *** Angelic Maltese provides limited stud service on a case by case situation. For more information and to review the stud contract please contact us directly by email or phone. * Are Maltese easy to house train and obedience train? *** Yes, Maltese are easy to train, very intelligent, are eager to please and will train easily if you put the required time and consistent effort into doing it properly.  We provide information sheets with each puppy on all aspects of training and also highly recommend a formal puppy kindergarten or obedience class for you and your Maltese  to insure a happy relationship for both of you. * If I have a question can I call you or email you? *** We are always available to new friends who have adopted one of our puppies.  We love to help any way we can and like to be kept informed of what is going on in your lives.  We have some who email us weekly with updates, and some who update us via Christmas cards each year.  We welcome pictures and contact from you and actually prefer it!

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