Malchi

Characteristics

Health & Longevity

Average Life Span: 12-15 years
The Malchi is a hybrid breed that is a cross between the Maltese and Chihuahua. When looking at health problems in the breed, it is important to learn about health problems across both breeds, as the puppy can inherit diseases from either of their parents.

The major health concerns in the Malchi include hypoglycemia, patellar luxation, a collapsed trachea, hydrocephalus, and heart problems.

Hypoglycemia is a condition that can occur in your Malchi and is characterized by low blood sugar. When this occurs, your puppy may begin to have seizures, tremble, or lose some of their coordination. If your puppy does have hypoglycemia, he or she will need to be monitored regularly.

Patellar luxation is best known as a knee dislocation in your pup. This occurs if your puppy accidentally makes a misstep when walking or due to trauma. You often see knee dislocations happen more in females over males.

A collapsed trachea can block the air flow that your Malchi receives. You will know when your puppy’s trachea is collapsed because he or she will cough a lot, have a hoarseness in his or her voice and the cough may mimic a horn.

Hydrocephalus is a common condition that can occur in the Malchi, but it should not be taken lightly. This condition is best described as a buildup of fluid on the brain and can be the cause of seizures, behavioral issues, an enlarged head, and blindness.

Lastly, your Malchi may suffer from a heart condition that can stem from a number of different reasons. To ensure that this does not happen, you should monitor your puppy’s health with your veterinarian on a regular basis.

The Malchi’s life expectancy is 12 to 15 years.

Temperament & Train-ability

The Malchi may be a small dog in size, but when it comes to the love it has to give, there is no boundary. This little pup is affectionate and devoted to his or her family.

When it comes to children, this breed knows when to be gentle, but he or she may get a bit carried away, so it is important to train your puppy not to nip.

The Malchi is not a fan of strangers and you will know when he or she is not ready to back down because barking will take place.

This breed is called a designer dog for a reason and you can expect your Malchi to have a mind of its own and enough sass to go around. Don’t let the sass fool you though. This breed loves attention and will work hard to make sure that you are paying attention to only him or her.

The Malchi does make a good dog for apartment living, however still requires exercise, so you should take him or her on a walk for 30 minutes per day. You want to avoid leaving this breed alone in your home, as the Malchi has a bit of separation anxiety.

This dog is eager to please you as his or her owner, so your puppy will be easy to train. You should use consistent, but firm commands. When your Malchi does something correctly, make sure to use positive reinforcement. Your puppy will not respond to anger or aggression, so do not punish him or her and keep calm.

It is important that you socialize your Malchi early on otherwise, he or she may pick up bad habits such as destructive behavior, nipping, and growling.

Grooming

The Malchi has some moderate grooming requirements that you will need to pay attention to. If you have allergies, this is a great dog for you as this breed is considered hypoallergenic in most cases.

If you have a Malchi with short hair, you will not need to groom him or her as often as if they have long hair. You should brush the short hair two to three times per week to remove any loose hair and get out any tangles.

If your Malchi has long hair, you will need to visit the groomer to have the hair brushed and trimmed regularly. You should brush your long-haired Malchi daily.

Bathing is not a priority and should only be done when your puppy is messy or smells bad. You will find that short-haired Malchis need less baths than their long-haired sisters and brothers.

The last two things you need to do is clean your puppy’s ears once a week and trim their nails on a monthly basis or however often it is needed.

Diet

Your Malchi will need to eat anywhere from a half cup to one cup of food twice per day. You should feed him or her once in the morning and once at night. You want to choose a food that is high in protein and nutritious for your puppy.

It is best to avoid wet foods and foods that contain a lot of chemicals and by-products in them. If you need helping choosing the right dry dog food, speak with your veterinarian.
 

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Malchi Puppies For Sale

Adopt A Malchi

Cost

A Malchi puppy can cost anywhere between $300 and $1,100. The cost of the puppy will depend on the breeder and of course, the sex of the puppy. Working with a reputable breeder is important and keep in mind that just because the breeder charges a premium, that does not mean that the puppies are healthy.

In addition to the cost of the puppy itself, you will also need to pay for veterinary checkups, vaccines, food, and other puppy supplies. You can expect to spend an additional $600 to $2,000 annually on your new addition.

Paws ‘N’ Pups Ranking

Paws ‘N’ Pups ranks every breed out of 4 with 1 being easiest to integrate into your life and 4 being the toughest – The lower the ranking the better.

Ranking takes into account a few basic factors including cost, skill level needed, high vs low maintenance and how critical regular training is to success. The Malchi is a good pet for anyone who lives in an apartment. This breed does not require too much exercise, but it does require a lot of love and thrives on your attention. You want to make sure that you do not leave him or her home alone as separation anxiety is a problem. This breed ranks a 2.

 

Chihuahua

Maltese

Havanese

Yorkshire Terrier