Maltichon

Characteristics

Health & Longevity

Average Life Span: 12-15 years
The Maltichon is a hybrid breed that is a cross between the Maltese and the Bichon Frise. This designer pup has some significant health concerns to watch out for, especially if he or she was not bred properly. When it comes to the diseases your hybrid breed may have, it is important to look at both breeds of the parents, as your puppy can inherit any of the conditions.

Some of the major health concerns in a Maltichon include liver issues, patellar luxation, hyperglycemia, vaccination sensitivity, and a collapsed trachea.

Your Maltichon may have inherited liver problems from one of his or her parents. This condition is common to the Maltese and can lead to difficulties with the way the liver functions. The symptoms that are often exhibited with a liver condition are vomiting, lack of appetite, and diarrhea.

Patellar luxation is another common condition that may arise and is characterized by the dislocation of a knee cap. Your pup can do this accidentally by stepping incorrectly or other environmental factors. This is a painful condition and may cause weakness in the back limbs.

Hyperglycemia is when your Maltichon’s blood sugar is too high. This condition is often characterized by an increase in urination and an increase in thirst. The condition is diagnosed through a blood test at your vet’s office and can be managed effectively with the guidance of your veterinarian.

Vaccination sensitivity is not necessarily a major health concern, but it is something that you should be aware of. Many breeds are sensitive to medications and you may notice swelling and redness at the site of the injection. In rare cases, your puppy may experience an allergic reaction coupled with anaphylaxis.

Maltichon’s often suffer from a collapsed trachea and this is an airway obstruction. You can usually identify this because your puppy or dog will bark in bouts and you may even notice a honk in their voice when they bark.

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

Temperament & Train-ability

The Maltichon may be a tiny little dog, but it is one bundle of joy and owners will enjoy the love and affection this breed has to give.

The Maltichon loves to be the center of attention and will work hard to get your attention if it is somewhere else. You can expect your pup to jump into your lap, cuddle with you, or even bark until you acknowledge him or her.

This breed is known to have separation anxiety when you leave the home and can be destructive if he or she is left alone for too long.

The Maltichon has been said to have a clown-like personality and is excellent with children, as they keep each other entertained all day long.

This breed is considered moderately easy to train, and you should not expect it to take any longer than other breeds. The Maltichon likes to learn new tricks and strives to please his or her owner. You should not have any trouble getting your puppy to pick up a new command.

This breed loves to receive treats and praise; so positive reinforcement is the best method for training your Maltichon. It’s important to remember that your puppy will need some exercise and while good for apartment life, he or she needs a walk of 30 minutes or so per day.

Grooming

The Maltichon does require a bit more grooming than other similar breeds, so it is important to pay attention to his or her needs. It is recommended that you brush your Maltichon’s coat once per day to help minimize shedding.

You do not have to have a regular bath schedule however you should wash your Maltichon when he or she gets into something dirty or stinky.

It is also recommended that you trim your Maltichon’s nails once a month or whenever they grow too long. Long nails on your puppy can be painful and may split or break.

Diet

Your Maltichon will need 1/2 cup to 1 cup of food per day and this amount should be split into two meals, once in the morning and once at night. It is helpful to measure out your pet’s food to prevent overeating and obesity.

When choosing a food for your Maltichon, you should choose one that is made from high quality ingredients. Low quality ingredients will not provide your puppy with the nutrients that he or she needs and can simply lead to them gaining unnecessary weight.

Wet food is convenient, and you may be tempted to feed it to your Maltichon, but it is not a good idea. You can give them wet food as a treat, but if you rely on it heavily, it will not provide any nutrients for your pet and can lead to weight gain and sometimes gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea.
 

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Cost

A Maltichon puppy will cost you anywhere between $450 and $1,500. The price of the puppy in no way suggests that a more expensive puppy is healthier than puppies on the lower price end. You should work with a reputable breeder and inspect the puppies before you purchase one.

In addition to the cost of the puppy itself, you should also factor in about $350 to $600 for annual vet checkups and vaccines.

You may want to save additional money for your pet as well because you will need to purchase pet supplies, food, heartworm and flea medication, and other related products each year.

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 Maltichon is a great pet for apartment life that has a lot of energy, but not too energetic to where it is a problem. This breed is easy to train and your Maltichon will work hard to please you. This breed ranks a 2.

 

Maltese

Bichon Frise

Havanese

Yorkshire Terrier