Maltipu

History of the Maltipu breed

Everything is known about the origin of the Maltese-nothing. It is believed that British breeders were the first to cross maltese and poodles about 20 years ago, and the motives of the experiment have not yet been clarified. According to one version, this was done in order to get a non-shedding dog, which the most notorious allergy sufferers could afford. On the other – to bring out an ideal pet from the point of view of external and intellectual indicators, combining the charm of a lapdog and the ingenuity of a poodle.

Since the beginning of the 2000s, the maltese has already been bred in the USA with might and main. The cost of puppies was far from democratic, so the first clients of the kennels were media personalities and Hollywood celebrities who were eager to emphasize their own status with an exclusive doggie. As soon as photos of maltipu living in the apartments of Blake Lively, Rihanna and Jessica Simpson began to disperse on the network, the excitement around the breed reached its apogee. Soon the overseas mestizos had their own cynological organization dealing with the registration of animals (the American Club of Hybrid Dogs), as well as several fan clubs.

Among the domestic beau monde, the breed has been quoted since about 2010. So, for example, the ex-member of the once popular group "Hands up" Sergey Zhukov even tried to organize his own business for the import of maltipu puppies to Russia. The startup turned out to be unsuccessful, but the singer's baton was immediately intercepted by professional breeders, which not only fueled interest in animals, but also reduced their cost.

Like all designer dogs, Maltipu have never been considered by cynological associations as an independent breed. In particular, these charming mestizos still do not have their own standard of appearance and are unlikely to acquire it in the coming decades. Russian breeding specialists who identify animals with mongrels are also skeptical about maltipu: over-hyped, unreasonably expensive and of no practical value. Fans of the breed, of course, do not agree with this assessment, so they give their own arguments in its defense, the most significant of which remains the hypoallergenic coat of hybrids.

Video: Maltipu

Appearance of maltipu

No matter what the opponents of designer breeds say, the Maltese look as glamorous as ever. Moreover, these miniature fluffy "bear cubs" with cherry eyes and shaggy muzzles give the impression of soft toys that you want to squeeze in your arms. Affects the appearance of animals primarily origin. So, for example, F1 hybrids were and still are the biggest sympathizers – puppies born during a direct crossing of a toy poodle with a Maltese lapdog.

Mestizos of the second generation, bred by mating maltipu with his relative toy-poodle, get more external features of the second parent. In fact, they are easily confused with poodle puppies, which is often used by unscrupulous sellers who sell tiny poodles at the price of designer pets. The offspring of two maltypus (F2 hybrids) looks less colorful than F1 individuals, so the demand for them, as well as the price tag, is several times lower than for the first generation of dogs.

Dimensions

In theory, the correct half-breed Maltese and toy poodle can weigh both 2.5 kg and as much as 9 kg. Although in fact, the body weight of designer dogs usually ranges from 2.5-5 kg. The growth of an adult hybrid individual varies from 20 to 30 cm, which is due to the decorative "qualification" of the breed. Maltipu are not exactly handbag pets that you can put in a clutch and go to the club, but it is still relatively easy to carry them under your arm and hold them in your arms. By the way, the breeders obsessed with commercial benefits do not leave experiments on the extremalization of the exterior characteristics of the breed. As a result: mini-maltypu puppies, called "cup" in the USA, are often put up for sale.

Wool

According to the structure of the coat , the maltypus are divided into three types:

• individuals with smooth, silky hair are the most expensive kind, since such a dog is not demanding of care and does not fall off;
• curly maltipu – dogs that inherited the "fur coats" of the toy poodle. There is an order of magnitude more fuss with this variety, since curly strands are often confused, forming tangles;
• dogs with stiff wavy hair are the rarest, but unclaimed and cheap variety.

Color

Colors are another surprise waiting for the owner of the maltese, as the shades of the parents' wool are mixed in these elegant fuzzies in the most unexpected way. In particular, if we talk about monocras, the Maltese lapdog and poodle mestizos are silver, cream, peach, brown, blue, white and black. In addition, all the listed suits can also occur in combinations. As for the megapopular white and rare black colors, both of them will not be pure in this breed, but with a barely discernible undertone.

Photos of maltipu

Character of maltipu

In terms of intelligence, maltipu, of course, are not "Einsteins", but you can't call them silly jumpers either – the genes of the clever poodle make themselves felt. Smart and sociable, these funny "bears" love to be paid attention to, so squeeze the dogs in your arms, scratch their bellies or gently shake their ears – the maltese from such an expression of sympathy will be at the peak of bliss.

In general, half–breeds of lapdogs and poodles are non-confrontational and get-along pets, willingly sharing living space with other pets. They don't cause cats to have a heart attack and don't compete with other dogs for alpha status. At the same time, they get a little impudent on Maltipu Street and can go in search of trouble under the mood. For example, they can easily provoke a shepherd dog to an aggressive attack or bark a decorative dog shaking with fear and nervous tension.

At home, maltipu are such "curious barbarians" in dog form. Tracking all the movements of the owner around the apartment, annoying attempts to participate in any endeavors of the owner, whether it's cooking dinner or exercising on the treadmill, turn the maltese into companionable, but very loving pets who do not know how and do not want to dose their own feelings. Therefore, so that the dog does not "drown" someone in his gratitude, it is better to take it into the family, where the animal will have to distribute the positive charge among all the household members. As for emotionality and sociability, in this regard, the Maltese do not age. At the venerable age of 10, the dog will greet you at the door with the same enthusiasm as in his youth.

Education and training

Maltipu – dogs are not stupid and a little vain, so they easily master simple acrobatic tricks and are happy to demonstrate them to people. On the other hand, you need to find an approach to the breed (not to be confused with outright sycophancy). The half-breeds Maltese and toy poodle can't stand rudeness and commanding tone, it's also impossible to force them to do something against their will, so start working with the puppy from the day he appeared in your house.

Seasoned owners claim: the brain of a two-month-old maltypu is fully ready to start assimilating elementary educational material. But the animals whose upbringing and training were postponed to a later date are no longer so malleable and smart. Early socialization of the Maltese will also not hurt. The label "designer pet" should not turn dogs into recluses who have no idea what is happening outside the walls of the apartment. In other respects, the principle of training fluffy charms is similar to the method of training the same Maltese lapdogs. Captivate the maltese with a new, unusual activity for him, do not delay the lessons (5 minutes of exercises and then a break), desperately praise the dog for any, even the most insignificant achievements, or treat him with delicious.

How appropriate it is to teach maltype the basics of OKD, the owner will have to decide on his own. Nevertheless, knowledge of basic commands like "Fu!" and "To me!" will definitely not hurt the breed, since it is dangerous for any animal to pick up food left by someone unknown from the ground. As an alternative to the OKD, you can consider the Guided Urban Dog course. And do not be confused by the decorative and design status of the breed, because even it does not exempt the maltese from the need to obey human requirements.

Maintenance and care

Like any indoor pet, a maltipu should have its own place in the house. Usually the couch is installed in a secluded corner, away from windows and doors, because the breed is afraid of drafts. And of course, immediately after moving from the kennel, the dog must "acquire" material possessions like bowls for food and water, toys, a tray, as well as a leash and collar.

The complexity of caring for the maltese directly depends on the type of its coat. So, for example, the least problems are with individuals who have straight silky hair. Three combing sessions a week and your pet is Mr. Glamour. There is more fuss with curly "cubs". Firstly, they will have to be scratched daily. Secondly, even with the most careful study, the spring-like hairs of the mestizos strive to fall into tangles, which are not very pleasant to disassemble.

The maltese should be bathed about a couple of times a month. This will help to wash away not only dirt, but also dead wool, which the breed does not fall out on its own. Only consult the pet store beforehand about a suitable shampoo. An incorrectly selected remedy can worsen the structure of the hair of the maltype, as well as lead to serious problems like alopecia.

Washed wool is dried with a towel or a hairdryer in a gentle mode. Naturally dried maltypus do not look so neat and look more like mongrels than elite pets. As for haircuts, 2-3 times a year, half-breeds of lapdogs and poodles are supposed to be taken to a groomer to work on the image of the animal.

Most salons offer standard types of haircuts for the maltese: model (looks more spectacular on smooth-haired individuals), for a puppy and for a typewriter. Dogs with curly hair, in addition to a haircut, are "pinched" by removing the dead hair manually or with a trimming knife. The final stage of salon grooming is perfuming wool. No, the maltese do not smell like a dog at all, but the design status of the breed obliges it to all sorts of "bourgeois excesses". If your ward is not an Instagram star and not a regular of social events, you can limit yourself to a hygienic haircut, during which only the hair under the tail, between the fingers, in the ear funnels and on the muzzle is removed.

Cleaning the ears of the maltese is a mandatory item. Excess secretions and impurities accumulated in the funnel should be cleaned with a special lotion and a clean cloth. Many maltipu inherited from lapdogs eye souring and excessive lacrimation, therefore, for prevention in the morning, the mucous membrane of the eye should be wetted with a napkin soaked in ophthalmic lotion. However, such measures will not save from tear tracks, especially noticeable in white individuals. So if you are preparing your pet for a photo shoot, buy a lightening powder or conditioner at a pet store.

Maltipu does not have the healthiest teeth, which need systematic cleaning, otherwise unpleasant sores are provided for the animal. It is better to select a silicone nozzle for this procedure smaller, so that it enters the miniature mouth of the dog without any problems. And of course, we do not forget to accustom the animal to the process from the first months of life, so that later we do not arrange execution with desperate screams and whining.

Walking

Maltese needs daily emotional relaxation in the form of walking, but you won't have to wander around squares and parks for hours with these "cubs". To go to the toilet and come off in full, it is enough for a maltese 20-30 minutes a day. In winter, it is better to shorten the promenades, and it is necessary to take the dog outside only by thoroughly "warming" him with a blanket or overalls: since the breed is practically devoid of undercoat, in dank weather, the maltese has time to freeze in the first minutes after leaving the house. Organizing leisure time for a dog in the fresh air is quite simple: you can wander the streets with it or entertain yourself with outdoor games – exercises with rubber balls are especially respected by the Maltese.

Feeding

Most nurseries engaged in breeding designer breeds offer to feed the maltese with "drying" of super-premium and holistic classes, for some reason keeping silent about the fact that the natural menu is also not contraindicated for animals. In particular, dogs are excellent at dealing with finely chopped beef and other lean meats, fish fillets, as well as raw or scalded with boiling water liver. The only thing is to select the optimal diet in this case, you will have to use trial and error, because individual intolerance to foods is a serious thing, and its occurrence is difficult to predict. In addition, you will have to consult with a veterinarian about top dressing that could satisfy the pet's body's need for vitamins and minerals.

As for the choice of dry food for the maltese, choose varieties for small breeds. They are quite high in calories, and the croquettes in them are much smaller, which means that the dog will not have difficulties with chewing. Give preference to feeds with a high content of animal protein and fats and with a minimum of carbohydrates. But do not forget that obesity is a common thing for the maltese, so do not add additives to the animal, no matter how sweetly it looks at you. Minimize the consumption of cereals, to which maltipu is often allergic, by opting for grain-free "drying".

Health and diseases of maltipu

Maltipu completely refute the cliche about the outstanding health of the offspring obtained as a result of interbreeding. No, the breed is not considered painful and fragile, but the risk that the puppies will take their ailments from the poodle and Maltese is still decent.

Diseases often diagnosed in maltipu:

• epilepsy;
• hypoglycemia;
• pancreatitis;
• patella;
• portosystemic liver shunt;
• heart defect;
• sebaceous adenitis;
• shaker dog syndrome.

The Maltese are not immune from eye diseases peculiar to their ancestors. As a result, progressive retinal atrophy may occur in animals, leading to partial or complete loss of vision.

How to choose a puppy

• Acquaintance with litter producers and their pedigrees is mandatory if the parents are purebred poodle and maltese lapdog .
• Immediately ask the seller which specific hybrids you are dealing with. Proven: Maltese and poodle puppies (F1) are much cuter than babies from two maltese (F2). In addition, many F2 dogs have a traditional seasonal molt, which means goodbye, hypoallergenic.
• Choosing a puppy from two maltypus, find out the age of the bitch. If the "girl" is less than two years old, there is a chance that the puppies will be with marriage and baggage of genetic diseases.
• Heterogeneity of litter for designer breeds is the norm. The genes of toy poodle and maltese often form unpredictable combinations, so there is a 99% probability that there will not be two identical babies among newborns of Maltese.
• Since genetic diseases are what the maltese inherit from their parents in the first place, choose a breeder who does not save on dna tests. In nurseries where producers and litter are not examined for the presence of hereditary ailments, it is better not to linger.
• Puppies do not receive a pedigree in the classical sense, but it is very desirable that the litter be chipped and have a vet passport.
• If the breeder says that he has received a license to breed Maltese from the American Hybrid Dog Club, this is a primitive divorce, since such organizations do not issue any permits.

Photos of Maltese puppies

Price of maltype

The most expensive Maltese – F1 hybrids imported from the USA – cost at least $1000 per puppy. Mestizos of the same generation, but born as a result of the mating of domestic producers, will cost much cheaper – about $500 - $800. The price tag for puppies obtained during the crossing of maltese with a poodle and F2 babies is even lower – from $350.