IN THIS MONTHS ISSUE MALTESE RESCUE CONTACTS DEDICATED TO PEOPLE IN RESCUE QUOTES DID YOU KNOW? ASK THE DENTALVET SUMMERTIME TIPS CHOOSING A VET INBREEDING? WELLNESS TIPS WE CAN LEARN FROM A DOG MALTESE HOROSCOPE MAY BIRTHDAYS NEW ADDITIONS TO PHOTO ALBUM NEW ADDITIONS TO THE FAMILY LIBBY'S CHATROOM SCHEDULE BUSTERS PRODUCT OF THE MONTH JOKES POEMS JUST FOR FUN BAMBI'S "PUP-POURRI" OF DOG TRIVIA SMILES FROM OUR WHITE FURBABIES MALTESE HOR0SCOPE The Gemini Dog May 21 - June 21 You will find yourself paying a lot of attention to windows this month...the weather is getting nice and you really, REALLY want to get outside! Be patient, somebody will open a door for you soon, or at least a nice window so that you can smell and hear all the interesting stuff going on outside. JUNE BIRTHDAYS Happy Birthday from MalteseOnly ChadR's Sassy 6/1 Kaleigh's tiffany Tesse Texas Bell 6/1 SharonB's Taffy 6/3 Rolf&Kathy's Snowball 6/4 Katie's Tilda 6/4 Deanna's Moose 6/5 CYN's Sissy 6/5 Jennifer's Little Miss Molly MacMuffin 6/5 Bonnie M's Sugar 6/6 Joy & Tom's Kodie 6/6 Carina's Cloud 6/7 M's Molly 6/8 Corkey's Rudy 6/8 JS5850's Reba 6/8 MaryS's Geneva 6/8 ElizJ Nikki 6/8 Arlene's Sam 6/8 Donna's Silkie 6/8 Bianco's Thats My Buddy 6/9 TriciaR's Gizmo 6/10 DianeF's Tiny Tim 6/10 JillC's Jackson 6/11 Gloria's Mitzi 6/12 Jean K's Nikita 6/12 GailZ's Ashleigh 6/12 AnneG's Frosti 6/12 Melinda's Gracie Girl 6/12 Shirley's Mop 6/13 Rebecca's Archie 6/13 Sondralee's Chelsea 6/14 Sweetkaty's Emmyroo 6/14 Bianco's Miss Tiffany 6/14 Deanna's Squirrel 6/15 MaryS's Chanel 6/16 Bonnie B's Scooter Pie 6/16 DeniseR's Dickens 6/17 KathyS Taylor 6/19 Karen's Lilli White 6/20 Bianco's Mississippi Missy 6/21 Dot's Dovie 6/22 SIMS Snowy 6/23 MaureenC's Benji & Chip 6/24 FranM's Evita 6/24 CMS Bailey 6/25 Selina's Molly 6/25 Roxann's Miss Issa 6/25 Belle's Ty 6/25 Bonnie's Popcorn 6/26 MichaelZ's Darby 6/27 Greatoutlook's Hadlee 6/27 MaryEllen's Sunny 6/28 MalteseMommy's Tiffany 6/30 Happy Belated Birthday to: MaryEllen's Sebastian 5/9 MichelleC's Spencer 5/15 Miriam M's Miriam's Sheyne Zeeskyte 4/28 Jeanne H's Klondikes Arch Angel 5/30 Louise & Brant's Mia 5/31/98 SharonP's Shiro 5/12 NEW ADDITIONS TO PHOTO ALBUM For JUNE 1999 Submitted by Jay Bianco Harlei & Scarlet Irie Bailey Cricket Emma Russo's Snow White Cherub Duchess Miss Behavin' Texas Aggie Sugar Harry & Louie Sunnie & Jessie Phantom Crawford Marlowe Alex Boo Boo & Stephanie Marley Schultz Miles Schultz Heidi Cloud Clancy Pheobe Petty Princess Billy-Bob Dylan & Lexy Bo Allie Elliott Puffy Jag Princess Tiffany Buster Chloe Rodman Sunny Myi's Hannah's Glory Too Max Lalita Puck Poulenc Marty Spencer & Fancy Happy Journey White Wood & Adora's Wynter Wynd Simba Emmyroo Boeff Dordrecht Eike Bailey Yoshi Bruno Comet Trix (Special Note: If your photo has not been posted please be patient. Jay has received an overwhelming amount of photos either by snail mail or e-mail. Your baby's picture will get posted. Your patience is greatly appreciated.) NEW ADDITIONS TO THE FAMILY! LindaB's Solei Michelle's Cappie DB's Little Bronco Buddy VivianM's Cody Rebecca's Tyler Kadem98's Genie Kricket's Tiffany & Chase MikeT's Cody CarrieH's Kiara Bianka's Nina Santana Bianka Ed's Bruno Perrita's Missy Lainie's Zed Suzanne's Dion Barbara's Spanky Moe's Snowflake BevD's Heidi Jackie's Pookie Carina's Lovey (Inspector Clouseau) Rebecca's Teddy Mary's Star Monica's Blackie Jake's Max Patty's Mickey Susan & Brians Bridey Sandra Fisher's Basil Chuck & Josie Kasper' Raven & Rambo Donna's Bronco & Falcon JoyceG's Casey Trena's Sashi Samantha's Lacey SPECIAL NOTE: IN MEMORY Our thoughts and prayers go out to the following: Linda Brantner who lost her Keshia 3/4/99 Michael who lost his Shandi Sharon who lost her Nikki 5/3/99 Note: If you are having trouble dealing with the loss of your Maltese or any other pet please visit the following Internet sites: www.petloss.com or www.bestfriends.com. There are several support groups who can help in dealing with this loss. JUNE CHATROOM SCHEDULE HOSTS: Libby & Buster Special Chats Saturday, June 19, 1999 Dr. Margaret Muns, DVM Time: 8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. est. Topic: Pet Health and Behavior Larry & Angie Stanberry Saturday, June 26, 1999 Time: 8:00pm - 10:00 pm est Topic: Grooming Note: We should have a complete transcript of the Stanberry Chat online within 48 hours. Check for the link to this transcript page from the chatroom. Note: The MalteseOnly Chatroom is hosted every night, Saturday through Thursday from 8:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. EST (No Fridays, yes Jay gives me a night off!) Our chatroom is for Maltese dog discussion only. BUSTER'S PRODUCT OF THE MONTH KONG TOY - Thick natural rubber provides your Maltese with a real chewing workout. Revolutionary design makes toy bounce unpredictably in every direction. Stuff with peanut butter or treats for even more fun. Comes in Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large and King Kong. POEMS No Wonder He Wags His Tail Submitted by KathyM When God had made the earth and sky The flowers and the trees He then made all the animals And all the birds and bees. And when his work was finished No one was quite the same, He said "I'll walk this earth of mine And give each one a name." And so he traveled land and sea And everywhere he went, A little creature followed him Until its strength was spent, When all were named upon the earth, And in the sky and sea The little creature said: "Dear Lord There's not one left for me." The Father smiled and softly said: "I've left you to the end I've turned my own name back to front And called you Dog, my friend." PUPPY Who can think what a puppy is for? I know for sure, they make messes galore. They lift up their leg, and mark on the chair, Chew on your slippers, 'cause they just don't care. Ticks and fleas make a home in their hair, You wash and you shave them, until they are bare. Teeth fall out as they chew up the house, No buttons are found on your favorite blouse. They bark at the telly, and let up a roar; Sometimes you push them right out of the door. They run up the road and won't even come back, You drudge on down and give them some flack. To bed you go and they're right in the middle, You wait and pray you'll not feel a piddle. They lick at their body parts, then kiss your nose, And deposit their breakfast, right on to your clothes. Well I guess puppies are to wrap arms around, When all in the world seems dismal and brown Yes, the simple joy of petting this hound, Makes us all happy he's out of the pound. ~Linda LaRae Adsitt JUST FOR FUN! Maltese Virus Submitted by Patti Ek & MaryP This virus is no joke. It is progressive and dangerous. It will begin with one cute Maltese puppy...usually for companionship. You may not recognize the symptoms even when 90% of your snail mail consists of pet catalogs and show entries and "sick days" have all been used to visit every dog show within 600 miles. By the time the virus has taken firm hold, you will have reduced your yard to a safe area that can be enjoyed by your Maltese. You will be trying to sell the kids swing set to make more room for the Maltese. Your computer will threaten to crash because of the huge amounts of dog web sites, nutrition sites, programs, breed lists, rescue lists, advice lists, dog images and canine health HTML bookmarks that have filled all available space. You will borrow from your child's college fund to buy more memory. This virus will take over every room of your house in the form of flyers, catalogs, premium lists, dog toys, dog beds, crates, dog food and dog treats. You will begin to avoid anyone who doesn't have a Maltese and will try to convert anyone who doesn't know how wonderful your breed is. Your family will not recognize you unless you're covered with dog hair. You will seriously consider a second mortgage to take advantage of dog show entries and dog toy sales.Depression will set in immediately after the last dog show of the season. There is no cure. Thankfully, there are groups where you can talk to others that have been infected and who will understand you. With luck, they'll also know of a really good sale on dog food and supplements. Dog Haiku Submitted by GingerC Look in my eyes and Deny it. No human could Love you as I do. I love my master; Thus I perfume myself with This long-rotten squirrel. I lie belly-up In the sunshine, happier than You will ever be. I sound the alarm! Paperboy come to kill us all Look! Look! Look! Look! Look! Today I sniffed Many dog bottoms-- I celebrate By kissing your face. ELEVEN REASONS WHY DOGS SHOULDN'T HAVE CELL PHONES ~Submitted by MaryP 11. Shows off by talking on phone with his head out the car window 10. Makes Prince-Albert-in-a-can calls to people named Katz. 9. Rings you at work to ask what's for dinner. 8. Runs up $500 phone bill calling psychics at 1-900-DOG-STAR. 7. Greedy phone companies increase hidden rover rates. 6. MCI and Sprint pester you about switching his long distance account. 5. Forwards his calls to your number when he's sleeping in the yard. 4. Hounds the Lucky Dog phone company about a job. 3. Too many Maxs and Pals in the phone book. 2. It's humiliating to be put on hold by a dog. AND the number 1 reason is: 1. The cat will want one soon. BY Phil Maggitti TRIBUTE TO A DOG Submitted by KathyM The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is his dog. A man's dog stands by him in prosperity and in poverty, in health and in sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground, where the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely, if only he may be near his master's side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer; he will lick the wounds and sores that come in encounter with the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince. When all other friends desert, he remains. When riches take wing and reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in its journey through the heavens. ----Senator George Vest, 1870 LIFE LESSONS LEARNED FROM A DOG Submitted by Beverly Passe 1. If you stare at someone long enough, eventually you'll get what you want. 2. Don't go out without ID. 3. Be direct with people; let them know exactly how you feel by piddling on their shoes. 4. Be aware of when to hold your tongue, and when to use it. 5. Leave room in your schedule for a good nap. 6. Always give people a friendly greeting. A cold nose in the crotch is most effective. 7. When you do something wrong, always take responsibility (as soon as you're dragged shamefully out from under the bed). 8. If it's not wet and sloppy, it's not a real kiss. BIANCO'S BACI MI BAMBINA'S "PUP-POURRI" OF DOG TRIVIA Are Dogs Territorial? An important instinct is a dog's desire to defend its territory. A dog will consider its owner's house and yard as its territory and threaten or even attack another dog or human that invades it. It may consider the family car an extension of that territory and protect that as well. Beyond a certain distance from its home territory is an area that it considers a home range. This is more of a neutral territory where it will meet other dogs and not attack them. Why Do Dogs Urinate And Then Scratch The Ground With Their Back Legs? When dogs do this they are "marking their turf" against intruders. It is a gesture that demands that others stay away. How Should I Treat "Play Biting" In A Puppy? Puppies will often bite and nip at you in play. Sometimes they do it because they are teething. Other times they are trying to assert their dominance. Either reason is unacceptable behavior. Provide a toy for a teething puppy and let it chew on that. If it bites you in play, scold the animal. If it won't stop, get up and leave. Otherwise, the dog could grow up believing it is all right to bite people, and that can lead to serious troubles. JUNE JOKES Submitted by Jay & Bev What is the all time favorite Broadway musical in Dogland? My Fair Laddie! What dog loves to take bubble baths? A shampoodle! What dogs are best for sending telegrams? Wire-haired terriers, of course? What terrier is like the little engine that could? I think, a cairn! What dog is always good for a laugh? A Chihua-ha! Which dog sets a furious pace? The rushin' (Russian) wolfhound! What dog is disliked by many? The Doberman, because it's a pinscher! Which dog is as warm as a blanket? An Afghan! Which dogs speak? "Herd" dogs! What dog stands the best chance of winning the heavyweight title? A Boxer, of course! What kind of dog does Count Dracula prefer? Any bloodhound! 1st Mailman: A dog bit me on the leg this morning! 2nd Mailman: Did you put anything on it? 1st Mailman: No, he liked it plain! "SMILES FROM OUR WHITE FURBABIES" Question : What is the most important thing in life your Maltese gives to you? Answer: Unconditional love, companionship and support. GETTING A NEW SISTER By Cathy Brown Well, guess what happened now? My mom made me get a new SISTER!! Oh for goodness sakes, will this never end! First I had to get a brother, and just when that was working out, she gets me a SISTER. And you know what? This SISTER (her name is Tiki) wants to be in charge!!! She doesn't think I should get to be the princess anymore AND she wants to be in mom's lap and give her kisses and get hugs. Now is that FAIR??? Oh gosh, and you know what else? That Tiki wants me to play with her. Well, I will not. She gets right beside me and turns upside down and puts her nose on me and tries to kiss me. HAH! I just get up and move. No sisters!!! Let me tell you this story and see what you think. In the winter when it was really cold, a nice blonde lady came to our house. She had something wrapped up in a blanket and when Boo and I went to see what it was, it GROWLED at us. Imagine that! Turned out to be this girl Maltese. She was really skinny and somebody had cut her hair all off. Mamma said for us to be nice because Tiki's mom needed someone to watch her just for a little while. But she is STILL here and it is almost summer. Well one day I DID see my mom crying, and I heard her telling people that Tiki's mom was coming to pick her up. I was sad that mom was crying, but boy was I happy that Tiki was going to go because she sleeps next to my mom in bed just like me and gets an awful lot of attention that should be mine. But no one came. Next thing I knew, mom was saying that Tiki was going to live HERE with me. Well Boo and I talked it over. We decided we'd just give her the cold shoulder and maybe she'd leave us alone. But one day I saw Boo sneak her a kiss. So then I decided I'd better start being nice too. I chased her around the house a couple of times and shook toys with her. Well that was fun. So then I did it some more. More fun. I still don't like sharing MY mommy or MY bed with her. But having a sister is getting to be fun. Love, Lucy Brown WEBSITE SPONSORS A special thanks goes out to the Sponsors of MalteseOnly: Woof Online Auctions http://www.malteseonly.com/auction EDITORS NOTE Note: If you wish to submit an article, poem, joke, birthday, etc. for MalteseOnly News please send an email to: Libby@malteseonly.com All submissions must be to me by the 25th of the month. EDITORS/CO-EDITORS NOTE: Thanks to the many people who have made the Maltese Only Website and Newsletter such a success. A special thanks go out to our Sponsors. As quoted by Dr. Jane Leon, from America's Health Network, "Be good to your pets, they try so hard to be good to you and for you" Get a free MalteseOnly email address TO SUBSCRIBE OR UNSUBSCRIBE To unsubscribe from the MalteseOnly Newsletter, simply go to http://www.malteseonly.com/subscribe.html then enter your email address and check "unsubscribe" or subscribe and submit. Maltese Only Newsletter © 1999 All Rights Reserved Tell a friend about our Newsletter

June 1999 Maltese Only News Editor's Note: Welcome to MalteseOnly News! MalteseOnly went online in May of 1996. Created by Jay and Bev Bianco of Mt. Morris, PA. Today several thousand visitors daily find themselves at this website. The Maltese Only site provides a multitude of information on the health, care and training of a Maltese. The Discussion Forum is the #1 Dog Discussion on the Internet. Maltese Only has the most dedicated fans on the Internet. This Maltese Only News is dedicated to them. To unsubscribe from the MalteseOnly Newsletter, simply go to http://www.malteseonly.com/subscribe.html then enter your email address and check "unsubscribe" and submit. You will be removed immediately from any future mailings and announcements. Libby Johnson, Editor Libby@MalteseOnly.com Jay Bianco,Co-Editor M ALTESE RESCUE Jay and Bev Bianco - (724) 324-9401 Mt. Morris, PA Interested individuals may now subscribe to the new National Maltese Rescue email list of announcements. To subscribe or unsubscribe, point your browser to: http://www.malteseonly.com/rescues.html *DEDICATED TO PEOPLE IN RESCUE* DEDICATED TO PEOPLE IN RESCUE The Meaning of Rescue... Now that I'm home, bathed, settled and fed, All nicely tucked in my warm new bed. I'd like to open my baggage Lest I forget, There is so much to carry - So much to regret. Hmm . . . Yes there it is, right on the top Let's unpack Loneliness, Heartache and Loss, And there by my leash hides Fear and Shame. As I look on these things I tried so hard to leave - I still have to unpack my baggage called Pain. I loved them, the others, the ones who left me, But I wasn't good enough - for they didn't want me. Will you add to my baggage? Will you help me unpack? Or will you just look at my things - And take me right back? Do you have the time to help me unpack? To put away my baggage, To never repack? I pray that you do - I'm so tired you see, But I do come with baggage - Will you still want me? Author Unknown SPECIAL RESCUE STORY Submitted by Libby Spanky is a 7 year old neutered male approx. 8 pounds. Spanky came to my home as an "aggressive biter". When I first got him I could not touch him. I talked to several behaviorists and all but 2 had said to as they put it "put him down". Spanky was such a little lover that I just couldn't do it. I knew there was hope for this little guy. When I took him for his vet check he was excellent. After working with Spanky for approx. 6 weeks he had gotten to a point where his biting was somewhat under control. No one wanted this little guy because he bites. We searched and searched for the perfect home. When there seemed like no hope in site, along came Barbara Helton. I had talked to her several times on the phone and she finally called and said she wanted Spanky. We made an appointment for her to come over to see Spanky. When she got there Spanky went right to her. It was wonderful. Although being very cautious Barb did not reach or try to pick him up. We went inside where Buster was put in another room as to give all of the attention to Spanky. What can I say? He was great. Spanky showed Barb how much love he is capable of giving. Spanky went home with her that nite. When he left I cried my eyes out. Yes, I had gotten attached. Barb called that evening and said Spanky jumped out of the car and went in her fenced in yard with no problem and was hanging out with Barbs other furry friends. The next day she called and said Spanky had bitten her several times but that she would not give up. I told her I suspected that he would be back to square one and I gave her more tips on handling him. After several days Barb called and said Spanky was doing great. Spanky continues to make significant progress and is getting more lovable every day. A success story like this breaks my heart. Knowing that no one had the courage or heart to give Spanky the chance he deserved. Well I feel that Barb and I gave him that chance. And what a difference a little love makes. The National Maltese Rescue thanks all that were involved in this wonderful rescue story. A special thanks goes out to all that donated to the "Spanky Fund". Barb has asked that this money go to the National Maltese Rescue fund for a furbaby that really needs it. QUOTES Submitted by Paula & John Crawford "No one appreciates the very special genius of your conversation as the dog does." -Christopher Morley Submitted by Kathy Merchant "In order to keep a true perspective of one's importance, everyone should have a dog that will worship him and a cat that will ignore him." Dereke Bruce, Taipei, Taiwan Submitted by Cathy Brown "Man is a dog's idea of what God should be." Holbrook Jackson DID YOU KNOW? Submitted by Halen & Comet The etmymology of the word Mutt is not a pretty one. Mutt is short for muttonhead, early English slang meaning dimwit or dullard. The word was not used in reference to dogs until early in the 20th century. Anyone who has ever owned a mutt, though knows that somebody got it all wrong--mutts can be everybit as smart as purebreads and are often a lot smarter. This was taken from a dog calendar. Dogs live in the here and now. They enjoy wha'ts at hand, fear not what may or may not be, and rejoice in the love of those around them. Quite a blueprint for happiness. Dogs love to be touched. They find it reassuring. It does all kinds of things for them. It warns them of danger, enables them to get comfortable, and can be used in social bonding. Dog Fancy Calendar 1999 NATIONAL MALTESE SPECIALTY SHOW The 1999 National Maltese Specialty Show was held in New Orleans, LA on May 26-28. Halen & Comet, MalteseOnly's Roving Reporters, will provide a special article on the National Maltese Specialty in our July Issue. Thanx to Kaye & Missy for our nightly updates in the Chatroom. Watch MalteseOnly for results, photos and highlights at: http://www.malteseonly.com/9amaindex.html ASK THE DENTALVET Dr. Jan Bellows, DVM Dr. Bellows specializes in the treatment of small animals, and is a Diplomate to both the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners and the American Veterinary Dental College. His practices, All Pets Dental Clinic and Pet Health Care Center, have been caring for your pets since 1977. All Pets Dental Clinic is located in Pembroke Pines, Florida just north of Miami and west of Fort Lauderdale. http://www.dentalvet.com QUESTION: I have just adopted a 6 yr. old Maltese. His teeth are in pretty bad shape. He had a thorough scaling and cleaning, and 11 had to be removed 6 months ago. Blackened dental plaque had formed on the teeth to the bone. Apparently during his first 6 yrs his previous owners fed him nothing but table scraps. He is being treated with a weekly application of floride (the kind intended for home application for young children). The remaining teeth, some iffy, after the initial cleaning are doing well. My question is how can I control his bad breath? I was told that he would not need to return for another cleaning until next April and to keep up the regimen of dry food and weekly floride treatment. Thanx , Deanna DENTALVET:If your pets breath doesn't smell like roses periodontal disease exists that must be treated. Waiting should not be an option. Make sure x-rays are taken to fully evaluate each tooth. If you would like to see a veterinary dentist contact 800-332-avds. QUESTION:My 1.5 year old Maltese, Solomon, has two teeth right next to each other on the lower jaw. One is probably a baby tooth (?) that never came out. Should I be concerned about the extra tooth? Roxanne Hunter DENTALVET: The Maltese breed is plagued with retained baby teeth. It is rare that I will see a puppy at 5 months old that doesn't have the problem. Any time there is a baby and adult tooth in the same socket at the same time the baby tooth needs extraction to give the adult tooth room. QUESTION: I have a 5-month-old male Maltese. He was scheduled to be neutered at 6 months, but our vet feels he is still too small. He weighs 4 1/4 lbs. He is now scheduled for 7 months. My questions is our vet told us that if our dog still has his baby teeth at the time he is to be neutered, they must be pulled. Have you ever heard of this practice? Please let me know. Thank you so much. Lorraine Gower DENTALVET:Your veterinarian is correct but I would not wait until 7 months. If there are two teeth in the same socket at the same time the baby tooth needs extraction. QUESTION: My puppy "Jingle-Bell" had her permanent teeth come in without loosing her baby teeth in both the top and bottom, they share the same space. Will they fall out?, or what should I do? Thanks, Chris Jenkins DENTALVET: Eventually most fall out but I would not wait. Waiting stretches the ligament promoting periodontal disease and may cause the permanent tooth to be placed abnormally. Course of action now is to extract. To submit questions for "Ask the Dentalvet" email Libby@malteseonly.com INBREEDING .......someone told me that her breeder said it is ok to have a litter from a daughter and her father. She would like to know if this is true? Breeding dogs is both SCIENCE and ART. Any breeding implemented purely out of convenience or without a plan should NOT be done. A "true" breeder is set apart from the "casual puppy-producer" because he DOES have a PLAN. He does a breeding fully expecting to see certain characteristics emerge in the progeny. The practice of breeding close relatives to each other (line-breeding) is an important tool in the hands of such a master breeder. Likewise, breeding dogs that are only related by more distant ancestors is an equally effective and important tool. It is the combination of these two practices that, over time, allow a breeder to "lock in" desirable characteristics and remove the undesirable traits from his breeding program. Your Maltese is loaded with DESIRABLE recessive characteristics -the white coat, the straightness and silkiness of coat, the long length of coat, and fineness of bone just to name a few. Without "tight" breedings in the early development of the breed these traits would not have been established. Today's breeder must now work on further enhancements to the overall Maltese population; other desirable recessive characteristics that are less obvious to an untrained eye, but are the essence of our lovely breed - well "laid-back" shoulders (giving the elegant carriage)and straighter and well-angulated stifle joints (eliminating the luxating patella problem), are just two of them. In a ten generation pedigree there are 2046 ancestors. There are probably only a small handful of Maltese living on this planet that do not share at least 50-100 common ancestors within ten generations on their maternal and paternal side (many have several hundred, some many many more) . Often a common ancestor three or four generations back in a pedigree provides more of an influence on a litter than one of the parents or any of the grandparents. It is the risk vs. reward relationship on the very close breedings (full brother-sister, and parent to child) that both intrigue and plague anyone who develops a breeding program. You must be responsible when using this tool - be prepared to eliminate an entire litter out of your breeding program when a "tight" breeding produces unwanted results in even one single pup in that litter. Probably the single biggest factor that "pushes" a toy dog breeder toward "tighter" breedings is the very small average size of the litter produced. Your odds of producing the results you are looking for go up as the closeness of the breeding goes up. With only a one or two puppy litter, and only three or four breedings in a female's entire breeding career, you must sometimes be a little more aggressive than if you had ten or thirteen puppy litters. The sheer number of puppies produced in a single litter, alone, would then boost your odds of getting what you wanted and you may be less inclined to breed so closely. For the most part, I agree with your vet. There are only a small number of breeders that both "have a plan" and are responsible and knowledgeable enough to perform such close breedings successfully. Right now, I do NOT count myself among that number and have not done this - but I will not rule it out in the future. Today, I am watching close friends, whose ethics and breeding philosophies I admire and respect, perform some of these "tight" breeding using dogs closely related to my own. I anxiously await seeing progeny out of these litters, and perhaps even litters from the next generation after that, so I have a more clear indication of what to expect if I do this, myself. It is the BREEDER and not the BREEDING itself that should be of greatest concern here. ~Larry Stanberry - Divine Maltese SUMMERTIME TIPS Here comes summer, the lazy hazy, crazy days of summer. It's too darn hot, but the livin' is easy. There's cheeseburgers in paradise, and your Maltese is waiting for his/her share. While the family enjoys the warmth of summer sun and the softness of summer evenings, your Maltese may be suffering from the heat or from overindulgence of leftovers. To avoid tragedy, families should consider the effects of increased day length, temperatures, and snacks-after-the-barbecue on the family pet. Livin' with your Maltese can be easy if you heed these warm-weather cautions and follow these tips. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are distinct possibilities if the dog is subjected to high temperatures in poorly ventilated areas, including cars (even with the windows cracked open), sheds, or other enclosures. Dogs dissipate body heat by panting, not sweating, and rapid panting causes increased loss of water and carbon dioxide. If the dog is stressed by high temperatures and humidity and poor ventilation, his circulatory and respiratory systems can be overtaxed. Heat stroke is the most common and most likely to be fatal. Symptoms are: panting; staring; warm, dry skin; extremely high fever (106 degrees or higher); rapid heartbeat; vomiting; and collapse. Treatment includes immersion in cold water. If no tub is handy, spraying the dog with the hose is the next best action. Ice packs applied to the head and neck may also help. Heat stroke is life threatening; get the dog to the veterinary clinic as soon as possible after lowering his temperature. Heat exhaustion is less serious and generally follows heavy and prolonged exercise in intense heat. It develops more slowly than heat stroke and may be preceded by a salt deficiency or a complication of heart disease. The treatment is the same: lower the temperature with cold water, then get the dog to the clinic. Here are some tips for helping you and your Maltese enjoy the warm weather: Never leave children under eight years old alone with a dog. Kids run and scream while playing, and high-pitched noises and running can trigger a dogs prey drive. Whether your dog responds by "herding" the child with ankle nips and body slams or by "attacking" and grabbing, children get hurt and your dog gets a black mark on his record. Dogs can be irritable in hot weather and should be protected from kids' boisterous attentions. Since doors are open more often in warm weather, Mom and Dad should take precautions to keep the dog from following the kids outside if he can then run free. Always make sure your Maltese has a fresh supply of water. Dogs have a higher internal body temperature than humans and get warm at lower temperatures than we do. Since they cannot shed their coats and they do not sweat, they pant away a lot of moisture during warm weather and must have constant access to fresh water. Avoid strenuous exercise in the heat of the day if the dog has not been conditioned for the strain. Take walks in the early morning or evening; limit vigorous play sessions; and provide plenty of fresh water. If your Maltese spends a lot of time in air-conditioned splendor, heat and humidity will be tough on his body - it's better for him (and for you) to limit the use of air-conditioning. Remember that heat and humidity are more stressful for puppies, geriatric dogs, dogs that are overweight or out of condition, dogs with chronic illnesses, and dogs with shortened faces such as Boxers, English Bulldogs, Pekinese, and French Bulldogs. Don't make the mistake of thinking a long-coated or thick-coated dog should be shaved for summer. Long, thick coats developed to provide insulation in both cold and hot weather, and removal of the natural insulation could stress the dog further. Do make sure long and thick coats are kept free of mats, tangles, burs and other seeds, etc. to help maintain your dogs comfort. If Fluffy finds the family cookout, don't feed her leftover burgers, brats, or hotdogs. She could bloat, suffer a stomach torsion, and die. Bloat and torsion are serious, life-threatening illnesses, and the incidence rises in summer precisely because dogs have access to barbecue leavings. Symptoms include extreme restless, unproductive vomiting, a bloated appearance, and collapse. The disease progresses quickly; a dog that has stomach torsion can die on the way to the emergency clinic. If you or your adjoining neighbor hire a lawn service, make sure your Maltese stays inside while pesticides are sprayed. Keep him/her off the sprayed grass for at least 24 hours to avoid contact with the chemicals or clean her feet so she doesn't ingest poison if she licks her paws. If your Maltese travels with the family, don't EVER, EVER, leave him/her in the car alone, even with the windows cracked open. If you park in the shade, remember that shade moves as the day progresses. The temperature inside a closed car can quickly reach 120 degrees -- even with the window cracked open -- and cook the dog's brain. If you must leave the dog in the car for a few minutes, use window grills so the windows can be left open, park in the deepest shade you can find, put a reflective space blanket over the windshield, and hotfoot it back to the car in less than 15 minutes. Otherwise, leave your Maltese at home. Lots of dogs like to run through the sprinkler or swim in a pool, lake, or pond. If a large body of water isn't available; some dogs enjoy a dip in a child's wading pool. Most dogs enjoy a game of fetch or Frisbee played in the cool morning or evening hours. Keep your canine first aid kit packed and ready for action, and have the telephone numbers of your veterinarian and an emergency clinic handy just in case. Accidents, insect stings, dog fights, and heat stroke can require immediate attention. Many dogs will eat less in hot, humid weather. If your Maltese leaves some food behind, throw it away, wash the dish, and feed less until the temperature drops. PS: MaryP says let your Maltese roll around in the cool wet mud! CHOOSING A VET Make sure you have a good rapport with your vet. Do you feel comfortable with him/her? Does your Vet have a good rapport with your pet? Check for cleanliness of the facilities Friendliness of all who work there Ask Questions - What are their Restraint Practices? Do they have the most up to date equipment? Do they do in-house testing? Is there an Emergency Room or a number to call in case of an emergency? More tips on choosing a vet are at: http://www.malteseonly.com/vet.html WELLNESS TIPS WE CAN LEARN FROM A DOG: Adam Katz Owner of South Bay K-9 Academy and DogProblems.com. * Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride. * Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy. * When loved ones come home, always run to greet them. * When it's in your best interest, practice obedience. * Let others know when they've invaded your territory. * Take naps and stretch before rising. * Run, romp and play daily. * Eat with gusto and enthusiasm. * If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it. * When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by & nuzzle them gently. * Thrive on attention and let people touch you. * Avoid biting when a simple growl will do. * On hot days, drink lots of water and lay under a shady tree. * When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body. * Be loyal. * No matter how often you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing & pout...run right out & make friends. * Delight in the simple joy of a long walk. ---------------------------------------------------- Okay... now let me try to add some education bits to this piece: ---------------------------------------------------- * Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride. (Car sickness can be cured by feeding the dog his dinner in the car, while it sits in the driveway, playing fetch games in and out of the car, and starting to take the dog for short trips around the block, starting and ending with lots of play!) * Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy. (Never let your dog hang his head out the window. Not only is it dangerous, but the wind and air pressure can dry out the dog's tear ducts, allegedly causing blindness.) * When loved ones come home, always run to greet them. (Ignore your dog for the first 10 minutes after you come home. Excitement before leaving and after returning is one of the most common causes of separation anxiety.) * When it's in your best interest, practice obedience. (Never give a command you cannot enforce, until the dog is completely conditioned to respond EVERY TIME and he has proven himself to be 100% reliable.) * Let others know when they've invaded your territory. (Dogs mark their territory with urine, and also by rubbing scent pads in their feet. Watch your dog and you'll notice he may rub his feet on the ground after marking.) * Take naps and stretch before rising. (Dogs spend roughly 80% of any 24-hour cycle either sleeping or resting.) * Run, romp and play daily. (Daily exercise will prevent boredom and help alleviate many behavior problems.) * Eat with gusto and enthusiasm. (When feeding large breed dogs, place the food bowl on a raised platform to prevent bloat and other digestion problems.) * If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it. (Dogs bury bones and other toys in the yard because it is a hold-over survival instinct from when dogs descended from wolves.) * When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by & nuzzle them gently. (Careful: Nuzzling and demanding attention can be a sign of dominance... so be aware that you're giving your dog attention when YOU want to give him attention, not when HE wants YOU to give him attention!) * Thrive on attention and let people touch you. (In a training context, praise your dog by saying, "Good dog," and then offer positive touch. You'll know that your praise is motivational if it's reflected in the dog's body language.) * Avoid biting when a simple growl will do. (Your dog needs to be corrected if he tries to growl or bite you. But how to correct the dog is something you should do only under the supervision of a qualified professional dog trainer.) * On hot days, drink lots of water and lay under a shady tree. (When hiking with your dog, always carry a water bottle and a collapsible water dish for your dog to prevent heat exhaustion.) * When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body. (Dogs don't fake it. If a dog's body language is fluid and relaxed, with a wagging tail, big round eyes and forward ear carriage, then he's a happy dog. Take a deep breath... you don't need to hire that doggie psychic to tell you what's on his mind!) * Be loyal. (Let's be realistic... if your dog isn't trained, don't leave the front door open. His loyalty will extend only as far as he can run. But training your dog not to bolt out the door is extremely easy. * No matter how often you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing & pout...run right out & make friends. (After a dog is corrected, it is common for him to show submissive body language. This is the dog's natural way of communicating. Remember, it's not personal. Set the dog up to let him make the same decision he made that earned him the correction in the first place. But this time, if he makes the right decision... praise lavishly!) * Delight in the simple joy of a long walk. Learn how to teach your dog not to pull on his leash when you take him for a walk IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBER! The National Animal Poison Control Center has a 24-hour toll-free number to assist with poisoning problems -- 1-800-548-2423.

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