Buying that new dog/puppy
by Erin
ORIGINAL MESSAGE:
Hello all, my name is Erin. For about the last year I have been researching different small breeds trying to decide on which I would like. I now have it down to 2, the Maltese and the Pug. There are some things I do not know about the Maltese though.
1.How long can the Maltese be left alone?
2.How much is the average cost per month to care for a Maltese?
3.Is it bad to keep the Maltese trimmed like they are when they are babies?
4.Do they tend to follow the person in the household who is home the most?
If anyone could please answer the questions for me I would be very greatful. I am just entering grade 11, and would like to have a dog that would be my companion over the others in my family.
DISCUSSION:
Hi Erin! You won't go wrong chosing the maltese to be your companion! They love attention and will follow you around. Now, for your questions:
#1--This just depends on each individual dog and your schedule. They really shouldn't be left alone for very long. If you go to school and return home, I think that would be ok. Just make sure to keep your maltese in a safe area of your home while he/she will be alone. I keep my three girls confined to my kitchen with a radio on. They have access to their water, dry food, beds, toys, wee wee pad--if you don't know what a wee wee pad is--it is like newspaper when you're paper training a puppy or dog--but it is much more sanitary. It has a white top and a blue bottom that is supposed to prevent leaks. You'll see them at the Pet Supplies Stores.
#2--The average cost per month? I think this will vary. I have three girls, and I've never sat down and figured it out. Let's see--fodd, chew bones, treats, wee wee pads, shampoo, conditioner, vet visits--when needed--(not every month)--I don't know an approximate price per month. Just take into account what I listed and base that on the cost. Now--you don't need to buy shampoo and conditioner every month for one dog--I have three and they get a bath once a week--so I have to buy it once a month. Food can be bought in large bags for less money. Chew bones, toys, treats--the same thing--you can buy these items and they will last you much longer with one dog.
#3--It is not hard to keep them trimmed. I assume you want to keep your pup in a puppy cut? You can chose a groomer or have someone in your family learn and groom him/her yourself too.
#4--Yes and no. I am home the most--and two of my three follow me more than my husband. The one that doesn't(Bianca) is a Daddy's girl and tends to follow my husband.
I hope that helped. You sound like you want to get a puppy that will be your dog. That's ok. If you care for your dog--like do all the feeding, baths, etc... I'm sure the dog will know that you are the main care provider and follow you the most. But even if he/she doesn't--they have plenty of love in them to go around 
Good Luck!
Angel
Erin, I am glad you are intellegently researching the right dog for you and your family.
1. I dont like the idea of crating a dog for 8+ hours while a person is at work, I think its better for them to be, at least, in a room like a kitchen, gated off, so they are safe and have a little more room to move around. With plenty of toys, food and water they will be fine.
2. Cost varies. They sure dont eat much, but you have to include vet care and grooming, unless you do that yourself (the grooming, I mean :)
3.Many people opt to have their Maltese kept in the "puppy cut" throughout their lives. It does make grooming easier.
4.I think they do tend to latch onto the person that they are around the most, but that doesnt mean they wont socialize with anyone else. Right now my Puff is napping next to my son on the couch instead of laying at my feet, like she usually does when I am on the puter.
Good luck with your decision and let us know what you get.
Sandy and Puff
Erin, I can answer 3 & 4 easily. It is not bad to keep the Maltese trimmed to a puppy cut. That is a personal preference and it's up to you. Cubbie had the long coat for a long time, but I recently gave him a shorter cut, about 3 inches all over. He looks adorable. As for #4, Cubbie follows me when I go to the kitchen and upstairs to bed. He is a pretty mellow fellow and prefers to lay down somewhere soft and comfty and watch everything from there. I never paid much attention to the yearly cost of owning this breed, but I know it isn't a lot. Cubbie stays home during the day with our cat during the school year. I have two children, however, one is leaving for college this fall. I am home by 2:30, plus I can run home anytime I want from work...my job is 2 minutes from home. Sometimes his grandma will stop by to visit during her lunch hour. If we are going to be gone for a long day trip, we usually arrange for grandma to stop by once and we keep him confined to the kitchen with his food, water and bed. He has never chewed up any shoes or made a mess of my house, or dumped the trash....nothing, nada. A good boy he is! I hope this will help you make your decision. Good thorough research can only yield happiness because you will know which breed is the best one for you.
Felicia & Cubbie
Erin, I'll try to answer you questions to the best of my knowledge:
1. I'd say try not to make it any longer than an 8-hour workday, at least on a regular basis.
2. It depends on how often you have them professionally groomed. Everything else is pretty standard: flea control, hearworm medicine, food, toys, vet visits, etc.
3. I assume here you mean keep the hair trimmed - not bad at all, it's a lot easier to take care of when it's short. It's just not the show look, but you want a pet anyway, right?
4. This is a hard questions for me to answer. My dog loves me and my fiance about the same even though I spend more time with her. I guess it depends on the circumstances. Finally, I just wanted to throw this out to you: are you planning on going to college? If so, what happens to the dog that has bonded to you and will miss you terribly? It's just something to consider. Good luck.
Judy
Erin: Your very smart to research before buying your Pet. I have two male Maltese and can only speak from my experience with them. I work a full time job and my babies are home alone. I always come home at lunch and check on them and I get off at 5:30pm. I do not think it is really recommended, but Pete has had the run of the house from day one. I adopted Ty at one year old and he had been kept in an inside pen while his Mommie was at work. He now has run of the house with Pete and they both do fine. You may want to confine a new puppy at least until you get him house broken. As for the mthly cost, I have never figured that up either. I do not think it would be any more than the cost of a Pug, unless you use a professional grommer. I keep both my boys in puppy cuts and they are adorable. You can check out the Photo Album on this site and see how cute they are with puppy cuts. And for your last question, in my household Pete and Ty will not let me out of their site. They follow me everywhere I go. They will sit with others in the family as long as I am in the room, but if I get up to leave the room, here they come. It really gets to my husband because they like to play hide and seek, but they will not hunt anyone but me. If my husband or kids hide they will not look for them, but if my husband holds Pete and Ty to let me run hide they will go crazy looking until they find me. Sorry this post is so long, can you tell that I think a Maltese is the dog for you? Keep us posted and let us know what you decide.
Belle
Erin, I know that many people have said not to leave your dog for longer the 8 hours, but I leave Maggie for sometimes up to 12. She has always been put in her "House" crate when we leave. We have tried to leave her out, but she gets nervous and vomits all over the house. She feels safe in her house. She has never had an accident in her house(unless she is sick.). She holds her potty all day. She is great.
I keep her in a puppy cut. It is so much easier to keep her clean and she likes it better. When she had long hair, we were always brushing her. She hated it. She still runs when she sees me bringing out the hair brush. Poor baby.
As far as cost....lets see...Maggie has never been a big eater. I bet I buy a 10 pound bag of dog food every 3 -6 months. She really doesn't eat that much, so I buy Science Diet for her. Recently, she has been to the vet a number of times(sicknesses), so our vet bill has been pretty high.(Last trip $120) But otherwise she really doesn't cost that much. I groom her myself.
I hope this helps. Maltese are great dogs. You won't go wrong with getting one of these sweet babies!
Jennifer & Maggie
Another fact to consider:
Are you planning on going to college? If so, I don't feel it would be fair to get a dog right at this time. College, studying and "extra-curricular" activities take up a lot of your time, and these guys need attention. {By guys, I mean the dogs, not the guys in college, hee! hee! :-)} I am currently in school, but only work 10-15 hours per week and I am settled down and married, so I am home most of the time.
I am only 22, but I'm not sure that you realize how much your life will probably change within the next 2-5 years. You have to be committed to an animal such as the Maltese, or any breed that you choose for that matter.
I don't mean to lecture you, but I want you to know that you need to be willing to make a commitment to the Maltese for it's entire life-span, approx. 12-16 years. If you do feel that you can handle the responsibility, I wish you the best of luck. These dogs are the absolute best and will love you forever and bring you a happiness that is uncomparable! You seem like a responsible individual for the mere fact that you have taken the time to do research. If you do get a Maltese, be sure and visit us on this site!
Carrie & Sophie
Hi, Erin....Both the breeds you've narrowed down to have wonderful temperaments, so it comes down to a matter of how much grooming you want to do. Maltese are difinitely high maintenance dogs. Whatever you choose, socialize it with other dogs, other people, and in other places. Check out an obedience class or at the very least, buy Ian Dunbar's video, "Sirius (yes, that's the correct spelling!) Puppy Training."
Good luck and have fun with your dog.
anneh
| Please bear in mind when reading topics pertaining to health issues, that most of these questions were answered by helpful Maltese owners with no formal education in veterinary medicine. When in doubt seek a professionals advise. |
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