Maltipu: all about the dog breed

From the point of view of professional breeders, breeders, dog handlers, maltipu is not a breed of dog in the classical sense. Particularly zealous supporters of pure blood call it a cur, as it is a cross between two breeds. But our article is for those who love this “plush toy”, who want to see their own creature in their home, affectionate and kind. And it doesn’t matter if this family friend is recognized by dog ​​associations or not. So, our conversation today will be about the designer Maltipu dog, the history of its origin and other interesting facts.

You need to start with the very concept of "designer dogs." In the mid 50s of the 20th century, an unusual pet was born in England - dorgi, a mix of dachshunds and corgi.

Following the Dorgi, Vestip, Goldendoodle, Kavapu, Kokapu and others appeared. And in 1980, they started talking about Malta - a puppy of the Maltese lap-dog (malti) and toy poodle (poo).

Zoo designers are often asked why they crossbreed dogs of different breeds. Because mestizos have several advantages over their parents:

• unusual appearance acquired from two or even three breeds;
• hypoallergenic - many call this the first reason for breeding new breeds;
• minimum percentage of molting;
• good immunity;
• character oriented towards interaction with a person: friendliness, fidelity, playfulness.

Despite the fact that there are more and more dogs with unusual names that are derived from the names of the puppy's mom and dad breeds, designer dogs are not recognized as breeds. Parents may have official documents, but the offspring do not.

The origin story of maltipu has two versions:

1. desire to have an apartment hypoallergenic mini-dog;
2. desire to bring out the ideal pet both in terms of external data and in intellectual indicators.

At the beginning of the XXI century, a boom began in the United States among those who not only wanted to make a real friend - a pet, but also those who wanted to be like their idols. The fact is that more and more celebrity photos from Malta appeared on the network, which led to real excitement. On the one hand, the American Club of Hybrid Dogs appeared, fan clubs, on the other hand, the prices for puppies went wild, the appearance of which went according to the principle of "first invented, then created."

Around 2010, the first such puppies were imported to Russia, thanks also to the beau monde. But thanks for distributing the maltipu are still worth the dog breeders who are engaged in the official sale of puppies. Until now, many are surprised by the unreasonably high price (up to 150 thousand rubles) for a dog without documents.

This is especially annoying to breeders who say that Passion for designer dogs is a serious concern for purebred breeders. In their opinion, such a cross is often done by lay people, without testing the parents of the puppies. This is what leads to the fact that 5 puppies out of 6 are born with a very unusual exterior and congenital diseases.

But after all, many breeds began with crossbreeding, which means that designer dogs still have everything ahead. It just takes time and real professionals. And at the moment maltipu is among the ten most popular mini-dogs in the world.

Even getting acquainted in absentia with fluffy charms, you can find too different information about Malta. For example, some sites say that the weight of the dog is from 1.5 to 3.5 kg. On others - from 1 to 9 kg. Someone writes that the height at the withers is 20-30 cm, others - 35 cm.

Why are there such different data for a dwarf dog? Because there is no breed - no standards. And no one will blame the owners that their puppy is too curly or too tall. Because for them it will be important that the puppy is playful, smart, attached to the owner. Almost all owners of Maltipu give this characteristic.

A puppy always looks like a soft toy with eyes buttons. But an adult dog may look more like mom or dad. Ears droop, set low. The body is elongated.

The size corresponds to the concept of “mini-dog”, but each case is individual: there are really dwarf individuals, and others are much larger. This is no longer a pocket option, but you can carry this miracle on your hands. By the way, commercial breeders are trying in every possible way to make "cup" puppies, that is, to bring the size to the mini-Malta type.

External data depends on the brand of hybridity:

• F1 - these are puppies received from toy poodle and maltese;
• maltipu with toy poodle will give a puppy that looks more like a poodle that is used by unscrupulous sellers and sell little poodles at the price of little maltipa;
• F2 - This is a hybrid from two maltipoo, the second generation, which no longer looks so interesting and attractive, which knocks down the price at times.

In many ways, the structure of the dog's coat affects the price. It is of 3 types:

• smooth silky hair - the most expensive, because such wool (dog) does not form mats, does not require special care;
• curly dogs they inherited the canine from the toy poodle, which creates a lot of problems: curls get confused, forming mats;
• tough wavy coat occurs least often, but is considered an undesirable cheap variety.

The density of the dog is also different: both rare and very dense. This forces the owners to more closely monitor the pet's hair, do grooming and trimming.

The Maltese took from their parents their best traits. These dogs are appreciated for:

• devotion to the family;
• goodwill;
• playfulness from puppy to adulthood;
• curiosity;
• energy;
• good learning ability.

Curiosity pulls them to get to know people, animals and birds. They are designed for families with children. Human cubs and Maltese will never be bored with each other. But if you do not play with them, do not pay attention to them, leave them alone, the dogs will hurt and suffer.

Speaking of intelligence, the owners say that it would be wrong to call your pets child prodigies, but they are not stupid either. According to experts, these are smart animals with a rating of 4 out of 5 points. But they are very gullible: they can easily approach strangers or large brothers. The consequences of such curiosity can be sad. Therefore, for walking you need to choose calm places and be sure to look after your pet.

And walking with them is enough half an hour a day, although dogs with pleasure can rush along the street and several hours in a row. These mestizos are completely non-aggressive, therefore they cannot protect themselves. If there are fears that larger animals may attack the pet, then it is better not to let it off the leash. Even with age, when hyperactivity decreases, the dog will still explore all unfamiliar corners, enjoy communication with both the person and the hamster.

At home, this miracle will follow the owner and control all his actions: whether the owner is cooking correctly, whether he chose the right speed on the treadmill. However, it is easy to train. The more family members, the easier it is to communicate with the Maltese: someone will scratch his belly, someone will cook dinner with him, someone will get a comb out, and someone will get a dressura.

All hybrids have voiced voices, so this "bell" will warn about the arrival of the desired guests, scare away the unwanted, but at the same time wake the whole apartment, as well as the neighbors.

And one more characteristic: a dog is hypoallergenic if it is F1, and then there are misfires.

Maltip wool presents surprises not only in terms of thickness and type of hair, but also in color. Kids can be born in a variety of colors, both with a single color, and two-and three-color. And the color of the color will affect the price. White maltipu is considered a special chic, although it is not pure white. Zoo designers intentionally inflate the price of such dogs. But the color can be black, silver, cream, brown, peach, blue.

In combination, colors can also be very diverse, and everyone looks very interesting. The same black color is not pure, it always has subtones.

Maltipu is exclusively domestic dogs, they will not survive on the street. By the time the puppy gets a home, a place should be prepared in it. It must be secluded, away from doors and windows - a gentle creature is afraid of drafts. Therefore, it is better to purchase not just bedding, but a basket with a convenient low entry.

Therefore, in addition to the basket, you need to prepare toys, a leash and a collar for walking, a diaper, and then a tray, bowls for water and feed. In addition, you need brushes for combing. The easiest way to look after straight silky hair is but it needs to be combed out 2-3 times a week. Curly animals must be combed out every day. And still, they may form tussles, which they fight with special shampoos.

Swimming for such fluffy dogs is a must.You need to do this 2-3 times a month. hand wash time should be combed for dogs, otherwise the coat should not be washed. Better to have a few.

A single-row comb is unlikely to work for maltipa, it is better to purchase a multi-row not too frequent, and for long hair - a soft brush or comb, which has sparse teeth. It should not be plastic or metal. Most suitable is a wooden comb without nicks or a brush with metal teeth, but with silicone tips (metal will not damage the skin, and plastic will not be electrified).

The size of the comb directly depends on the size of the dog: for a puppy, a maltip needs a small comb, for an adult dog, a larger one.

After bathing, the wool is dried with a towel. You can use the hairdryer in gentle mode, if the dog is not afraid. On the one hand, a hair dryer can dry the skin and coat, and on the other, a dog after such drying looks much more neat. And with independent drying, the dog can freeze and catch a cold.

Stiff coat perfectly protects the dog from the cold, practically does not fade, does not require regular combing, does not fall into the tangles. But she has a ripening cycle (4-8 months), after which she breaks up, forming sloppy rows, loses sheen, becomes ugly. To prevent this from happening, the dead hair is plucked out.

Experts say that Trimming is preferable to a haircut, as it makes the dog’s coat more well-groomed, shiny, bright, and neat. If you do not pluck out the dead hair, then the living ones will be thinned, they will be knocked together, their color will become faded. Mestizos are recommended to be cut 2-3 times a year. Haircuts can be standard or creative, manual or machine; medium, short or very short; hygienic - around the eyes, nose and mouth, under the tail, between the claws, in the ears.

Grooming ends with perfumery wool. This procedure will seem to someone an excess, since the maltipu does not have the smell of a dog, but this dog is simply created for material investments.

Cleaning your ears and often sour eyes is a must not only in the salon, but also at home. Ears are cleaned with a special lotion and a tissue. Eyes that often watery and sour (inheritance from maltese) are treated with an ophthalmic lotion applied to a napkin, or a decoction of chamomile or tea solution. On white wool, tear paths are still noticeable. If it’s fundamentally important for the owners that the dog has a perfect look, then the tracks are lightened with special powder or conditioner from the pet store.

Maltip should regularly brush his teeth with a small silicone brush. You need to teach a dog to this procedure from birth, and spend it about once every 3-4 days. Some owners write that pets have no problems with teeth, others - that mestizo has weak teeth. Anyway, A regular examination by a veterinarian is necessary to ensure the dog’s health.

Also, you need to contact the zoo for timely vaccination. Maltipu is a mixture of rocks. And thoroughbred dogs do not live long without vaccinations. And it will be very painful to realize that this plush baby died from the fact that the owner or mistress did not find the time to vaccinate the dog. Do not forget that pets need to be regularly given preparations for helminths. Deworming is carried out once a quarter (this also applies to people in whose families any animals live).

The owners also leave various reviews about dog walking. Some write that it’s enough to go out twice a day for 15-20 minutes.Someone says that you can go out with them once a day for half an hour. There are those who write that the dog is ready to rush around for hours. In any case, veterinarians give the following tips for walking:

• in winter, the maltip should be insulated with blanket or jumpsuit;
• in cold weather, the nose and paw pads are lubricated with a special agent containing wax to protect the skin;
• if the dog wants to play, then it is better to take a ball with you, or run with it;
• after the walk, it is necessary to wash the paws and grease them with a nourishing cream (especially carefully monitor this if the dog runs along the street where the reagent is scattered).

In matters of health, perhaps the aspect of the absence of the breed is most clearly manifested: maltipu is adopted by diseases from both parents, and they are not particularly involved in testing and improving them. Therefore, the mestizo in each individual case will develop in different ways. If your baby acquired “hybrid power” as a result of crossing his parents, then you are in luck. If you are not lucky, then the most common maltipu are:

• allergies, often associated with malnutrition;
• dislocation of the patella (patella);
• hypoglycemia, the result of which can be a "trembling" syndrome;
• hypothyroidism, which will negatively affect not only overall health, but also on the appearance;
• pancreatitis
• cardiovascular diseases;
• problems with gums and teeth;
• bouts of seizures;
• rcd3-PRA progressive retinal atrophy, which may completely or partially deprive the dog of vision;
• chronic neurological diseases, including epilepsy;
• White Shaker Dog Syndrome (or White Shaker Dog Syndrome) is characterized by impaired coordination, rapid eye movement, trembling throughout the body; more common in white dogs, but not necessary. The condition is complicated by the fact that the disease can be genetically transmitted from both maltese and the poodle.

This does not mean that all diseases will appear in your pet, therefore Do not constantly seek out signs of a particular disease. With proper care, proper nutrition and constant care, a plush pet can very well live up to 12-15 years.

The answer to the question about the diet of the dog depends on the age of the pet. Puppies feed 6, or even more, once a day. Good owners withstand the baby in breast milk for up to 3 months, that is, the puppy grows with her mother (and preferably with her father) up to this age. For all babies, breast milk is the best immunostabilizer for the body.

From about 3 months old, the dogs begin to transfer to adult food. Each product begins to be introduced with 1⁄4 of the daily portion, gradually bringing to the daily norm. It is better to introduce new products in turn, in order to understand which one the baby’s digestion was upset with or which one he liked best.

Super-premium granules and holistic classes for small breeds are recommended for designer dogs. The list of natural products is quite large:

• boiled meat of poultry, beef, rabbit, sea fish, that is, products containing protein (proteins), sometimes you can give pieces of raw beef or raw (scalded) liver;
• dairy products (not milk): cottage cheese, low-fat kefir;
• vegetables: cucumbers, bell peppers, carrots, etc .;
• greens;
• fruit (1 time in three days): apple, pear, melon, watermelon - the portion should not exceed two tablespoons so that the pet does not get fat from excess sucrose;
• buckwheat, oatmeal or rice porridge;
• 2-3 times a week, you can give walnuts with a drop of honey.

Maltipu - those are also delicious beggars. Do not give in to their "persuasion", otherwise the pet is facing obesity. It is enough for an adult dog to eat twice a day. But there should always be a bowl of clean water.

But since the menu of natural products will have to be mastered by trial and error, the pet will need vitamin complexes without fail. They will help maintain the shine and silkiness of the hairline. The vet will help you choose the right multivitamins.

The upbringing process starts from the moment a puppy appears in the house. At this moment it is very important to understand that this is not a plush toy, but a living creature that is completely dependent on its owner. Together with his pet, the owner will learn and teach where to sleep, where are the bowls for food. The main problem for many is associated with the answer to the question of how to train a puppy in a diaper.

Yes, it’s difficult for a little puppy to go to the tray. It is much easier to accustom him to a smooth surface, which is a waterproof medical diaper. You need to lay it away from the place of sleep and food. Ideally, where the tray will later stand. Puppies empty their bladder immediately after eating and after sleep. At this point, the dog needs to be put on a diaper and follow its actions.

From about two months of age, the maltipu are ready to receive training teams. Experts say that if you start training later, it will require more effort, since these mestizos are quite wayward creatures. If you let the upbringing process take its course, then on the street she will constantly run away or tear the leash, and at a party she will “announce” to everyone that you are not engaged in her upbringing. But the Malta will not tolerate any coercion: only affection, play, trust, praise, goodies for the right actions.

Whether your pet needs a general training course, decide for yourself. But the simplest commands need to be learned, since intelligence allows.

1. "To me". When the dog moves 5-10 meters, give a command. Encourage proper execution by treat, as with any other correctly executed team.
2. "Lie down." At the same time as voice acting, the dog is pressed to the floor, holding his hand in the withers and back.
3. "Nearby". Mini-dogs like to overtake the owner during a walk. This is not safe for her. Such impulses need to be suppressed. The owner needs to pronounce the command loudly, carefully pulling the leash over himself.
4. "Sit". To practice the skill, both the street and the house are suitable. When giving a command, you need to press the lower back and croup of the dog with your hand.
5. "Fu". Team required to learn. It is she who can save the life and health of the pet if he is going to pick up something on the street. It is at this moment that you need to strictly pronounce the command, and for obedience, it is imperative to praise and encourage the delicious treat.

In this way, Only praise and affection will help to raise a dog. A treat will speed up the training process.

But it is important to remember that education, training is not a one-time activity, but a permanent one, requiring time and patience from the owner.

Summing up the characteristics of the maltipa, we note that these are:

• a dog with a low degree of aggressiveness (2 points out of 5),
• average degree of activity (3/5),
• average level of training (3/5),
• high level of friendliness (4/5),
• can't stand loneliness (1/5),
• intellectually developed (4/5),
• not very noisy, but not quiet (3/5),
• she has moderate moult (3/5),
• this is a bad guard (2/5),
• requires moderate care (3/5),
• has an average level of health (3/5),
• average cost of maintenance (3/5).

All about the Maltipu breed, see the next video.