Teacup Maltese

A Teacup Maltese is a small, white dog that belongs to the toy group. It is an ancient breed that has long been associated with the island of Malta.

While Teacup Maltese do not shed, they are covered from head to foot with a mantle of long, silky, white hair. The coats require regular grooming in order to prevent matting. This is also why many owners will keep their Maltese clipped at around 1 to 2 inches all over. These dogs do not have an undercoat and, although not desirable, they may have cream or light lemon ears. Their skull is slightly rounded, their tongues are extremely long and their nose is black but it can fade in the winter due to a lack of sun, thus causing it to become pink or light brown in color. They have a compact body wherein their length equals their height. The Teacup Maltese have drop ears with long hair and very dark eyes that is surrounded by darker skin pigmentation that looks like a halo. This is also what gives the Teacup Maltese its expressive look. As an adult, a Teacup Maltese can range from 3 to 10 pounds. The American Kennel Club calls for a weight that is between 4 and pounds and no more than 7 pounds.

Before you decide to become the owner of a Teacup Maltese you should know that these dogs are notoriously difficult to housebreak and often need to be box or paper trained, rather than trained to "go out." You will also need to be prepared to deal with their energy or you will find that they will be a handful for you. This is because, despite their diminutive size, Teacup Maltese seem to be fearless, which makes them very easy to socialize with other dogs and even with cats. These dogs are extremely lively and playful, even as they age. Throughout their life, a Teacup Maltese's energy level and playful demeanor remain fairly constant and does not diminish much.

Teacup Maltese are very good with children. However, puppies will not necessarily be a good choice for families that have infants. Once a Teacup Maltese is a bit older and more mature, it will do fine around infants. You should also know that these dogs do not require a lot of exercise, but they do enjoy running and playing chase. They can be very demanding and are definitely "lap dogs" but do not require constant attention. This is why they do very well with small yards and in apartments. These dogs also have very good temperaments and are not very yappy.