Premier Kennel Club (PKC)
History
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The Maltichon comes from a royal lineage.
You heard that right! Both of the Maltichon’s parent breeds were well-loved by royal and aristocrats of old.
In the past the Maltese Terrier spent time in the laps of Phoenicians, Greeks, and Romans until finding their way into the homes of Chinese nobles. At the same time, the Bichon Frise’s popularity within the Italian, Spanish, and French aristocracies began sometime around the 13th century and continued up to the French Revolution. Still today these three dog breeds are still seen as posh, pretty pups!
Description
The Maltichon is sweet and good-natured but far from passive in its everyday environment. In other words, this canine companion doesn’t just tolerate being around children, dogs, and other people. It likes the hustle and bustle of day-to-day family life.
Like many extra-small dogs, the Maltese Bichon Frise mix is also near-fearless. This trait makes the mix an excellent watchdog but might not be the best for prospective owners in small apartments or who already own a large dog. Adequate socialization from an early age can help temper the Maltichon’s alert personality.
Are These Dogs Good for Families?
Maltichons love spending time with children, whether it’s spent playing or just hanging out around the house.
Even though Maltichons are extremely adaptable, we recommend introducing your new puppy to young children in a controlled and supervised environment. Ensuring positive experiences at an early age will help your dog grow into a sociable, well-adjusted adult.
Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets?
Yes, the Maltichon is well-known for getting along with other pets, including other dogs. But keep in mind that Maltichons can be a bit reckless around larger dogs, so they should always be supervised when making new friends!
Proper socialization and positive reinforcement will help ensure that your dog is ready for every encounter with new friends and family.
Exercise
Maltichons love to go on brief walks, running around the house, and playing with their toys. Approximately 30 minutes of activity per day is enough to keep these little fluffballs healthy and happy!
Since these dogs are intelligent and alert, physical exercise isn’t always enough to truly tire them out. Brain games and puzzles are excellent ways to burn off that extra energy before it turns into destructive behavior.
Grooming
When it comes to grooming a Maltichon, these dogs are low shedding.
Each dog’s coat and skin type will vary slightly, but the Maltese Terrier and Bichon Frise are known for having low-shedding, hypoallergenic coats. However, both parent breeds also require near-daily grooming.
Gentle daily combing or brushing can help prevent tangles & mats in your Maltichon’s coat from becoming painful and unmanageable. It can also ensure that the coat stays clean and free of loose debris. Baths should be given about once per month with a good conditioner and detangler for easier grooming.
Key Facts
- Height: 8-11”
- Size: Small
- Weight: 9-13lbs
- Availability: Might take some effort to find
- Talents: Performing tricks, Companionship
Notes
The Maltichon is a great option for first-time owners or experienced dog owners. They are loving intelligent designer dogs sure to please!
Compared to most popular mixed breeds, the Maltichon isn’t easily distinguishable from its purebred parents. The Bichon Frise and Maltese Terrier share nearly identical sizes, physical builds, coat types, and coloration. The physical and temperamental similarities between the Maltese Terrier and Bichon Frise also mean that Maltichon puppies display more consistent traits than other designer breeds.
The top three reasons we love Maltichon’s are its hypoallergenic skin, sweet personality, and adaptability. Whether you live alone or with a family, in an apartment or a single-family home, you’re sure to find a loving companion in this mix. Their sweet personality makes them a great fit for anyone.
If you are looking for a small, playful, and gentle pup that can adapt to almost any living situation, then a Maltichon might be the perfect pup for you.
Behavior
- Children: Excellent with children
- Friendliness: Moderately protective
- Trainability: Very easy to train
- Independence: Fairly independent
- Dominance: Moderate
- Other Pets: Great with other pets
- Combativeness: Friendly with other pets
- Noise: Not a barker
- Indoors: Moderately active indoors
- Owner: Good for novice owners
Care
- Grooming: Regular grooming needed
- Trimming and Stripping: Some trimming or stripping needed
- Coat: Curly/Medium coat
- Shedding: None or Very Light
- Docking: Ears and tail are not cropped or docked
- Exercise: Moderate exercise needed
- Jogging: A good jogging companion
- Apartments: If sufficiently exercised, will be okay in an apartment
- Outdoor Space: Ok with or without a yard if exercised
- Climate: Does well in most climates
- Longevity: Average (12-15 years)