Maltese Dogs Life Span

Maltese are one of the most faithful dog breeds that belong to the toy group, most popular for its silky, long and white hair. Though there are some alterations in the coat color (other than white) such as cream, light yellowish and pale ivory tinge, pure white colored Maltese always leads the most popular demand list. On an average,an adult Maltese dog weighs about 3 - 4 kgs and its height may range from 20-25 cms, which is a little lesser than the trunk length. Let's take a look at Maltese dogs life span, characteristic information and grooming tips.

Maltese Dogs: Information
Maltese dogs have a slightly rounded, dome shaped skull. The eyes and nose are pure black in color. This small hardy pet dog looks expressive, mainly because of the dark pigmented skin that surrounds the eyes. Also, you might notice fading of the nose color to pink or brown shades or both. This condition is called 'winter nose' and happens when the pet dog is not exposed to sunlight for a prolonged period. In such a condition take your dog outdoors and let him soak in as much sunlight as he can, within a few days time, the nose color will become normal.

Maltese Dogs: Life Span
On an average a Maltese dog survives for about 12 - 14 years. Nevertheless, the life span of Maltese dogs depends upon how you groom and take care of them. Many dog owners even succeed in enjoying their company for 15 years. There are also records that suggest some Maltese dogs life expectancy to be as long as 18 years. Apart from taking care of the dog food and diseases, an important factor to make your pet live longer is maintaining a dry and comfortable environment.

Maltese Dogs: Grooming
Unlike some other dog breeds, Maltese do not have an undercoat or down hair. As they have no undercoat, there is little to no shedding. This is the reason why, they make the best pets for hyper-allergic people. For easy grooming, most pet owners trim the coat and maintain it in a short length. Especially the hair near the ear, which should be cut short, so that they do not clog the ear canal.

Daily combing is advisable in order to maintain the silky white fur. Make sure you brush with slow and gentle strokes. Tear staining near the eyes is a common problem with Maltese dogs. To avoid such a case, clean the eyes daily with a soft wet cloth. Also, do not forget to clean the mouth area and beard after meals. After bathing and shampooing, you can pat and dry the fur properly with a clean absorbent towel. Read more on dog grooming.

Maltese dogs are cuddly and usually have a good temperament, as compared to other dogs and are hence considered to be one of the best small dog breeds. With proper supervision, these pet dogs can be the best playful companion for kids. Maltese dogs are very active and remain playful even in apartments. Hence, if you do not have yard or lawn, you can still enjoy the company of this wonderful dog. The only thing is spend time with him by walking outdoors, if possible on a daily basis. Otherwise, if you keep your Maltese dog in confinement for many days, he will become lethargic and may show health problems and behavioral changes.

With this information I hope by now, you have learned about Maltese dogs life span, characteristic features for identification and basic grooming requirements. Give them lots of love, check for their basic requirements and follow proper dog care tips, only then, your pet will live happily and survive to its fullest.