Are you ready for a maltese puppy?

Never buy on impulse. Be sure that your home environment and lifestyle are well suited for a pet, and that you understand the needs of the Maltese breed, or any other breed you are interested in. Each breed comes with its own unique qualities and challenges.

If you choose a Maltese, you will need to be prepared to groom your pet companion on regular basis. This means combing your pet three to seven days each week, and bathing on a weekly to monthly basis. Additionally, Maltese are people dogs. There is nothing a Maltese loves more than attention from its human companion(s). If you think you may need to leave your pet alone for long periods of time on a regular basis, the Maltese may not be the breed for you.

Where to find your pet

When choosing a Maltese pet, be sure to buy from a reputable breeder, and never from a pet store. You should be able to see where your new puppy has spent the first months of his life and see that he was properly cared for and socialized. You should be able to meet the mother of the puppy to get a better sense of how your puppy will look when he is grown.

Sadly, not all people professing to be reputable and responsible breeders are. A good breeder, above all, has the best interest of the dogs in mind. A good breeder will ask you a lot of questions to make sure that you are a good fit for the puppy, and that the puppy is good fit for you.

You will have the chance to ask a lot of questions too. If at any time you get an uneasy feeling or feel the breeder is not forthcoming with information, look somewhere else. Here are a few questions that you may want to start with:

• 1) What is the asking price for the puppies?
  
  If there is big difference in price between the puppies a breeder is offering, you might ask why. If there is a big difference in price between different breeders you have talked with, you might ask why. Keep in mind, the lower price is not necessarily the best value.
  
• 2) What socialization has been done?
  
  While young puppies should not leave the breeders home due to a growing immune system, you puppy should have the opportunity to be exposed to many things even before your take him or her home. You puppy should be comfortable around people, with common household noises such as the vacuum cleaner, and with being groomed and bathed.
  
• 3) What are the puppies fed?
  
  A good breeder feeds high quality food and will be willing to send several days supply home with your puppy. If you plan to change your puppy's food, you will need to slowly transition from the old food to the new food.
  
• 4) What inoculations have been given, and what does your puppy still need?
  
  Your puppy should be current on vaccines, and the breeder should provide a checklist of the vaccines your pup will need in the first year.
  
• 5) Can the breeder provide references from previous buyers?
  
  The best way to be sure that you are dealing with an honest breeder is to talk with other people who have bought puppies from them.
  

I love all of my puppies and I want to be sure they stay happy and healthy in their news homes, and throughout their lives. If you have any questions or concerns before choosing a puppy, or after bringing a puppy home from China Doll Maltese, please do not hesitate to call me.

How to choose your pet

So you’ve made the decision to adopt a Maltese! It is very exciting to think of bringing your new family member home, but you may have to prepare for a wait. Most reputable breeders, including China Doll Maltese, do not always have puppies ready to take home. Unlike larger breeds, Maltese stay with their mothers until 12 weeks of age, so you may be able to meet some puppies who will be ready to take home in several weeks.

Also, you may want to meet a few different dogs before choosing the right one. While there are many common qualities in the breed, each Maltese has a very unique and special personality and temperament. Let your heart pick out the love of your life!