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Finding a Good Maltese Breeder
Overview
If you have read about the Maltese breed and have your heart set on brining a Maltese into your home, it is vitally important to obtain your dog from an ethical, morally conscious and reliable source.
A Maltese should never be bought from a pet store! Pet stores get most of their dogs from Puppy Mills. We strongly ask that you do not give your money to these Mills. Most dogs bought at pet stores will develop health issues as they grow older, some sooner!
Only buy your Maltese from a trustworthy, ethical and professional Maltese breeder.
If you have read about the Maltese breed and have your heart set on brining a Maltese into your home, it is vitally important to obtain your dog from an ethical, morally conscious and reliable source.
A Maltese should never be bought from a pet store! Pet stores get most of their dogs from Puppy Mills. We strongly ask that you do not give your money to these Mills. Most dogs bought at pet stores will develop health issues as they grow older, some sooner!
Only buy your Maltese from a trustworthy, ethical and professional Maltese breeder.
Beware of Maltese breeders who try to appeal to your sense of compassion and your warm heart with adorable pictures; be sure to find an ethical and moral breeder.
Pet Stores
It does not matter if a pet store has a famous name or has been in your neighborhood for a decade. 80% of the dogs found there will come from Puppy Mills. A Mill is a horrible dog factory that breeds dogs over and over again until the mother dog dies or is discarded like trash. Small breed dogs are starved to appear smaller, mothers are forced into early labor to have premature puppies. These dogs are fed garbage & live in horrible conditions. They are put into cages so small that they are almost paralyzed. Most will develop serious health issues.
20% of dogs found in pet stores do come from breeders. Although, beware. A good breeder usually receives plenty of business by word of mouth and a strong reputation; they do not need to place dogs in stores.
Finding a Good Maltese Breeder
So, with all of the breeders in the world, how do you find a great one? The answer is research and investigation. Know the signs of a good Maltese breeder.
You should research breeders. The best one is probably not a quick and easy drive from your home. In today's world of the Internet, just about every good breeder will have a website. Does this mean that all good breeders have sites? No.
Anyone can put up a website, add cute pictures of Maltese puppies, type words that say they only breed quality dogs and then appeal to your heart.
First Things First
The above questions will most likely allow you to narrow your list down quite a bit. It is recommended to have 3 quality breeders in mind. Trying your best to resist cute pictures and every cuter puppies in person, visit the breeders to investigate. The breeding area should be very clean. All dogs (adult and puppies) should appear extremely healthy, well fed and active. Ask to see papers for the mother and father of any puppy you may be interested in. Ask for documentation showing vaccinations for the puppy. A good Maltese breeder will also have some literature regarding care for the dog. They will also ask you questions, such as your living environment and your available time to care for the dog. A breeder that tries to rush you into a decision is a red flag warning. One that takes the time to answer your questions and ask you questions is a great sign.
It does not matter if a pet store has a famous name or has been in your neighborhood for a decade. 80% of the dogs found there will come from Puppy Mills. A Mill is a horrible dog factory that breeds dogs over and over again until the mother dog dies or is discarded like trash. Small breed dogs are starved to appear smaller, mothers are forced into early labor to have premature puppies. These dogs are fed garbage & live in horrible conditions. They are put into cages so small that they are almost paralyzed. Most will develop serious health issues.
20% of dogs found in pet stores do come from breeders. Although, beware. A good breeder usually receives plenty of business by word of mouth and a strong reputation; they do not need to place dogs in stores.
Finding a Good Maltese Breeder
So, with all of the breeders in the world, how do you find a great one? The answer is research and investigation. Know the signs of a good Maltese breeder.
You should research breeders. The best one is probably not a quick and easy drive from your home. In today's world of the Internet, just about every good breeder will have a website. Does this mean that all good breeders have sites? No.
Anyone can put up a website, add cute pictures of Maltese puppies, type words that say they only breed quality dogs and then appeal to your heart.
First Things First
- Locate a few breeders that appeal to you, narrow the list down by realistic location and your ability to travel the distance. Some breeders will offer to send the dog to you; this is not recommended as you will have zero opportunity to check out the puppy for health and behavior
- Once you list is narrowed down, call each breeder. You will want to ask:
- How often do they bred a certain female? A good breeder will not breed a dog at each heat cycle. This puts quite a strain on the female and is not healthy. A great breeder will allow the female to rest and breed perhaps every other cycle.
- Ask what the breeder does with a "retired" dog (a dog that is too old to have puppies).
- Ask the expected average adult weight of their Maltese dogs. Any answer under 4 pounds should equal you hanging up the telephone
- Ask for referrals. A good Maltese breeder would be happy to give you the contact information of people who have previously purchased dogs from them. Don't be shy! Call the references and ask about the health of their dog and if they have had any concerns over their purchase
- Ask at what age they sell their pups. In almost every region, a puppy cannot be taken away from its mother until they are 8 weeks old, 12 weeks old in some locations. Puppies that are forced into early weaning can have major health issues.
The above questions will most likely allow you to narrow your list down quite a bit. It is recommended to have 3 quality breeders in mind. Trying your best to resist cute pictures and every cuter puppies in person, visit the breeders to investigate. The breeding area should be very clean. All dogs (adult and puppies) should appear extremely healthy, well fed and active. Ask to see papers for the mother and father of any puppy you may be interested in. Ask for documentation showing vaccinations for the puppy. A good Maltese breeder will also have some literature regarding care for the dog. They will also ask you questions, such as your living environment and your available time to care for the dog. A breeder that tries to rush you into a decision is a red flag warning. One that takes the time to answer your questions and ask you questions is a great sign.
