Robbie is a Maltese that I adopted when his owners no longer wanted him. The poor little fella was covered with mats—his eyes were almost matted over and his ears were matted right to his body. He was dirty and covered with fleas. I had no alternative but to shave him to the skin when he arrived, so he spent his first few months here looking more like a little pig that the fluffy white dog he is now!

Maltese are known for their friendly, outgoing attitudes, but Robbie was not properly socialized. He growled and snapped at strangers and had no idea how to behave. He was not housebroken and he had no manners with other dogs. He is a smart boy though, and in only about six month he made tremendous improvements. He still has some work to do, but he is trying very hard to fit into the "pack"!

Maltese are beautiful dogs and always get cheers in the shows. Their happy faces and their flowing, silky hair are real crowd pleasers. But Robbie is a prime example of why they are not the dog for everyone! They require a great deal of grooming in order to stay neat and free of mats. Many people do not have the time or inclination to keep them in proper coat. Even if one decides to keep them in a short "puppy clip" as I have with Robbie, they still need frequent brushing and clipping.

As a rule, Maltese are happy, lively dogs full of life. They are intelligent and eager to please. Although small, they like to play and romp. They can learn tricks easily, but be wary—they can learn bad habits easily too! They love attention and affection and will not do well without lots of both.

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