Polish Hunting Dog vs Maltese - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

The Maltese dog hardly needs any introduction as this is an ancient breed which is still as popular as ever. Some people refer to it as the "Maltese Lion Dog," or "Melita" which was Malta’s previous name.

It was in the 19th century, that the Kennel Club settled on the name of Maltese for the dog breed. The dog has been selectively bred to keep its small size. The exact origin of the dog is unknown and there are various stories surrounding where its origins are, thought to be Italy.

It is believed that dogs such as spaniels and poodles have been used to bring about the Maltese. The American Kennel Club, a registry for pure bred dogs, recognized the breed in 1888.

The Polish Hunting Dog originates from Poland and is a purebred scenthound. Hunting with scent hounds goes right back to the 13th century, being highly esteemed by Polish nobility.

The famous Polish cynologist, Jozef Pawuslewicz hunted with Polish scent hounds and was part of the development of breeding this dog.

He wrote the first breed standard and the dog was officially registered by the Polish Cynological Association.

The Maltese is looked upon as a toy dog. Both male and female stand roughly between 20-25cm in height and weigh between 1 and 4kg.

He is as cute as a button with a rounded skull, a pitch black nose, brown eyes and medium length floppy ears. The tail is feathery and is curled. He has a long, silky coat without an undercoat.

The color of his coat is pure white, and because he doesn’t shed he is looked upon as being hypoallergenic. Most people who own a Maltese like having the coat short to one length all round.

Temperament:

These little dogs have been bred to be companion dogs. They may be little, but it is a good idea to have him trained and socialized as they are inclined to be a bit snappy, especially with children.

He is intelligent, so training him won’t be difficult. Brought up the right way though, he can be good with children as well as pets in the home. They love their human families and want to be constantly with them. He is an energetic little dog too, and will just love ball games both inside and outside.

His very temperament and smallness make it that he fits perfectly into life in the city or the countryside. He is sweet and gentle but he makes a good watchdog, alerting you with his barking to strangers coming close by. Don’t leave him for long period of time as he hates being on his own and then he may start barking from sheer boredom and frustration.

The Polish Hunting Dog is a large, strong dog standing between 50 – 66cm in height and weighing between 20 to 32kg. He is very similar to a Doberman Pinscher or a Rottweiler in looks.

The dog’s coat is short and the color is usually black and tan. He is a deep chested dog with a well-proportioned head, with longish muzzle and floppy ears. The tail is long.

Temperament:

Well balanced and gentle, the Polish Hound is a courageous, intelligent dog, easy to train and socialize. It isn’t an aggressive dog but is wary of strangers.

He loves playing with children and is loving and kind to them. He never tires of their games. He is alert and protective and makes a great watchdog.

The Maltese is a popular dog no doubt, and his smallness is a draw-card as he adapts easily to life in the city or the countryside.

He is loving, loyal, intelligent and responsive, making him a good family dog and being an excellent playmate for children. Teach your children how to respect animals because raucous, disrespectful kids might produce a nip from an agitated Maltese.

Being a light shedder is another draw-card, with him being looked upon as a hypoallergenic breed. He has got so many good things going for him that he is guaranteed to make you an ideal pet.

Your Polish Hunting Dog is a great choice of dog as a family pet. Used as a hunting dog he will be thrilled if he lands up with a family who are active and outdoorsy types.

You can always count him in when it comes to going for walks, hiking, cycling or running next to you when you go horse-riding.

The Polish Hunting dog is a stable, gentle dog and he has a whole lot of other wonderful attributes to his name. He is loving, loyal, courageous, friendly, social and companionable. And he's good looking. What a great pet this low maintenance dog makes.

Your Maltese is a feisty little thing who, with good care, can live for a good few years – up to 15 or even longer. As with any other dog, he can become ill. One or two illnesses to look out for include -

Skin Problems:

Sebaceous adenitis is caused by inflammation of the sebaceous glands and is an uncommon skin disease found in some breeds of dog.

There are two types - one for long coated breeds and one for short coated breeds. For long or double-coated dogs, you’ll notice a white/silvery kind of dandruff on the coat as well as hair loss. There can also be skin lesions along the back and ears. It can make your pet miserable and he will need to see a vet.

Thyroid Problems:

A common hormonal problem is canine hypothyroidism, brought on by inadequate levels of thyroid hormones. Symptoms include hair loss, weight gain, coldness and a weakened immune system.

They are generally a robust breed and can easily reach up to 14 years of age with good care. There are always some common dog illnesses that you can benefit from knowing about because then you can get your pet to the vet if he appears to be under the weather.

Parasites:

Active dogs are always going to be exposed to parasites, whether they be ticks, fleas or worms. Right from word go, puppies are treated for worms, but it is important to treat your dog regularly for parasites. Speak to your vet about the best products.

Heat Stroke:

Heatstroke is always a risk for dogs even in areas where the weather isn’t particularly hot. People think on overcast days they can leave their dog in the car while they go in to the shops. A temperature that seems mild to a human can be like an oven to a dog. Excess heat is deadly to a dog. Signs of heatstroke include drooling, panting, anxiety, collapsing and then death.

Diet:

Your Maltese is going to require quality food, water, exercise and shelter to enjoy a good life. The type of food you feed any dog has a direct impact on his health.

You need to provide him with quality food, and if its commercially manufactured food, you need to read the labels carefully so that the food is appropriate to your Maltese. For instance, you can’t mistakenly pull a ‘large-breed’ packet of food off the shelves and expect your Maltese to be able to stomach it.

If you do buy him this kibble, make sure the ingredients are wholesome. To break the monotony of eating kibble every day, give him some boiled chicken, brown rice and some raw or cooked vegetables chopped up finely into his kibble. He will love you for this as it makes a tasty meal for him and will keep him healthy.

Try to keep his diet nice and simple to avoid digestive problems.

Make sure he has constant access to fresh, cool water.

General Care:

Make sure your Maltese dog has a nice warm, dry place to sleep.

Get him to the vet if you notice that he is ill.

Brush his hair twice a week and take him to have it professionally cut if you prefer.

Clip his nails when they become too long and check around his eyes and inside his ears for any kind of infection.

These little dogs are prone to dental problems and he will need to have his teeth brushed 2 or 3 times a week.

Exercise:

The Polish Hunting Dog has always had an acute sense of smell, and with his long legs he has always been able to track his prey for many miles. This hunting has made him a dog that wants lots exercise and activities.

As a pet, this dog will require a lot of exercise, being better suited to active, outdoor type of owners. He is therefore better suited to life in the country and large open spaces as opposed to living in the city.

Grooming:

Apart from brushing your pets coat twice a week, check him over for ticks if you want to avoid the spread of tick-borne diseases.

Check his ears, inside and out. Check inside his mouth for bad teeth. This is because your dog can’t tell you if he has pain, and toothache can be terrible for your pet and bad teeth can affect other body organs such as the heart and the kidneys.

Make sure your pets nails are trimmed.

Make sure your pet receives excellent food. If you’re going to be feeding your dog commercially manufactured dog food, make sure it is the best quality ones. Some of the other foods have ingredients in them which can cause your dog to get sick.

Try and give your dog some wholesome, home-made food. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta, carrots, sweet potato and spinach chopped up and added to the kibble will have your pet wagging his tail with delight. It will also be to his benefit to get some raw meat in from time to time.

Never leave your pet without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.