Sealyham Terrier vs Mal-Shi - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Small and pretty, the Mal-shi is a new crossbreed dog which originated in the United States and only recently - in the 1990s.

There hasn’t been much interest shown in developing this small dog into an independent breed, so most of these dogs are regarded as crosses from the two parent breeds – the Maltese Poodle and the ShihTzu.

Known as a designer dog he was also bred to be a low shedder. No breed clubs for this dog have been established and there are no breed standards either.

The Sealyham Terrier is a rare dog breed originating in Wales. The dog was developed in the 19th century by Captain John Edwardes at Sealyham House. The Sealy has been associated with members of the British Royal Family, but its numbers declined to such an extent that it was listed as a vulnerable native breed by the Kennel Club.

The Sealyham Terrier club was created in 1908 and the dog breed was officially recognised by the Kennel Club in 1911. This dog is now recognized by all the major kennel clubs. The American Sealyham Terrier Club was founded in 1913.

The Mal-Shi is a small dog standing at around 25–30 cm in height and weighing between 3 and 7kg. As a designer dog he has a low-shedding coat of many colors – white, black and white, white and apricot and brown.

The coat is usually soft and silky and slightly wavy and it can grow long if left untrimmed. Most people take their pets to a professional groomer to be cut.

The skull of the dog is domed, he has small ears which can be half-erect and half-floppy.The tail is long and fairly feathery. Sometimes the dog inherits the underdeveloped tear duct of the Maltese and then there is that usual tear-staining around the eyes.

Temperament:

THE Mal-Si is such a cute little dog, making him a splendid pet for children and he is more than happy to be cuddled and petted. Small and active, he is adaptable and will live easily in the city or the countryside, as his exercise needs aren’t that demanding. He basically requires a walk each day and will love some ball games both inside and outdoors.

He is an extrovert and also an entertainer, and his amicable nature allows him to get along with other pets in the home. However, contrary to what he looks like, he is a bold dog, social and also intelligent, making him easy to train.

It is to any owner’s advantage to have a little dog like this trained and socialized, even though he is so good natured. He makes a great therapy dog too. When the Mal-Shi is at home he’s an affectionate, loving dog who just wants to spend time in the company of his human family.

As a companion dog, he won’t do well when left for hours on end on his own. Dogs are social creatures, and they can battle with separation anxiety when left alone for too long. Every dog owner needs to think of this before investing in a dog.

The Sealyham is a dog that stands low to the ground and its height shouldn’t exceed 27 - 30cm and weight should be about 8 - 9kg.

The double coat is considered non-shedding and is wiry and weather resistant. It is nearly always white but can be fawn. They’ve got big heads with dark, deep set eyes. The ears are semi-erect, semi-floppy and the tail is usually docked.

Temperament:

Affectionately referred to as Sealy, there aren't too many of these little dogs left. At one time, they were a very popular terrier breed, but today they are uncommon – almost endangered.

He’s a social dog with his human family but tends to be reserved around strangers. He also tends to be just a little bit more mellow than some of the more rowdier terrier breeds.

He gets on well with other dogs in the home as well as with children. He is an intelligent little dog but is inclined to be stubborn so you have to show him both firmness and kindness and also think about obedience training for him.

He’s amicable and adjusts well to life in the city or the countryside.

The Maltese Shih Tzu is an attractive little dog who is guaranteed to make you a splendid pet. Those who have owned both Maltese and Maltese Shih Tzu will tell you that the temperament of this dog is more amicable than that of the Maltese.

With his amicable nature, he is willing to be everyone’s friend, and he makes a particularly good choice for elderly people.

Being such a people-dog, the Maltese Shih Tzu's greatest joy comes from being petted and taken notice of by his human family. He can’t bear to be left for long periods of time. Like any other dog, he will require training and socialization, requiring a firm, balanced, consistent, fair owner.

Cheerful and good-natured, when he is loved to the moon and back, this little dog promises to make you and exceptional best friend.

The Sealyham Terrier is such a robust little dog with a distinctive look.

He can be stubborn but he loves his human family and is sociable and amicable with them, slotting in to their way of life. He can be a couch potato or an active outdoor dog – whatever is required of him and he makes and excellent, loving family pet and companion.

The Maltese Shih Tzu is a robust little dog, and with good care he can live to be anything between 10 to 15 years of age.

There are some health issues you want to be aware of with this particular dog breed.

Respiratory Problems:

Your little canine friend can have respiratory problems because of him being a flat-faced breed. Known as brachycephalic dogs, these dogs can have breathing difficulties. They are usually fine when resting, but during exercise or if they become too hot, they battle with breathing. It makes them more prone to heatstroke, so it is important to keep dogs like this cool and calm.

Patellar Luxation:

This is actually a common problem in small dogs - dislocation of a bone at a joint. Patellar luxation is when the knee joint slides in and out of place, causing pain.

White Dog Shaker Syndrome:

This is a disease which is seen in the Shih Tzu and Maltese. Symptoms include uncontrollable shaking and tremors. These can continue all day. The illness is worse during times of stress and there may even be difficulty with walking. The cause is unknown but he will certainly need to get to the vet.

This is a hardy dog breed and you don’t hear of many health problems associated with him. It seems as though you might have to watch out for an eye condition known as lens luxation. It's an eye condition with dogs where the lens slips out of position because of weakening of the fibers that hold it in place.

There is a lack of fluid in the eye causing optic nerve damage and this can lead to blindness.

Retinal Dysplasia is another eye problem . This is a developmental malformation of the retina that the dog is born with. Symptoms in dogs are a reluctance to jump off things such as the bed or he may even bump into things.

Atopic Dermatitis is something the Sealyham is more prone to. Its an allergic skin disease which drives a dog mad with its itchiness. Your pet will certainly need treatment from the vet to relieve it.

Diet:

The Mal-Shi is a small dog and will require eating two small meals a day. An adult Mal-Shi will eat according to his age, size and activity levels.The quality of the dog food you buy will make a huge difference to his wellbeing. The better quality foods – those without preservatives, colorants and fillers will ensure good health and longevity for your pet.

Don’t just give him dry kibble every time – mix in some chopped up cooked chicken, brown rice and vegetables. Remember that some vegetables like onion can be bad for your pet.

Dogs love simplicity, and feeding your dog these simple foods will ensure you don’t battle with upset stomachs. Make sure you always have a bowl of fresh, cool water available for your pet.

General:

Trim his nails when they get long and don’t wear down naturally.

Check his ears for redness, itchiness and discharge which could indicate an ear infection.

If you have him professionally groomed, you will still need to brush him twice a week. It’s also your time to check him over for ticks and fleas and any unusual lumps.

Provide your Sealy with his own warm, dry bed.

Brush the long, weather-resistant coat at least twice a week. Hand-stripping of the coat will maintain the wiry, hard texture, but because this method can be quite a laborious process, many Sealy owners rather have their dog professionally clipped.

Check inside his mouth for bad teeth as well as inside the ears for signs of infection. His eyes should also be clear and free of discharge.

His nails will also need to be trimmed.

The Sealyham doesn’t require a lot of exercise but he must at least be given a walk every day.

Ensure the vaccines are up to date. They start when your pet is just a puppy. Remember to get your dog to the vet when you suspect that he is ill.

Feed your Sealyham with good food. Make sure you’re feeding your pet a high quality food as this promotes health and longevity. Provide your Santal Hound with top quality food to ensure his health.

Always choose the quality commercially manufactured foods on the market – those that have natural, good ingredients in them. Try to include some home-made food for him which can be simply mixed into the dry kibble twice a week.

There is no need to offer your dog a host of different foods. Dogs want simplicity and consistency. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots is super tasty and nutritious. If you can, also try and include a little bit of raw meat to his diet occasionally as this can go towards ensuring he doesn’t get skin diseases.

Make sure that a constant supply of fresh, cool water is available to your dog.