Petzlover
Maltese is originated from Italy but Pumi is originated from Hungary. Maltese may grow 22 cm / 8 inches shorter than Pumi. Maltese may weigh 10 kg / 22 pounds lesser than Pumi. Both Maltese and Pumi has almost same life span. Maltese may have less litter size than Pumi. Both Maltese and Pumi requires Moderate Maintenance.
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 Pumi is a small to medium sized dog which comes from Hungary. They have always been used for guarding livestock.
It was in 2004 that the the Pumi was accepted by the American Kennel Club Foundation Stock Service program. Also in the country of the dog’s birth, the Pumi Club was founded, and in 2011, the dog was also accepted into the AKC into the Miscellaneous class and into the herding group too.
In the UK in 2015, the Kennel Club also accepted the breed standard
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.
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 coat is a fawn, greyish silver or sandy color. The grey Pumi's are thought to be the more common color.
The medium length coat is thick and curly with the top coat being fairly harsh to the touch.There is very little shedding. The dog has semi-erect, semi-floppy ears which are high set. The eyes are small and dark.
With his tight curly coat, his kinky tail and bright expression, you’d think the Pumi was just for entertainment and a playmate, but he is a serious worker too, loving to be busy, whether for work or play.
The Pumi is lively and bold and always ready for fun and action. He is intelligent too, and early training and socialization will be important to keep him manageable and a pleasure to have around. Because he is smart he won’t have trouble learning. They’re good with children and other dogs in the family.
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.
The Pumi is a comical looking dog which some people assume makes him a bit of a lapdog, but this isn’t true. Yes, he loves to receive love and attention from his human family, but he isn’t a lapdog.
He likes to be busy if he can. He is smart and quick to learn and is affectionate, playful, loyal and loving.
His small size allows him to adapt easily to life in the city or the countryside, but he will need to be exercised. If you’re looking for a lively, amicable pet and companion, the Pumi can make an excellent family pet.
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 -
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.
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.
With the Pumi, you’re really getting a robust little dog. With good care, he can push to 14 years of age and even much older. Of course, as with all other dogs, he is prone to some of the more common dog illnesses.
Hip dysplasia is nearly always one that needs to be listed as it is really a common dog ailment that can lead to lameness.
This is an abnormal formation of the hip socket which in its severest form can lead to lameness. Luckily there are advances in veterinary medicine that make it possible for a dog with hip dysplasia to be happy and pain free.
This is an incurable, progressive disease which effects the spinal cord of your dog and is found mostly in older dogs. It’s very sad because as the disease progresses it can lead to loss of coordination in the hind legs, difficulty with supporting weight with the hind legs and also urinary and fecal incontinence.
This is an inherited disease that sadly might require you saying goodbye to your beloved 4-legged family member.
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.
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.
You can never be slack when it comes to choosing food for your pet. If you can provide him with wholesome food then you will be promoting health and longevity.
If you choose one of the commercially manufactured dog foods, make sure it is the high quality ones full of vitamins and minerals and free from all kinds of colorants and fillers.
Certainly provide him with some home-made food too, but keep it simple and tasty. An excellent home-made diet is boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta, sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach, all chopped up and mixed in twice a week with the dry kibble.
Every now and again, if you can afford it, you can also give him some raw meat added into the kibble. Plain and simple, your pet will thank you for providing him with an uncomplicated diet, gentle on his digestive system.
Make sure he always has a bowl of fresh, cool water available to him.
Energetic and lively, the Pumi is going to need regular exercise as well as mental stimulation. Show him a tennis ball and his eyes will light up as he just loves a game. Take him on a walk and include him in your ball games.
The Pumi’s coat is medium length and curly and he will need it combed to keep it free of matting. The coat will also need to be trimmed if you don’t want it becoming unruly.He isn’t a heavy shedder but will need his coat being attended to twice a week.