Mal-Shi – Our Cute “Mitzi”

Mal-Shi – Our Cute “Mitzi”

"What a Little Cutie ....!

We count ourselves very fortunate to have literally “stumbled upon” this wonderful mixed breed of dog, when going to see some pedigree Schi-Tzu puppies at a highly respected breeder’s home. On arrival, we were greeted by the owner and then shown her beautiful Schi-Tzu, Maltese Terrier, Pomeranian and Miniature Schnauzer puppies. Obviously, myself, my wife and my two young daughters were “falling in love” with them all as we met them, one by one!

So, with owning a Mal-Shi, I can highly recommend our cute little “Mitzi’s” temperament! We were also lucky that the breeder introduced us to Mitzi’s mum and dad, so we were able to get an idea about Mitzi’s emotional stability likeliehood. As it has turned out, 18 months later, her character and temperament are just wonderful! We also have a fourteen year old rescue dog, “Muffin,” who is a cross Briard and Mitzi and her are real best pals.

There are people in the dog world who think that it’s hard to tell when it comes to assessing the temperament of a mixed breed, since it is a design ‘mix’ of two different specific breeds of dog. (Maltese Terrier crossed with Schi-Tzu.) Whenever you get into breeding two separate breeds, you’ll have to rely more on the temperaments of the immediate parents to really get an idea on the emotional stability of the puppy.

"Muffin and Mitzi"

The Mal-Shi is not a purebred dog. It is a cross between the Maltese Terrier and the Shih-Tzu. The best way to determine the temperament of a mixed breed is to look up all breeds in the cross and know you can get any combination of any of the characteristics found in either breed. Not all of these designer hybrid dogs being bred are 50% purebred to 50% purebred. It is very common for breeders to breed multi-generation crosses.

Our cute little Mal-Shi puppy is called “Mitzi” and she is a wonderful dog!

Breed Description:

Coat: The coat of the Mal-Shi is typically long, straight, and dense. They may or may not have a double coat.

Overview: The Mal-Shi, also called the Malte Tzu, is created by the crossing of two breeds: the Maltese Terrier and Schi-Tzu. They are commonly referred to as “designer dogs” and have become very popular companions.

Character: Sturdy, well-built, and compact, the Mal-Shi is agile and lively. They exhibit a keen expression and hardy appearance.

Temperament: The ideal Mal-Shi is affectionate, loving, and devoted. They should be playful, spunky, and clever. They do best in a home with older, considerate children, but we can vouch for the fact that ours was also excellent with younger children. They generally do well with dogs and non-canine pets and again, our Mal-Shi loves all of our other pets, which include 3 guinea pigs, two rabbits and two hamsters! Mal-Shis are wary and suspicious of strangers and are quick to alert their family to visitors and out of the ordinary sounds …. and Mitzi is no exception to this rule.

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Care: The Mal-Shi requires daily brushing to prevent matting and tangling. Bathing should be done when necessary using a mild shampoo. The ears should be cleaned regularly to prevent infection, particular attention being taken to remove hair growth within the folds of internal skin. Dental hygiene is important to prevent early tooth loss. They may be prone to such health issues as slipped stifle, skin problems, eye and respiratory problems, and spinal disc disease.

Training: Early socialisation and obedience are recommended. The Mal-Shi may be stubborn and difficult to housebreak. They will not respond to harsh or heavy-handed methods. Training must be done with firmness, fairness, patience, and consistency. The rewards of the initial hard work we put in with Mitzi have paid off and resulted in a very well behaved and obedient loving family companion.

Activity: The Mal-Shi is well suited for apartment living provided they are sufficiently exercised and mentally stimulated, but do be warned that, although very small and cute, they will require a lot of exercise, attention and mental stimulation to channel their extremely high energy levels the right way. They enjoy good walks, family fun and play sessions, and off-lead play time, which we did experience some early stubborn recall difficulties, so again … be warned about that one … (they will do anything for a treat though!)

Ownership: If you are looking for a Mal-Shi, Malshi puppies for sale from reputable Mal-Shi, Mal-Shi breeders, or to adopt a Mal-Shi from a Mal-Shi rescue, then make sure you understand as much about the dog breeds you are interested in as you can. We hope that we have given you a good idea of our cute little dog’s characteristics and qualities and that you may be so lucky if you decide to become the owner of a Mal-Shi or Mal-Shi puppy!