Maltese Shih Tzu is one of the most popular small-size dogs today.
These dogs are also known as Shih Tzu (not Shihtzu), Malt-Tzu, and Malti Tzu, but their most common name is Maltese Shih Tzu.
They are small in size, very compact, and great for city living, plus they do not shed a lot, which makes them great for any home, especially for homes with children.
Maltese Shih Tzu is a designer breed, and a cross between the Maltese and Shih Tzu breeds.
Good to know: Maltese Shih Tzu was created to be a small-size companion dog, suited even for those with allergies.
Are you interested in welcoming this Maltese and Shih Tzu mix into your life and home? You might want to learn more about this breed first.
Let’s study 15 real facts on Maltese Shih Tzu.
1. Maltese Shih Tzu Is A Crossbreed
Maltese Shih Tzu is a mixed breed between two pure breed parents, a Maltese dog, and Shih Tzu (also known as Shih Tzu Maltese).
The reason why this dog is so petite is due to their parent’s size. Interestingly, both parents come from completely different parts of the world.
Originally, Maltese is from the Mediterranean, while Shih Tzu is from Asia.
Where did these two meet, and where Maltese Shih Tzu was created? The very first Maltese Shih Tzu was bred first in the States back in the 1990s.
The logic behind creating this breed was to create a little companion who won’t shed a lot.
2. Maltese Shih Tzu Is Not Officially Recognized Breed
Maltese Shih Tzu is a popular breed globally. Although many know about them, it doesn’t mean that they are ‘all clear’ when it comes to papers.
Maltese Shih Tzu isn’t recognized by any of the main kennel clubs.
Why is this relevant? Not being recognized by relevant kennel clubs means that the dog has no official breed standard.
As a not-recognized breed, the Maltese Shih Tzu has no official breed standard and each Maltese Shih Tzu may vary in appearance.
However, there are some physical traits of the breed that breeders try to keep.
That being said, Maltese Shih Tzu will not have bulging eyes like Shih Tzu, or long hair like Maltese.
You can register your Maltese Shiz Tzu mix into American Canine Hybrid Club.
Maltese Shih Tzu Physical Traits
In short, Maltese Shih Tzu should have the following traits:
- Maltese Shih Tzu will have around 10 inches and between 6 to 12 pounds
- When puppies Maltese Shih Tzus will not have more than 4 inches
- They will have rounded heads and a short muzzle
- Maltese Shih Tzu will have silky hair and a double coat, but they do not smell
- As for the color, Maltese Shih Tzu will range from black to liver, and red; some may even be all white coated
3. Maltese Shiz Tzu Is A Great Choice For First Time Owners
Maltese Shiz Tzus are a great choice for first time dog owners, thanks to their soft nature and calm temperament.
Maltese Shiz Tzu is a small size dog who is easy to move in crowded areas and busy city streets.
They are not demanding when it comes to exercise requirements making them great for novice owners.
When choosing a dog, it’s important to choose a breed that will suit your lifestyle.
For example, if you have an active outdoor life, you need a breed that is eager to join you on the outdoor adventure.
On the other hand, if you love brisk walks and dogs that are not high in grooming requirements, Maltese Shiz Tzu is a great choice.
These popular companion dogs are massive people-pleasers and they love to entertain and have a good time.
In addition, they are extremely calm dog breed.
Also, they will equally manage in rural and city areas.
4. Maltese Shiz Tzu Is An Active Breed
Maltese Shiz Tzus are small it doesn’t mean that they are huge fans of outdoor time. After all, no dog will say no to a nice big yard to run whenever he wants to.
You don’t need the backyard to welcome Maltese Shiz Tzu to your home. However, you will need a good plan and some outside time to stay on top of his exercise need.
They won’t take too much of your time outside, because they don’t need a harsh activity or physical exercise plan.
How much exercise does Maltese Shiz Tzu need? They need a short walk of 15 to 30 minutes every day.
You can use this time outside to train your Maltese Shiz Tzu and socialize your Maltese Shiz Tzu puppy with other dogs.
As a playful breed by nature Maltese Shiz Tzu will be thrilled if you use mental stimulation games to help them be entertained.
This way your dog will have 3 in 1: exercise, attention, and your company.
Trust us, your dog will over the top happy.
In addition, you can learn more tricks on how to communicate with your dog .
Quick Tip: Your Maltese Shiz Tzu loves to explore, so always use a leash as they love to play hide-and-seek.
5. Maltese Shiz Tzu Is A Friendly Breed
There is not even one bad hair in this breed when it comes to their temperament and behavior.
Maltese Shiz Tzus have a wonderful temperament, as they are playful, active, and gentle, and it goes like that with all ages.
You can leave your children with this Fido and he will make sure to entertain and protect them if necessary.
Besides, they are great companions to the elderly, so no wonder that you can see so many Maltese Shiz Tzu’s in a park with the elderly.
Although they are great with children, older children just may be a better fit, as younger ones tend to handle them roughly. Youngsters often see them as moving toys.
Always educate your children on how to behave around dogs.
Simply said, just supervise them with they are left with toddlers and youngsters.
6. Maltese Shiz Tzu Can Be A Suspicious Breed
Maltese Shiz Tzu is a calm breed, but they are not fast to trust everyone.
They love spending time with their family and following them around, but they will be suspicious of new people.
If someone tries to interfere with their family time, you can expect to see a kind of ‘nasty’ personality in your canine. Your Maltese Shiz Tzu won’t be happy to see someone messing around with you.
They are especially suspicious toward strangers or even shy if there are many people that he is not familiar. They can be suspicious or even nervous around small pets.
The best way to help him deal with this is to socialize your Fido early on, both with animals and people. By doing so he will be more open to the unknown and be a great companion dog.
7. Maltese Shiz Tzu Needs Regular Grooming
Just like Maltese and Shiz Tzu, Maltese Shiz Tzu needs regular grooming. This means that weekly brushing is mandatory, while other grooming moves should be performed as needed.
Since Maltese Shiz Tzu is small in size, grooming won’t be time-consuming, but it will demand regular investment.
The light brush should be enough with their coat to get rid of that small amount of excess dander and fur.
Brush your Maltese Shiz Tzu a minimum of twice a week. Perfectly, daily brushing would give the best results.
Also, if you want to keep your dog’s hair nice, smooth, and silky you can think about bathing him twice a year.
If you are worried that commercial shampoos are bad for your pup you can always make home shampoo.
Regular check-ups of eyes, ears and gums are a mandatory part of a dog’s grooming.
8. Maltese Shiz Tzu Has A Really Silky Coat
Mal-Shi’s coat is soft, long, and silky. In some cases, it can be wavy as well, but it’s never curly.
Also, they usually come in white color, while some Maltese Shiz Tzus can have tan markings or even a combination of other colors, including brown, black, and brown and white.
It is crucial to take care of Mal-Shi’s coat, as if you neglect it you can expect some long hours of untangling.
To prevent tangles and mats you will have to brush and comb your dog regularly and make sure that he doesn’t start resisting these moments.
If you think that taking care of Mal-Shi’s coat is too much work for you, think about hiring a professional groomer when it’s needed.
9. Maltese Shiz Tzu Loves To Learn
This breed has it all – the look, calmness, and intelligence.
Maltese Shiz Tzus are highly intelligent dogs and their intelligence is what makes them so great and popular.
Thanks to their ability to learn it’s a real pleasure to train them, as in most cases they will obey.
They catch fast on to things and they are capable to retain information.
Due to their intelligence, Maltese Shiz Tzus can be stubborn during training sessions sometimes, so you can expect them to fool around, so you need to make sure that you remain the pack leader in every situation.
10. Training Maltese Shiz Tzu Isn’t Easy
Overall, it’s really easy to work with Maltese Shiz Tzu, but they can be stubborn.
Yes, they are eager to please their family members, but they also love to have some ‘me time’ so they can loosen up and do things on their own.
Don’t let the size fool you. Their size doesn’t mean that training them will be easy.
To get your Mal-Shi to a desirable level of obedience you will need a lot of patience and persistence.
Just like with any other breed it’s crucial to train your dog using positive reinforcement.
Maltese Shiz Tzu puppies will especially learn much faster from a positive and safe environment than from unfamiliar situations and aggressive behavior. Make sure that your puppy feels safe and secure.
11. Maltese Shiz Tzu Is Prone To ‘Small Dog Syndrome’
Small Dog Syndrome is an attitude problem that usually occurs in smaller breeds.
Owners usually feel like they have to protect their small dogs and sometimes they overdo with protection so much that dogs can forget that they are dogs in the first place.
Every dog, regardless of its size, should be treated as a usual dog, without special treatment.
People often carry them around or let them sit in their lap, or even pick them up as soon as the bigger dog approaches so basically dogs start believing that this behavior is normal.
Being babied and carried around as often as small dogs are, no wonder that they develop so-called ‘small dog syndrome’.
Small dog syndrome can lead to behavioral problems and in the long run, it can lead to numerous health problems.
If you believe that your dog has small dog syndrome take appropriate steps to correct the problem.
Talk with a canine behavioralist on how to treat these issues in your Maltese Shih Tzu mix.
12. Maltese Shiz Tzu Has Issues With Brachycephaly
Mal-Shi is brachycephalic.
That means that their head is shortened and it refers to a short nose and flat face.
This is common in dogs like Chihuahuas, Pugs and many more.
Dogs with this condition cannot tolerate much intense exercise and take a significant amount of time to recover after physical activity.
In most cases, this condition is usually inherited.
Good to know: Maltese Shiz Tzus are not good swimmers and should never be left unattended near water.
During summer days there is a real fear of heatstroke and overheating .
They overheat quickly as their restricted airways mean they are not able to effectively cool their bodies down.
13. Maltese Shiz Tzu Is A Long-Lived Breed
Departure from their problem with brachycephaly, Maltese Shiz Tzu is generally a healthy and long-lived breed. Their life span is between 10 to 18 years of age.
This breed is small and they grow fast so you really should be extra careful during his puppyhood, as he can swallow anything easily or a foreign object can get stuck in his fur and if left untrimmed, can lead to infections or strong discomfort.
Last but not least, you should not let your Mal-Shi grow too fat.
Obesity is a serious problem in dogs nowadays, and as a companion dog, this breed developed a tendency of becoming a couch potato.
14. Maltese Shiz Tzus Are Great As Puppies
Mal-Shi’s are social when they are an adult, but they are even more social when they are puppies. They love being at the center of attention from day one.
Their ability to entertain and stay calm in any situation is something that you won’t be immune to.
However, just because they are adorable it doesn’t mean that you should let them get away with everything. Therefore, early and structured training is mandatory, in addition to a proper exercise routine.
Start training as soon as possible if you want your furry friend to be a well-behaved canine.
15. Maltese Shiz Tzus Are Great Therapy Dogs
With their intelligence, and need to please, and love people no wonder that people found a way how to use the high-quality traits of this breed for a higher purpose.
In recent years Mal-Shi’s served as a great therapy dog.
This comes as no surprise taking into consideration the fact that they are highly intuitive, and great both with children and elders. Overall, the Maltese Shih Tzu is a successful therapy dog breed.
Pros And Cons Of Getting A Maltese Shih Tzu
Every breed comes with unique traits that make each breed unique. As such, every breed is suitable for a certain type of people.
To find the best fit you should always do extended research and even compare breeds to be 100% sure that Maltese Shih Tzu is a breed for you.
Weight in pros and cons of getting a Maltese Shih Tzu. Let’s list them.
Cons Of Getting Maltese Shih Tzu:
- Serious and regular grooming
- Keeping an eye on Maltese Shih Tzu when with children or bigger dogs
- Maltese Shih Tzu might have issues linked with brachycephaly
Pros Of Getting Maltese Shih Tzu:
- Great for small homes and apartments
- Great companions
- Highly loyal breed
- Maltese Shih Tzu doesn’t require huge amounts of exercise
Is Maltese Shih Tzu For You?
Maltese Shih Tzu is a great dog for first time dog owners. They are playful, small in size, and very attached to their people.
These dogs are relaxed, cheerful, and great family companions.
Often described as a toy breed, this Maltese Shih Tzu mix doesn’t need much exercise, making them great for not-so-outdoorsy owners.
If you want a house companion who is gentle, affectionate, and playful, and you don’t mind investing time in regular grooming, then Maltese Shih Tzu Mix is a breed to consider having.