Once you are certain of your decision that you want to enrich your life by adding a four-legged barking friend, I would recommend you spend a bit more time on these pages. They will certainly help you decide on the breed, sex, quality or age of your dog. They may reinforce, or they may change your decision or choice.

It is especially important that all family members support the decision on the arrival of a new member. I am certain that by choosing a Maltese you are introducing sophisticated emotions into your family, laughter from a full heart and a new aspect of communication, in which every sentence starts with "Have you seen what he has done today... did you see how beautiful, how smart he is... I have never seen a more beautiful dog... He really is the most beautiful dog..." etc. You will all become gentler and happier and only your friends will wonder, from time to time, what is happening to you. Some of those closer to you may even ask you openly, but most of them will smirk at your new view of the world.

I claim that this small, gentle creature with such an energy burst is a true magician. The final result will be that you have changed, for the better... and I will just add, becoming ever nobler.

And this is my last comment, to which there are no exceptions: if there is one person in the family that was not completely "into" the idea of getting a Maltese, this is the person that will love him, care for him and cuddle with him the most.

How long do the Maltese live?
Most often they live to about 13 years of age.

How much space does a Maltese need for a normal living?
An apartment or a house are both excellent for rearing a Maltese. One corner, proportionate to the dog's size, should be the place for his basket or pillow, where no one will disturb him when he wishes to rest.

One day, the dog will probably end up in your bed, if you allow it and desire it, or occupy your favourite armchair or sofa. A bowl of fresh water must be at the dog's disposal at all times and this is also the place where you will serve his food. A few toys will substitute your hand when the dog is alone. There is another frequently asked question here: what does he do when he is home alone? I always answer: I am sure that he is neither vacuuming nor washing your windows and he absolutely hates doing the dishes! If you have only one dog, he spends most of his time home alone sleeping.

The owner of one of my puppies tried to go to work in the first few days of having the dog. He would pause for a few minutes in the hallway and then return to the apartment to see what his pet was up to. Of course, the puppy was always happy to see him, jumping at him as he opened the door and lavishing kisses. The owner repeated this procedure a few times, or so he told me... and of course... he never went to work! I laughed for days at his confession and was seriously concerned he may lose his job. At the same time, I was sure my puppy was in the right hands.

What size are the Maltese (how big will he be when he grows up)?

You can find detailed information on Maltese standard on the website of the Toy Dog Club. When you take your puppy at 12 weeks old, you can easily estimate his size as an adult: it will be twice the weight he is at 12 weeks old, perhaps with an added 200 to 300 grams. His parents and all his ancestors determine the size of the adult dog. Recommendation is that you take a look at both ancestors and descendants, if possible. Each kennel has a tradition of a few generations and has some characteristics that the breeder wanted to emphasize and that he/she is proud of. In some kennels it is the facial expression, in others it is the quality of hair or size and sturdiness of the skeleton, temperament etc. For most good breeders, the first priority is a healthy pup conforming to the breed type.

Is the hair of a Maltese shortened?

Good hair texture, maintained regularly and with quality brushes, will enhance the appearance of your Maltese . His hair, by its texture, is closest to that of humans. The dog is brushed every day, with select brushes designed for single coats. Still, in some areas, excess hair will need to be trimmed. This is, first of all, the hair on the paws, excess hair between the paw cushions, around the anal and genital area. Daily brushing takes about 10 minutes of time and is the only way to ensure that your Maltese looks like a true representative of his breed. To achieve the length of coat needed for shows, professional grooming will be required, including hair packing.

I have never understood the explanation that Maltese should have their hair trimmed in the summer because they are hot! Professional grooming products and adequate brushes will make grooming of a long haired dog easier and I would be happy to see more dogs in their full glory - beauty and splendour of the full length coat.

The best compliment I got was when a few years back, an elderly couple asked me to let my dog run so they can enjoy the view, since, as they said "with his coat, he looks like he is swimming instead of running".

Price of a Maltese

Maltese is not a cheap breed and all around the world they top the charts of the "most wanted pets". This prestigious ranking has drawn in many people who do not have the best interest of the breed at heart. Without investments into the breed, with uncontrolled breeding, no quality selection, they produce hundreds of puppies to meet the desire of many who, with limited budgets, want to cuddle something "small and white". I have no resentment to either side - I simply enjoy what I do in a completely different manner. Desires and possibilities are not always compatible. The responsibility of choosing a puppy is yours alone. If you look for them, there certainly are ways to have the breeder produce a certificate that the dog is a representative of its breed or confirm that this is "something else". It is not difficult to find out what the story is, with just a few right questions:

* how old is the bitch
* which stud dog was she bred with
* how many litters has she had so far
* when was the last litter
* how many puppies were there in the previous litter
* was the bitch inspected and graded at a show or in the Kennel Club
* who was the judge and what mark did she get.

I can list at least ten more questions, but these alone would be enough to assess the breeder, if you are given a chance to ask and hear the answers. If the person you are talking to is a true breeder, he will patiently answer all your questions and, if it is "something else", the conversation will stop and you will not get your answers. When the only question you ask is "Do you have puppies and how much are they?", a good breeder will not have a good answer for you. A good breeder will always care about who he sells his puppies to, so please answer all questions in the Questionnaire of this kennel if you want any other information on my puppies.

Not all Maltese and their puppies being sold are equal, which is the reason why the buyer should, by all means, do his research. I have invested into this breed for many years, all my dogs are shown, I carefully plan all decisions on breeding and reproduction and breeding ethics are the only standard I want to adhere to in my work with this breed.

Depending on the parents and quality of each individual puppy, the prices of 12 week old pups at "Kali Casa" kennel are:

for males................ from 1,000 to 1,200 euros
for females ................from 1,200 to 1,600 euros

What is the difference between a show and a pet Maltese
Each breeder keeps his/her own records on all important information of his/her research. This information helps the breeder to estimate the quality of the litter. Following birth of the litter, all stages of growth and development are monitored and then compared to previous litters. Special attention is paid to the development of black pigment, hair texture, bone structure; bite is checked often and must be a complete scissors bite; the puppy's temperament is observed as well. A show potential puppy is expected to have a certain air of confidence. If a puppy does not conform, in any of these segments, from what is expected of a show dog, it will still easily become a healthy, beautiful pet, but if it shows good development in all these aspects, it can be expected to grow into a show dog. Of course, at the age of 12 weeks there is no guarantee in this matter, all you can state to is show potential.

To test the show quality, the puppy must try out in the ring, at least at two shows in the appropriate class. It is also necessary that the teeth change is completed. Such a puppy will be transferred to the care of its new owner at 7 to 9 months old; a special price is formed for such a puppy, reflecting its verified quality.

How do I get rid of the red tear stains?
There are several products on the market today that will achieve the desired result. Regular hygiene of the area under the eyes is a logical first step in removing the red stains. Acidi borici is still the most cost effective product; it is applied to a piece of cotton which is then used to gently rub the area under the eyes. This just removes the consequences, however. To remove the cause, I always recommend the product Angel Glow which can be given to a puppy already after 5 months of age, in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. For first visible results you need to wait at least 3 weeks after the start of the active treatment; after 3 weeks, you will see new, white hair starting to grow and the dog's sleep will be of light gray colour.

To buy a puppy, you first need both an emotional and a financial decision. But, immediately after, you will have to undertake a daily obligation to teach your puppy rules of civil behaviour. Maltese is an intelligent, cunning, emotional breed that is happy just to be around you. So, share some of your obligations with your dog, especially the moments you enjoy: read a book together, write emails together, watch TV, do your nails, play sports, roll around in bed...

Put my secret to a test: the closer a Maltese is, the better you will feel!