Malshi: An Adorable Mix Dog Breed of Maltese and Shih Tzu

Malshi also known as Malti Zu, Shima, or Malt zoo is a mix of two extremely cute small breeds of dogs known as Maltese and Shih Tzu. Malshi has become extremely popular worldwide as it combines the cuteness of two different breeds in one. The origin of Malshi is traced back to the USA and Canada. It is a designer dog created with similar goals to a poodle. It’s a small, loving, and energetic dog who’d happily be a lap dog too when you want it to be.

Basic Overview of the Mal-Shi (Maltese Shih Tzu) Dog Breed

They are hypoallergenic as they do not shed much and can adapt to various lifestyles. Even a full-grown Malshi would be of a height similar to puppies of most large breed dogs which makes them so adorable.

Adaptability

Malshi puppies, as well as full-grown Malshi dogs, adapt well to living in apartments due to their small size and less requirement for vigorous exercise. They are also good for novice owners due to the easy-going nature of the Malshi dog.

The Malshi dogs are moderately sensitive and don’t really enjoy being left alone for a long time. The Malshi breed is sensitive to extreme hot and cold weather which makes them more comfortable indoors. Make sure to make arrangements in extreme conditions so that they don’t get hypothermia or hyperthermia. Here you can also read about Carolina Dog.

Malshi puppies, if socialized well, behave extremely well around families with children. Although children do need to learn to be respectful around dogs for the Malshi to not get scared. Kids shouldn’t touch their food or hurt them physically.

The Malshi breed is also friendly towards other dogs and strangers when introduced properly.

Grooming and Health

They barely shed and this makes them great around people with allergies. Malshi pups are also great for people who love dogs but hate drool strings all around. They barely drool. They are easy to groom because of their small size.

The coat of the Malshi dog is long, soft, and white in color. They may sometimes have tan markings. They may also have other color combinations depending on the parents’ coat.

With daily brushing, their soft coat doesn’t get tangled and is easy to maintain. If you aren’t able to comb them daily or maintain their long hair, you can get the coat trimmed by a professional groomer once every 4-5 months. After a trim, brushing your Malshi twice a week would be enough.

Maintaining dental hygiene is equally important when you have the Malshi dog breed as this helps in the prevention of tartar buildup and the occurrence of periodontal diseases. Many dog-friendly toothpastes are available for this purpose. You should use a soft brush in a small size for your Malshi.

Regular nail trimming by a vet or a professional groomer is a must as this will prevent their foot from getting an injury. Regular walks also help with the wear down of nails. Every kind of grooming should start at an early age to make your Malshi puppy comfortable with the process.

When it comes to the health of the Malshi breed dogs, they generally show good overall health but it also depends greatly on the breeding. The parents must be selected carefully and must be free of heritable diseases for the litter to be healthy.

Some of the common heritable diseases are elbow and hip dysplasia, patellar lunation, von Willebrand’s disease, and hypothyroidism which can be avoided with proper breeding.

Exercise

Like an owner like a dog, it best suits the Malshi breed. They adapt to the lifestyle of their human parents. If you’re an active person, your Malshi will be up for every adventure with you. If you have a sedentary lifestyle, they’d happily be a lap dog but a regular walk would still be needed to keep them physically and mentally stimulated.

With the Malshi breed, you do not need to exercise them to burn off their excess energy like most medium or large breeds. Their moderate need for exercise makes them happy with a walk a day or a small game of fetch.

Malshi Temperament and Personality

The Malshi puppies are so small and cute, you’d want to pamper them and treat them like a little baby but being too soft with them spoils them and makes them stubborn.

Be loving but also tell you what’s acceptable and what isn’t because you’re the only source where they can learn from, so make sure you teach them well.

They are an intelligent breed of dogs which makes them easy to train as they pick up quickly. Malshi’s temperament is sweet, loving, and calm. Their desire to please the owners and their need for attention makes them even easier to train.

The Malshi’s temperament being sweet and affectionate combined with their small size doesn’t make them naturally good guard dogs. Although they do alert the owners by barking if they sense any suspicious activity.

The Malshi is quite vocal in nature so they’re only a good choice for you if you don’t mind their barking.

History

The Malshi breed originated in the USA during the 1990s which makes them a relatively modern breed. Even though they originated in the USA, they are extremely popular in other parts of the world.

They were created with the intent of breeding a dog that sheds less and can be a perfect companion for people with allergies. Being a new hybrid, they are not yet recognized by the kennel club and other major breeding organizations.

Malshi Food Requirements

One small cup of food twice a day is enough for these tiny dogs but it also depends on the brand of the dog food, your dog’s activity levels, etc. you can formulate a balanced diet with the help of your veterinarian.

Malshi Size and Lifespan

A fully grown Malshi dog will weigh approximately 3 to 5.5 kgs and reach a height of 10 inches. Females are usually smaller in size than males.

The lifespan of Malshi ranges from 12 to 14 years.

Teacup Malshi

Teacup Malshi’s are extremely small and as the name suggests they can actually fit in the teacup. They are too cute to resist but we would like to warn you that with their extremely small size come to a lot of health problems. Thus, we usually recommend against getting a teacup Malshi.

Many times breeders may use the runt of the litter or weak dogs to breed the teacup Malshi puppies, hence it’s hard to get a healthy and actual Malshi teacup dog.

Malshi Puppies Price

If you’re out to get a Malshi puppy make sure you get them from a reputable breeder to avoid health issues and to maintain a good pedigree.

A Malshi puppy may cost you anywhere between 300$ to 1500$ depending on the quality and authenticity. Prices may increase when buying a dog for show or other competitive purposes.

Irrespective of how much you Malshi costs, whether it is bought or adopted, the love they’ll give you will be unconditional and never-ending. Dogs enrich our lives and make our house, home. A little Malshi is probably all that’s missing in your life and getting one will definitely make it complete and full.

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