RiverStar-Aura Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 (edited) As I was on my way to work this morning I was struck with a curious thought: what happened to the pure bred Maltese Terrier? You often see Maltese x *insert breed of choice* but I must admit that I don't think I've ever seen a pure bred Maltese and I find that sad. It's almost as though they've become the ultimate dog to cross-breed but as a stand-alone breed, they seem to have disappeared. Are there any pure-bred Maltese owners on the forum and if so, how many? And do you know why your breed has all but disappeared from the pure-bred circuit? Edited April 18, 2011 by RiverStar-Aura Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paptacular! Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 Might want to add your title before the Maltese people get up you. :D They are not a 'terrier'. But you are right, the only pure ones I think I've ever seen have been at shows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swizzlestick Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 We get a few purebred Maltese where I work, only a few. Most are Maltese X Shih Tzu. But then again, we see FAR more cross breds than purebreds anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RiverStar-Aura Posted April 18, 2011 Author Share Posted April 18, 2011 Might want to add your title before the Maltese people get up you. ;)They are not a 'terrier'. :D There's a lady at work we call the Terrier but that's another story completely. Aren't they a terrier at all? I've always thought they were classified as terriers and I've often heard them referred to as Maltese Terriers. Is this wrong is it? Well, I've learned something new today! :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bjelkier Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 Not they are a toy breed, not a terrier. You dont see many around which is a shame, I love them. But I did meet one on our walk the other day, lovely dog in puppy clip and very well bahaved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzy82 Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 I have a poodle x maltese (from a shelter). I think it's sad that I don't see any maltese dogs around too, as I quite like the sound of their personalities and the look of them. And I honestly find most dogs crossed with maltese quite unattractive. Like their bodies are out of proportion and their faces are funny looking. I don't find them cute at all. Not all of them of course, but most. My maltese x has the body of a poodle (long and lean) with the adorable face of a maltese. I have been told she is the prettiest poodle x people have ever seen, and I can't disagree of course:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsrawesome Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 (edited) Most are Maltese X Shih Tzu. This is all i ever see... ive only seen one pure bred and thats my aunty's, she travelled 2hrs to get her from a reputable breeder :D proud of her lol Edited April 18, 2011 by Dogsrawesome Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancinbcs Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 Some interesting statistics on ANKC registrations 1987 Toy Group – 15775 Aust Silky – 2425 Cav KCS- 2085 Maltese- 2008 Pug-522 Terrier Group- 10021 Amstaff-0 Bull Terrier-3359 SBT-1913 2010 Toy Group – 10134 Aust Silky – 273 Cav KCS- 2942 Maltese- 315 Pug- 1495 Terrier Group-11770 Amstaff-1625 Bull Terrier-977 SBT-4695 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boxagirl Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 In the 6 years I've worked in the kennels, I have seen 1 purebred maltese. Most are shih X malts, and then there is the lhasa x malts, bichon and poodle crosses too. I have seen more pure shih's than malts. I think so many shih x malts have been bred to other shih x malts that they have just earned themselves the generic term SWF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Clover Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 Yep they are not Terriers, i always correct customers when they say Maltese Terrier. And yes you dont see many pedigrees around anymore. They are all just refered to as SWFs though :D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RubyStar Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 I have a purebred Maltese (not papered, though, she's 17 and my parents didn't know any better when they bought her for me). She lives with my parents now though as I didn't want to uproot her when I moved out. Purebred Matese's must be so rare that the vet clinic has her down as a Maltese x Shih Tzu. I spied it on their computer during a consult and I said umm she is just Maltese. They never did update it, though :p They just assume when you say Maltese, it MUST be crossed with a Shih Tzu :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mim Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 (edited) I have only met two purebred Malteses and they are owned by a very dog savvy family that own a pet supply store. Lovely dogs, when they got the second it was a wee puppy running around the store and just SO cute. A ball of fluff that licks you :D Edited April 18, 2011 by Mim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RubyStar Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 We used to call ours as a puppy "powderpuff". She used to sleep in mum's slippers, her body in the foot part and her head resting on the toe part :D Plenty of room in there, too! Can't believe we don't have a single photo of it, though :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gayle. Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 They are beautiful little dogs, friends of mine had one years ago and she was a sweetheart. I just looked on the DOL puppy listings, there are some for sale and oh my goodness, they are not at all expensive. Who'd have a mutt when you can have one of these for about the same price? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RiverStar-Aura Posted April 18, 2011 Author Share Posted April 18, 2011 It certainly makes me wonder about all the cross breeds. Since there seems to be so few pure bred Maltese around the crosses must be starting to get very diluted in the gene pool. Originally I'm assuming that a pure bred Maltese would've been used to create the cross but nowadays, would it be safer to assume that "breeders" are mating the Maltese x with another Maltese x? It is a shame because they seem like such sweet little dogs and from what GayleK has just said, they're also reasonably priced. One thing about the Maltese being a toy breed though, isn't the Yorkshire Terrier considered a toy breed? So is it possible to be both a terrier and a toy or am I wrong in thinking the Yorkie is a toy breed too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RANDCMOORE31 Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 I have a pure breeed maltese - now known as Grandpa Ted - as he's close to 15. I believe they are the most beautiful dogs - the ultimate lap dog with sweet, even dispositions and temperaments. They can be a little wilful though - with selective hearing! I will definitel be having another (or two) when my old boy and his current siblings all pass over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenGirl85 Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 How often do you see 'purebred Maltese Shih Tzu's for sale, I think they have taken over the 'Maltese Terrier' of the byb world and people think this is an actual breed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Anne~ Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 Some interesting statistics on ANKC registrations1987 Toy Group – 15775 Aust Silky – 2425 Cav KCS- 2085 Maltese- 2008 Pug-522 Terrier Group- 10021 Amstaff-0 Bull Terrier-3359 SBT-1913 2010 Toy Group – 10134 Aust Silky – 273 Cav KCS- 2942 Maltese- 315 Pug- 1495 Terrier Group-11770 Amstaff-1625 Bull Terrier-977 SBT-4695 I think the popularity of breeds come and go though and always will. What is more telling, and is incredibly sad, is that the overall figures for purebred dogs is in a dramatic freefall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Souff Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 (edited) Some interesting statistics on ANKC registrations1987 Toy Group – 15775 Aust Silky – 2425 Cav KCS- 2085 Maltese- 2008 Pug-522 Terrier Group- 10021 Amstaff-0 Bull Terrier-3359 SBT-1913 2010 Toy Group – 10134 Aust Silky – 273 Cav KCS- 2942 Maltese- 315 Pug- 1495 Terrier Group-11770 Amstaff-1625 Bull Terrier-977 SBT-4695 I miss seeing well bred Maltese of good temperament. Would be interesting to see how many Maltese pups were put on to the Limited Register in 1987 and in the following years. The practice did not stop unregistered breeders using Maltese to produce crossbred SWFs in their thousands but I suppose it kept the competition down in the show ring. Souff edited for s & g Edited April 18, 2011 by Souff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Souff Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 Some interesting statistics on ANKC registrations1987 Toy Group – 15775 Aust Silky – 2425 Cav KCS- 2085 Maltese- 2008 Pug-522 Terrier Group- 10021 Amstaff-0 Bull Terrier-3359 SBT-1913 2010 Toy Group – 10134 Aust Silky – 273 Cav KCS- 2942 Maltese- 315 Pug- 1495 Terrier Group-11770 Amstaff-1625 Bull Terrier-977 SBT-4695 I think the popularity of breeds come and go though and always will. What is more telling, and is incredibly sad, is that the overall figures for purebred dogs is in a dramatic freefall. In many breeds the freefall just continues, but it is not without warning but across society .... vets, universities, breeders, animal welfare orgs and canine registries .... have pretty much failed to heed the warnings. All know the consequences of depleted gene pools (or they should know) but what steps have been taken to reverse the dangerous trends? None so blind ...... or apathetic. Souff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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