When you have more toys, beds and dog clothing than they have in a pet store.
    When you remember other people's Maltese names but don't remember theirs.
When your parents come over to dog-sit instead of comming to baby-sit.
  When you have more photographs and albums of your Maltese than of your entire family.
  When you pull out ribbons and wraps from your pockets instead of your business
cards.
  When you'd much rather give your Maltese a bath than cook the Sunday meal.
  When you stop visiting friends in order to spend more time with your Maltese.
  When you prefer your Maltese sleeping next to you rather than your partner.
  When your bathroom cupboards are filled with expensive grooming products but you
buy the cheapest brand on the market for yourself.
  When you hide your Maltese under your coat during a winter walk.
  When you discover that you spend most of your time surfing the web for Maltese related sites instead of doing something more constructive.

Good nutrition is essential at any age to keep Maltese in the best of health. Maltese should visit a grooming parlour about every three months, depending on how fast their coat grows. Finding the right groomer can be difficult. The best groomers are usually Maltese breeders themselves. It is advisable to select a
groomer who does not accept more than two dogs from one owner at a time.

Puppies enjoy chewing on anything and everything they come across. Out of my own experience, I would warn against letting them chew on sticks or wood of any kind. Splinters can get stuck in their pallet and throat and because the symptoms are uncommon, it could be too late by the time, if ever, the actual cause is determined.

Purchasing a new puppy and bringing it home is always exiting and should be a happy occasion for both the new owner and the pup. Care should be taken not to stress the puppy too much. On the other, over pampering could also have a negative effect. As mentioned previously, gathering lots of information about the breed prior to bringing it home is very useful. Some resources on the internet may be outdated therefore, it is worth checking when the site was last updated.

Care should always be taken when deciding on a new puppy. Quality and good health should take precedence over a low price. It is not advisable to purchase a puppy from a breeder who offers to deliver the puppy to a destination of your choice prior to having seen the puppy beforehand.Chances are
a) puppy will not live long, b) it is not a purebred, c) breeding conditions by the breeder
are atrocious.

Puppies should not be take from their mother earlier than between 8 and 12 weeks of age. During the last few weeks, the young ones learn a lot from their mothers as well as from other dogs and animals. They learn to socialize with people and as a result, they can go to their new owners un-timid, well socialized and are seldom home-sick the first few nights in their new environment. This extra time is important for the breeder too, as he/she can watch the puppies as they grow and develop in terms of health, quality and
character. They are then able to communicate this information to the new owner.

Puppies are like small children and it is necessary to puppy-proof its new home to avoid unnecessary incidents taking place. It is advisable not to leave the puppy alone at home for first few days. Being
separated from it's mother is already a traumatic experience

Puppies love toys and need a nice bed or crate where they can snuggle and rest
uninterrupted.Snow-White sleeps behind my head on my pillow during the night, but during
the daytime, she likes to relax in her own bed where she knows she will not be disturbed.
Ramses does not like heights. He always feels more secure in his own basket. Cleopatra is not that
particular about where she sleeps. Anything goes as far as she is concerned. Sha'Uri prefers to
have her siesta on our German Boxer's back and at night, she either cuddels up with one of the other
two females or, even better, with me.

The breeder will happily supply information about feeding and vet care. The rest - house-breaking. Training of the puppy is up to the new owner. We went through a lot of trials and errors with
our first Maltese and we continue to learn as time goes by.