No Such Thing as a Teacup Maltese Dog
Maltese dogs are very small to begin with, usually only reaching about 6 1/2 to 9 pounds and 8 to 10 inches tall. Sometimes there is a dog in a litter that is smaller than this. Many unscrupulous breeders are trying to make extra money by selling what they are calling teacup maltese dogs. These are just maltese dogs that may be smaller than average (or may even just be average sized maltese dogs).
Maltese dogs are already small and fragile; you do not want to buy one that is smaller than normal, especially not one that is less than four pounds. These dogs, which are usually the ones marketed as teacup maltese, are likely to have many health problems and usually don’t have very long life spans. You should avoid any breeder that purposely breeds these dogs trying to get extra small maltese dogs to sell to people who think they are cute as these are not responsible breeders.
There are many good things about maltese and so-called teacup maltese dogs, however. These dogs are generally good for allergy sufferers since they are not shedders. They can be very playful and loving, and they are very smart as well. They are also suitable for life in an apartment as long as they are taken for their daily walk and given plenty of opportunity for exercise.
If you have children, a maltese (or a teacup maltese) is not a good idea. Children have too much of a chance of accidentally harming or even killing these dogs since they are so small and fragile. They can also easily startle the dog, which can be stressful and lead to biting incidences.
One of the other considerations you need to make note of is that the maltese is very hard to train, and can suffer from a number of different issues if not properly socialized and trained. This dog can suffer from separation anxiety and develop a barking problem. You will most likely have problems house breaking these dogs, so you should be aware of this before you purchase them.
There are also a lot of grooming needs for a teacup maltese or maltese dog. Their long hair needs to be brushed every day or kept clipped short or it will become tangled and matted.
