Maltese Mummy | 5 Tips on Owning a Maltese!


I've always been a huge dog lover ever since I was a little girl. I used to beg my mum & dad for a dog, wish for one every year when I'd blow out my birthday candles and had a big poster of all the different dog breeds over my bed. Unfortunately we were never allowed to get a dog due to all the travelling my family did and it didn't help matters that my mum was allergic to pet hair! But that didn't stop me from continuing the puppy obsession. I used to own hundreds of cuddly toys, collect puppies in my pocket in my breakfast cereals, research dog breeds and avidly watch dog shows. My granny told me I used to cause her mini heart attacks whenever she'd take me for a walk and I would run up to random dogs in the street & throw my arms around them. (Sorry Oma!!) 

So it's no surprise to anyone that when I eventually moved into my own flat with my then boyfriend I bought myself my very first puppy...Albi! Who subsequently bonded with Jonathan. (Insert sad face here!) I learned so much from our first dog and of course we made all the usual mistakes...he slept in our bed, we took him everywhere with us as he suffered from separation anxiety, fed him too many treats and basically spoiled him rotten! 

When we bought Sina a year later it was mostly in an effort to get Albi a friend as he was so co-dependent and we couldn't leave the house! What I didn't realise was that I would actually be the one to gain an amazing companion & friend. Sina bonded with me instantly and we even ended up getting pregnant together! Fast forward to now...and we have six dogs. It's definitely no easy task to look after that many pups and even though I've fulfilled my childhood dream of owning lots of dogs, it does come with its fair share of obstacles which we've learned to overcome. 


Here are some tips I've found helpful for owning a maltese:

1. Don't let them sleep in your bed. This was the #1 mistake we made with Albi...and I KNOW some of you are reading this thinking "nooooooo!" but trust me when I say that it will only lead to problems later on. And I am the first one to admit that there's nothing quite like doggy cuddles in bed (especially when you're feeling sad!). However I wish I would have known this before getting a dog. Unfortunately most maltese have a Napoleon complex anyway and allowing them to sleep in the "master's bed" will only make this worse. It makes them believe they rule the roost when actually it's you that does and they need to learn that. (No matter how cute they are!) Ever since putting all of our dogs to bed in a crate I noticed a huge difference in their behaviour. They love their crate & will always seek comfort in it when they're feeling stressed or anxious. It's like their very own bedroom or "safe haven".

2. Use a good quality dog food and filtered water. Okay this may sound like I'm raising total divas here...but I was once told by a dog groomer that the best way to prevent tear staining in maltese (those pesky red marks/stains around their eyes and paws) is to give them filtered or bottled water. So we keep a Brita filter in the fridge just for them...ha ha! And I swear it works! I've always fed our dogs Royal Canin Mini food since it came in Albi's puppy pack but about a year or two ago I found the Royal Canin Maltese which caters specifically to their breed. I always feel confident that by feeding them this, I'm giving them the best possible quality of food they can get. It specifically helps with their coat & dental health, helps stool odour reduction and satisfies fussy appetites (which we definitely have our fair share of!). 

3. Get them groomed regularly...preferably by a professional unless you're rather gifted! We get our dogs groomed once a month - but some say to do it every 6-8 weeks which is also fine if you're keeping on top of brushing them out. I personally don't have time anymore to brush them daily with two kids and a household to run so I choose to rely on a professional! But we also like to keep our maltese short in a "puppy cut" or "teddy bear cut" as I've heard some people call it because I think it looks cute and also it's more practical with their regular walking! We did try going down the route of grooming them ourselves when it was just Albi & Sina...it didn't end very well. They looked like they had been hacked with a kitchen knife or gardening shears...it truly was not a pretty sight!!

4. Be prepared to have multiples...unless you're home all day. This was something I admit I should have researched more however thankfully we now have jobs where we work from home but that wasn't always the case! Maltese are very co-dependent and do not like to be left on their own. So if you go to work all day, or aren't home much then this is not the right dog breed for you. They also do love each other's company and while I probably wouldn't recommend having SIX, they do love to be paired in twos. All of our dogs have special bonds with each other and I've noticed they happily pair up quite a lot. So unless you have lots of time dedicated to special one on one time with your pup, be prepared to get them a friend :)

5. Enjoy your baby! Maltese are an incredibly intelligent & lovely breed. I definitely recommend training them properly (there are tons of YouTube videos on how to do this using treats or clickers) and you should enjoy a very special and rewarding relationship with your pup. They are playful, smart, funny and very affectionate. They LOVE one-on-one time so lots of cuddles on the sofa at night-time is a must and one of my favourite ways to unwind after a long day. 

I hope this blog post is helpful! I'm not a dog expert in any official capacity but I do feel like I have quite a lot of experience with maltese, or at least I seem to have fallen into that role!

Disclaimer: This post contains a paid for advertorial. All opinions are my own, as always :)

40 comments

  1. Hi Ana, I too had a maltese, sadly she passed away this last summer. She was 71/2 years old. She was my first baby, I think of her every single day. They are very co-dependent that's true. She did sleep with me and my husband except for her first weeks at home. When I had my first child she didn't change at all but she did ignore my daughter ha. She'll always be our first baby. Now I don't want any other dogs...I just want her....
    Oh I follow you way before Jonathan and Albi, ha, I remember when you got him(Albi) and your walks with him and everything else when you lived in that tiny apt. Well I believe is more than 8 years ago

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  2. Hi Anna!

    We find the same with our dauschund re the co-dependency! Do you find the dogs shed a lot?

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  3. Lovely Anna, I am so jealous of your life with six dogs!! I only have two. I agree with everything except the sleeping in the bed thing. I don't see it as a mistake but the best thing ever and it is ok for me to let them rule (but I don't have six). I would say 6 Maltese dogs allows you to recommend things to others. Well done and keep up the good work and your kindness.

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  4. I have watched you guys since you only had Albi and Sina! So lovely to watch them have a family of their own! Beautiful pups! xxxxxx

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  5. Such a lovely blog post Anna! I have watched your vlogs from back when it was just Albi and Sina! So nice to see them have a family of their own! Love you xxxxx

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  6. I found this very helpful. I'm getting my first puppy in a few days and although she's not a Maltese, your advice is still great info to know❤️

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  7. I wish I had a dog Anna!And also I would like to have a maltese since I am from Malta ;) nice post♡

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  8. I loved hearing your dog owner tips! I have 2 boys, and they're 3/4 Maltese, 1/4th Chihuahua. One takes after a Maltese and while the other takes after his Chihuahua side. They're brother's from the same litter and I'm so glad we decided to get two. They keep each other company and are definitely very dependent on each other. I strongly agree with you on crate training. They do find a lot of comfort in their crates, and know exactly where to go when it comes bedtime or when they don't want to be bothered. lol!

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  9. Aw your doggies are adorable!!! I agree with the sleeping in the bed tip! Our dog slept in our bed and definitely thought he was the boss! Went on holiday for a week and left Jack (Yorkshire/Jack Russell cross) with my in laws, their dog always sleeps in their utility room....our dog demanded to sleep in bed with them! From the first night! He isn't with us anymore but looking into getting a new dog soon as I'm on maternity leave so want to make the most of being at home!! Love these dog posts :-) xx

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  10. This is a really good inside to having dog(s), Malteses and other. I do have just something to add. Dogs should never be left alone from humans more than 5 hours each day. Dogs are no longer wolves so their pack is not other dogs but their humans. Sure they like doggy friends but other dogs can and should never be bought as a companion if you work long hours. You then go from one sad and lonely dog, too two or more sad and lonely dogs. When dogs are left, they don´t play, they sleep or get in to trouble because they are understimulatet.

    So, if you work full time and thinking of living your dog(s) alone home all that time, think it over again. It is animal cruelty. Far to many dogs are alone FAR to many hours because their owners don´t think twice about the dogs needs and thinks its fine to leave them for that long.

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  11. This is such a lovely post Anna <3 I am exactly the same as you and I want lots of animals when I'm older! These are some such good tips <3 x

    http://monochromeroses.blogspot.co.uk/

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  12. This 100% reminds me of myself, I've been asking for a dog for as long as I can remember! I'm finally moving house soon, so I feel like one of the first things I'll need to do is get myself a little puppy �� May even consider a Maltese, Thanks for the advice Anna ��

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  13. Georgia Cadden25 May 2016 at 15:12

    This this Anna! The doggy friends really are cuties :) ❤️

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  14. I love how much you love your dogs! They must have such a happy life x
    http://my--socalledlife.blogspot.com.au/

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  15. This was so cute!! A few years ago, my mom and dad decided we needed a new dog. We got a chichihuahua which surprised me a lot, because I was so used to big dogs and here we got this tiny little thing on a bad stormy evening! We named her ChiChi - not my choice! My dad is a very macho, motorcycle dude and yet he spoils her rotten. She used to go to Walmart with my parents when she was a puppy and now she can't because she barks too much! She's bitten our mail lady about 4 times! :(

    I feel so bad that Albi bonded with Jonathon though! Thank god for Sina though! :) What I find interesting though is that I think Bianca and Eduardo have sort of bonded - at least it seems that way on the vlogs!

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  16. Love this post because I LOVE doggies! <3 We have a golden retriever and she sleeps on my parents' bed...Ooopsies! :) But she's our only one so we spoil her - we don't have a flock of little white fluffballs like you! :)

    It's Me, Maggie | http://itsme-maggie.blogspot.com/

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  17. My family is hoping to get a dog soon, so this is super helpful! Thank you! :)

    Rachel
    Simply Rachel Nicole

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  18. I have 8 maltese n thanx for the.tips anna..LOVE YOU

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  19. I have 8 maltese dogs THANX FOR THE TIPS...LOVE YOU!!!

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  20. Excellent advice Anna. I have a lovely, sweet Golden Retriever.
    Donna, NY

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  21. Hi Ana, I've got the same problem with dairy. My skin is braking out like mad when I'm having a milk, buttermilk or really fat cheese, but the good news is I can eat things like: cottage cheese, quark, mscarpone, natural yogurt. I've discovered it 6 years ago and now I don't have any brakin outs
    (well maybe sometimes, when I'm eating ice creams, but I dont have any spots after hagen daaz! :D ) You just need to try what is your body reacting to :) I hope I helped a little bit :* good luck :*

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  22. I was like you and wanted to get a dog when I was little, however I wanted a st. bernard :) my grandfather and great-grandfather had saints and I loved looking at pictures of them. Mum and dad said no,because they both had jobs and a giant dog is a lot to take care of. Now that I'm 22 I finally have my own saint and I couldn't be happier :) <3

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  23. Cute photos :)
    BLOG M&MFASHIONBITES : http://mmfashionbites.blogspot.gr/
    Maria V.

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  24. Those dogs are so cute!!!!! I really want one of my own

    http://creesianskeen.com

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  25. I love this! Malteses are adorbs! We have an American Bulldog and I love him to pieces but I also want a little doggie like a shih tzu or maltese. Right now though our bulldog is just too big and I think he would hurt a little dog playing with it :( :( :( My husband and I both said someday when hes no longer with us then we will get a little doggie ....or 3 or 4 hahahah!

    BTW i posted a comment on your channel but i know its hard to read all of them cuz there are literally thousands! Please dont let the mean people get you down......strangers can be assholes when they are hiding behind a computer!

    I think you are a lovely person and a wonderful mom & wife .... You have every right to live your life the way you want and you DO NOT have to conform to anyones beliefs or choices. Keep doing what you are doing and dont forget the people who love you far outweigh the mean ones xoxoxo

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  26. Hello, I'm leaving this message to all those out there TTC, and that last week, the day came that I never thought would happen.  I became a mother !!!We had been trying since we got married in 2009.  My husband had poor morphology and poor motility and a very low sperm count.  To add to this, I have PCOS, so our chances of conceiving naturally was very small. A friend of mine read about Dr.Oloye spells for fertility on internet. After discussions with Dr.Oloye, he helped me choose a spell which would be best for our situation.  Within a month I was pregnant and our perfect daughter was born. I will keep the pretty gemstone to give to my daughter when she is older. My advice to anyone reading this, is to give it a go on: [email protected]  

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  27. Love You and Jonathan, Emilia and Eduardo and your Cute Dogs.My Sis has a Bichon Frizese Dillon, We Love Him so much, He is like so pampered and acts like a real child, very Loveable.She had a Maltese, Oliver, but sadly he passed from a Doctor that botched his surgery..It was heartbreaking but we have Dillon thank God. Will buy one of your Zodiac necklaces as soon as I can they are beautifu. Much Love to You, And Family.I follow you everywhere, please follow me on Instagram Ginger or twitter GIGI1946 my snap is Ginger also don't know why but it says snobun 12 under my snap picture, my email is [email protected] or Gmail [email protected] Much Love Always, Ginger from Boston, USA

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  28. They all look like they are smiling! Too cute!

    If you are interested I have just started a blog about my journey with ivf to have a baby

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  29. These are really helpful tips! Like you, I've always been obsessed with dogs and I'm hoping to get one as soon as I finish uni x

    http://emmaboughtwhat.blogspot.co.uk/

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  30. Hey Anna,
    you are an awesome lady and I love how you bring a perspective of sunshine to the people around you and online. I like your sense of humor and I honestly send blessings for an awesome year ahead of you. Congratulations on showing your excellence through your gifts and talents. I love that you achieve even more than you put your mind to.
    You are an influencer and more encouraging than you possibly could ever imagine. ;)

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  31. Your dogs are so cute! Sophie x

    https://stylestarsandsparkle.blogspot.co.uk

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  32. Hi Anna!!! So SO happy I found your blog/vlog! I have tried so many foundations over the years and honestly I took your advice and went to the Estée Lauder counter and I will NEVER look back. It is amazing!!! Thanks for the tips and for sharing your very adorable family with us as well as your finds!! Best Wishes for you and your family. Also, please ignore the very unhappy judge mental people who leave negative comments about the stupidest things! I think you guys are amazing and great parents!!! Your babies are adorable!

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  33. They are the cutest! :)
    wwww.lifein-glitter.blogspot.co.uk

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  34. Hi Anna you should come to Malta and see from where the Maltese got there name!
    You have a lot of Maltese SacconeJolys fans :D

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  35. I really want one, they're adorable!
    http://pyrramidblog.blogspot.co.uk/

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  36. Your dogs are beautiful Anna, I have a small dog too. These are great tips on caring for the Maltease breed.

    Gemma x
    www.jacquardflower.uk

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  38. They're adorable! I'm a lifestyle and pet blogger www.indigoandmouse.blogspot.com

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  39. I am a future Maltese owner in the process of gathering information before purchasing my two Maltese boy dogs. This article was so helpful and funny😄
    Thank you for sharing this and I will be saving this article for future reference. Happy and Joy thank you in advance for your advice to their owner!!!

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