Maltese puppies

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Maltese puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A toy breed puppy at eight weeks is small enough to be genuinely fragile. It can be hurt by a jump off a sofa and by being stepped on, and toy breeds are prone to low blood sugar, so it needs frequent small meals rather than two big ones. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming needs are high. Start daily brushing and short, positive handling sessions at eight weeks, well before the adult coat arrives, or the first professional groom will be traumatic. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Patellar luxation, with a patella evaluation recommended by the national breed club
• Cardiac disease, with a cardiac exam recommended by the national breed club
• Liver shunt, screened for with a serum bile acids test

From Maltese breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/maltese/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Your Maltese puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Toy for a Maltese.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 1.8 to 3.2 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Other toy breeds

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