Appearance of the Crested Malt
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A Crested Malt generally resembles a longer Maltese with some characteristics of the Chinese Crested Dog, including its slender legs. It's a toy breed whose build lies somewhere between the compact body of the Maltese and the slim silhouette of the Chinese Crested Dog. Crested Malts weigh an average of 2.5 to 4.5 kilos and generally reach a height of 25.5 to 30.5 centimeters. Their medium to long coat is silky and soft. It can be relatively shorter around the torso and legs, and comes in combinations of white, apricot, black, blue, chocolate, cream, palomino, slate with mottled or white markings. Crested Malts have a well-coated, medium-length tail, dark nose and eyes, and a tapering, medium-length muzzle. They have gentle, inquisitive expressions, and small, round feet with black toe pads. |
Temperament of the Crested Malt
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Crested Malts are sensitive animals known for being playful, cuddly companions. They do very well in family environments where they have daily structure and plenty of human attention. Since this intelligent breed is eager to please, they respond well to human direction, training and obedience. In general, Crested Malts get on well with children and other animals. In fact, this breed enjoys vigorous play sessions with other dogs, as long as they're not much bigger. Although Crested Malts are relatively bulky and may growl when playing, they are not known to be aggressive. In addition, and in keeping with the breed's "toy" reputation, Crested Malts are vocal and can bark frequently. Despite their energy and personality, however, Crested Malts are most content when they lie down and snuggle with family members. This trait makes the Crested Malt ideal for owners living in cities and apartments. |
Needs and activities of the Crested Malt
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Because of their small size, Crested Malts only need a short walk, a play session in the dog park or to romp around indoors, making them an excellent pet for apartment or urban dog owners. Beyond that, Crested Malts are well suited to all types of climate. However, owners should ensure that their pet is not exposed to significant amounts of sun or cold if it has hairless areas on its body. Also note that this breed tends to chase small animals and should always be supervised in off-leash areas. Crested Malts are also highly intelligent and enjoy playing games and learning commands as part of their daily entertainment. |
Maintenance of the Crested Malt
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Crested Malts are hypoallergenic and well suited to allergic dog lovers. Although they are minimal excretors, they need their long coats brushed regularly. As Crested Malts have longer hair in certain areas, owners should trim their dogs' ears, face and feet to avoid infection or impede mobility. Crested Malts should also be bathed once a month and, like all dog breeds, have their teeth brushed daily and their nails trimmed once or twice a month. Although not common in this hybrid, some Crested Malts may have hairless areas if they take after their Chinese-created parent. If this is the case, owners should take every precaution to protect their dog's hairless areas with clothing or skin treatments to avoid topical irritation or infection. |