Teacup Maltese – Quick Facts About The Adorable Designer Dog Breed

teacup maltese

Teacup Maltese are some of the most beautiful and lovely looking toy dog breeds favored by dog lovers everywhere. Also known as Toy Maltese, Miniature Maltese, Mini Maltese, the dog’s gentleness, friendliness and lovely looking coat are what endears this particular dog breed to people.

Aside from its looks and temperament, the Teacup Maltese has a long and exciting history of how it became the dog breed that we all know and love today. One look at its history and tell that the dog breed has experienced many things. If you don’t own a Maltese dog yet, this information can still be useful for you.

tiny maltese

Teacup Maltese Origin

As far as recorded history is concerned, the breed originated somewhere around 6,000 BC or 8,000 BC. From its name, anyone would assume that the breed came from the Island of Malta in the Mediterranean Sea. The ancient Greek and Roman people believe that the dog came from the mentioned island and gave it the name “Melitaie Dog.” However, there is evidence that shows the dog being indigenous to Malta. The dog’s origins are from South-Central Europe and descended from the area’s Spitz-type dog breed.

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The dog was a popular trading item bought to the Island of Malta first then to places like China, the Middle East, Tibet, Philippines, and Japan. Where the merchants and traders went, the dog was with them.

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The evidence of the dog’s popularity is found in the various representations of the ancient cultures familiar with the dog. The ancient Egyptians worshiped the dog as a god, Greek vases and ceramic art depicts the dog, the famous poets and historians of ancient Greek or Roman background are familiar with the breed. Pliny the Elder, Aristotle, Strabo, Timon, Martial, Callimachus, Artimidorous, Aelian and St. Clement of Alexandria all commonly mention the dog. Finally, Claudius, the Roman Emperor, owned one. It is unknown whether the Maltese were Teacup Maltese, but it didn’t matter since the dog was very popular.

white teacup maltese full grown

The Maltese breed was able to weather out the history known as the “Dark Ages.” Like the royalty, aristocrats, and statespersons, the upper classes considered the dog as a prized pet. Another thing that made the dog famous is that the Maltese were said to possess medicinal healing power. The dog was placed on the sick person’s chest or stomach to apply the “healing” effect. Some called the dog as the “Comforter” since the dog’s small size, along with its affectionate and warm nature, was comforting to those holding the animal in their hands. This description is one indication that the dog was being bred into a Teacup Maltese. Make sure to read our review about the best pet stroller for dogs.

In the 16th century, after the Dark Ages, the Maltese still was a popular pet. In fact, famous persons like Mary, Queen of Scots and England’s Queen Elizabeth the First owned several Maltese dogs.

Sometime in the middle of the 1800s, a debate arose concerning the classification of the Maltese. Dog authorities and dog writers were divided as to what family the dog belongs to. One side asserts that the Maltese are in the Terrier family due to its Terrier-like temperament. Others claim that they belonged to the Spaniel family due to their physical appearance. By the early 1900s, everyone agreed that the dog is neither a Spaniel nor a Terrier and decided that all Teacup Maltese dogs and Teacup Maltese puppies are Maltese dogs.

By 1873 the Kennel Club of England was established and this group founded the first dog studbook. The book has twenty-four Maltese teacup dogs registered dating from 1859 to 1873. One of the famous Maltese breeders named Lady Giffard had dogs noted for their long silky coats. Lady Giffard bred dogs around 1875 to 1885. Some of her famous Maltese teacup dogs were “Hugh” a four-pound dog and his sister “Queenie,” who weighs at three pounds.

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The dog breed was introduced to the United States in 1873. Dog lovers in the United States at this time showed a keen interest in the Maltese. In fact, what interested Americans was colored Maltese dogs. In the United States, the black Maltese appeared by breeding a black Pomeranian and a white Maltese. The period from 1900 and 1910 saw the rise of numerous kennels for breeding Poodles. Some of these kennels began crossbreeding the Poodle with the Teacup Maltese, which produced the Maltipoo breed.

The Maltese dog’s popularity in the United States grew in the 1950s and today, their popularity still keeps growing.

Interesting fact: the dog is known by other names such as “Ye Ancient Dogge of Malta,” the “Spaniel Gentle,” the “Bichon,” and the “Maltese Lion Dog.”

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Teacup Maltese Dog Lifespan

A Teacup Maltese lifespan is shorter than human years, so it is a concern that Maltese dog owners will have to deal with. A healthy Maltese lifespan can reach to 13 years. The average range of lifespan is between 12 to 15 years. A Maltese dog that reaches 13.1 years of age is considered to very old. Of course, some dogs live to be 15, 16, or 17 years old before dying of natural causes. Additionally, female Maltese dogs have longer lifespans compared to male Maltese dogs.

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Their “secret” to extending the lifespan of a Maltese dog is no secret. Just simply take care of its health, give it lots of exercises and proper nutrition can extend the dog’s lifespan. For specifics, here are some tips:

  • Dental care – Easy to do and yet easy to overlook by the dog’s owner.
  • Check-ups – A necessary thing to do because some health issues cannot be detected superficially. Veterinarians are better at the job.
  • Proper Diet – Avoid poor quality food, additives, fillers and meals with no nutritional element.
  • Good Exercise – This activity strengthens and improves the heart, muscles, and lungs of the dog. Also, keep the Maltese dog physically fit.

Foods

Feeding your dog is crucial for maintaining the well-being and good health of your pet. You need to know what types of food and how to feed you Teacup Maltese dog to ensure its physical well-being.

How much food is needed for a Teacup Maltese?

Several factors determine the amount of food that you need to feed your dog. These are age, level of activity and the dog’s natural body metabolism. Pregnancy is another factor since pregnant female dogs will need lots of nutrients for their unborn growing puppies.

Feeding tips for Teacup Maltese puppies

  • The critical and important period for a puppy’s growth development is its first two years. Bones and body of the puppy grow at a rapid rate necessitating the need for the exact amount of necessary nutrients, vitamins, and calories to give to it. Growing pups need only 1 ounce (28 grams) to 1.5 ounces (42 grams) of food equal to its body weight once per day.
  • Avoid free feeding method for your Maltese, who is past three months old. This method is more of a personality discipline than a physical concern about overfeeding. A puppy that got used to free feeding will always expect food when it becomes an adult. As an adult, a Maltese should only have one full meal per day.

Feeding tips for Adult Maltese dogs

  • Once your dog is two years old, it will eat less food. At this point, you need only to give your dog ½ ounce (14 grams) of dog food (preferably dry) per body pound each day. You can divide the dog’s one big meal into several smaller meals if you want to feed it more than once per day. Active Maltese dogs will need more food to eat than usual.
  • At the age of seven, (and up), your dog is more comfortable to feed since you don’t have to keep up with your pet’s growth rate. One meal is needed to serve your dog coupled with fresh, healthy snacks’. Be sure to set aside on a quiet, private corner in your home where you can feed your Maltese dog without any distractions from the noise and foot traffic in your house.

2 white maltese

Teacup Maltese Training

Training is one of the most exciting and fun parts of owning a Teacup Maltese dog. It’s a good thing that the dog breed is brilliant, making training easier for you. An added and valuable benefit to training a Maltese is that you are essentially creating and strengthening the human-dog bond that both you and your pet have together. Here are some helpful tips to remember:

  • Use positive reinforcement when training. Lots of praises, encouragement and rewards do wonders for the dog’s morale. Just keep in its moderation because otherwise, you will be spoiling your dog.
  • Throw the “leash jerking” and “hard corrections” method out of the window. You and your dog do not need them. Instead, use repetitive and consistent training to shape its behavior and discipline the dog to behave.
  • Start training the dog by teaching to obey simple commands like sit, stay, down, come, etc. If your Maltese is still a puppy learning it, simple commands are easier since they can quickly grasp the commands.
  • Potty training is another essential training session. Make sure that you pay close attention to this training and have the persistence to see this training through.
  • You can use a crate as a training tool for the Maltese to potty and let the dog know that the potty’s desirable eliminations are rewarded. Potty training applies to indoors and outdoors potty.
  • Your Maltese dog often eats other animals’ feces. This condition is called “coprophagia,” and it is more common than you think. Your dog will eventually outgrow it, but it is still better to stop the disgusting habit. Most animal feces have bad stuff and bacteria in it, so it is important to stop your dog from eating said animal feces.
    To break this habit, make sure that your dog is eating nutritious and well-balanced meals. You can choose to divide its meal into two servings to keep it away from feces-eating
    Stimulate your dog’s mental and physical state to keep its mind away from making its disgusting habit.
  • Your Maltese dog is very fond of chewing things like its other dog breeds. Your dog may be experiencing separation anxiety, teething, attention-getting, or phobia hence its chewing behavior. It cannot be stressed enough as to why a Maltese must be discouraged from such an activity. Your dog might chew on harmful objects like poisons or eclectic wire.
    If you notice that your dog is fond of chewing a particular object, take the purpose and coat it with non-toxic substances to discourage the dog. Alternatively, you can shoot a firm “NO!”
  • A Maltese is a loud barking dog, and its barking will drive you and anyone else to madness. A Maltese dog barks due to grabbing the attention (of its owner, you), sensing a threat to territory and demanding things. Obedience training can solve this problem.

Maltese Teacup Sizes

A full-grown adult Maltese will reach 8 to 10 inches at the shoulder. Note that a Toy Maltese is considered as a Toy Dog only when it reaches its maximum size as an adult. Another thing about Maltese dog sizes; the American Kennel Club (or AKC) has weight standards for Maltese dogs shown in dog shows or exhibitions.

If you’re the type, who likes to enter your Maltese dog in events like these, be sure to know what the size (and weight) standards needed to join. Be wary of Maltese dogs that are undersized. These kinds of dogs tend to have many health problems, and some of those can be expensive to treat.

Teacup Maltese Pictures

maltese teacup

miniature maltese Dog

White Teacup Maltese Dog Puppy

teacup maltese puppies

Teacup Maltese Price

The highest Teacup Maltese price is $2250. The lowest price is $700. Make sure that you get your money’s worth when buying Teacup Maltese puppies or adults.

Overall Stats

  • Personality – Playful, lively, friendly, easily trained and adorable.
  • Weight – Reaches up to 7 pounds max.
  • Coat colors – Pure, solid white, Light tan and Lemon (or Yellowish color).
  • Feeding – High-quality dry food served in ¼ to ½ cup divided into two parts.

There is no doubt that the Teacup Maltese is an excellent pet companion with a long, impressive history. Regardless of what happens, just bear in mind to love and care for your Maltese dog. You can expect the dog to return that you have shown to it.

12 thoughts on “Teacup Maltese – Quick Facts About The Adorable Designer Dog Breed”

  1. Howdy! This post couldn’t be written any better! Going through this article reminds me of my previous roommate! He continually kept preaching about this. I’ll send this information to him. Fairly certain he’ll have a great read. Many thanks for sharing!

  2. Quisiera comprar un perrito taza de te . Por favor si saben quien tiene que me escriban a este correo para pinernos de acuerdo. Gracias

  3. This is false information this site is providing. There is no such thing as a toy or teacup Maltese the breed as a whole is in the toy group the preferred weight for a Maltese is 4-6 pounds but they can be bigger.

    1. Miranda—Agreed!! Teacup Maltese are nothing more than underdeveloped and underfed Maltese babies. They will adapt to the diet you give them at weaning, and if underfed, naturally, they won’t grow enough.

      And this is true for other breeds, as well. And why? Because super tiny is just so Darn Cute! Awww!

      It’s the same concept throughout all species. The idea is that tiny, cute babies will cause the mother to nurture and feed the baby, snuggling and warming until weaning. It’s exactly the same with humans. If you gave birth to a 75 year-old man who poops, breast-feeds, and claws at your body, would want to love and cuddle with it? And if he could talk, “telling you to get over here with those big old milk machines” — you wouldn’t be so inclined to feed him!

      So, this is just my rant about “teacup” animals and the weakening of the breeds. It happens, but the breeds should be left alone to maintain the health and consistency.

      1. This is not true at all. I have a Teacup Maltese and I would never under feed her. I feed her three times a day and has snacks in between she is 5 months old and weighs 2 pounds. So yes there are teacup pups and yes they are fed.

        1. We also have a teacup Maltese and he is given more then enough food. People are so quick to judge especially over a computer! The want from above is pure ignorance. Our dog has been to the vet and our vet called him a teacup stating that genetically he will be small in size with a huge personality!

  4. I have a Teacup Maltese. Gabriel is 4 months and 3 pounds. After blood work from the vet for allergies, genetics. etc. .. Going over the report he will not get much bigger.. He is adorable and a perfect teacup size. I do not under fed him. He has a healthy appetite and eats 3 times a day.

  5. We rescued two. They were happy. But later on one got sick for the first time and we took him to the vet and all they could find was an infection in his spine. They treated him with antibiotics but he passed away that same night. He was 10 months old. The second one got sick quickly after. Digestive issues. He has pancreatitis. He is doing well if we keep him on prescription food. And meds close by.

  6. My teacup Maltese was adorable he weighed just 4 kg. he was my fur baby, my best friend, I do believe there is an element of truth of that being a healer.
    I enjoyed 15.5 years together and not one walk without a stranger stopping to pat him! Rockstar walk! Head high- bum wiggle tail wagging, tap dancer, a little dancer, cartwheels to greet me, I miss him..

  7. My beautiful Flossy is now 14 years and 3 months old. She is getting tired now and just the thought of her not being here hurts so much. The most beautiful loving, loyal friend ever.

  8. My last 2 tiny angels lived happy healthy 15 and 16 years.. l am 80 y/o , 2 yrs searching for Yorkie, Maltese or Morkie, under 8 lb predicted, adult wt Would adopt or rehome any age, teacup. No longer able to pay over $500 to $700. Exhausted all known sources including exposure to scam artists, Ca. to Fla. is there any hope in Dallas area, I live in townhouse type apartment, appropriate fenced property with walking trails and great doggie park and playground.. I miss my babies terribly, widow, live alone.

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