Maltese'R'Us - for the Love of Maltese Dogs

Diet & Exercise

There are a lot of different diets that I've heard are good, like BARF (Bones and Raw Food) or homemade meals. I personally like commercial food, because I am lazy! :-) You can't just give your Maltese whatever you are eating! NEVER! You can, however, prepare a meal just for them if you like. A lot of lucky small dogs eat only the food their human cooks for them. You can find a few recipe on our recipes page. My dogs usually eat commercial food. I don't mind commercial food because they are well balanced and digestible diet. Also, you should feed a diet specifically adapted for small dogs! Many companies have developed food for small breeds only. Ask your breeder or vet for their opinions. Read labels! Buy the ones with good ingredients (basic rule: what you would eat) and read the suggested feeding amount - divide that amount into 2 or 3 meals to avoid bloated tummy. I suggested at least 3 meals for puppies and at least 2 meals for adult dogs. Some popular brands for Maltese dogs: Eukanuba, Science Diet, Iams, Flint River Ranch, Royal Cannin Size - Small Breed, Innova, and Pedigree. I admit that the melamine scandal of a few years ago does make me worry a little about feeding commercial food.

Maltese are fussy eaters... When your Maltese doesn't like to eat dry food, you only need to re-hydrate the food with a little hot water or possibly some stock. Maltese don't need a variety of food to choose from (according to research results) so you don't need to keep changing the diet. As a matter of fact, it could cause diarrhea because you dog is not used to the new diet. When you switch diet, you should do so over a period of 10 days or more, and mix the old and new diet and increase the amount of new diet over old one gradually. One more fact: feeding dry food will help to reduce tartar build-up. If you feed canned food too, brush your Maltese's teeth at least twice a week with doggie toothpaste (which you may purchase from his vet or a pet food & supply store) and give him "dental chews".

BTW, don't teach your Maltese to beg for food (like I did with CoCo...) Instead, teach him good manners around the dining table, like: down or sit and be quiet. You will have more peaceful meals and less stressed dogs. :-)

Maltese don't need much exercise, but I found it's a good way to "exercise and feed" by using small Tricky Treat Balls or the mini Buster Cube! Sundog loved these "games". In fact, when he had food in his bowl and in his tricky ball and in the cube at the same time, he would usually go to play with the ball first then the cube and then later eat from his bowl. It's a good way to control his speed of eating and the amount he eats. You can also leave the ball or cube with him when he's left alone - the game will reduce stress of being alone.

Exercise your Maltese by walking; playing games, like hide'n seek or fetch; or taking classes. Always keep a fresh bowl of water for him.