The dog’s neck should hold the head in a high position, almost as if the dog is holding its head back a little. The tail should be curled over the dog’s hind end. The tail should also be plumed. The front feet can be slightly turned out, but turned out back feet are not permitted. The Maltese pup’s paw pads should be completely black.
The dog should have a black nose, with its eyes a deep brown or black. The skin around the eyes should be dark. The jaw should be lined up in a scissor bite. A parrot or sow bite is considered not desirable for this breed.
The coat should be silky and thin, never greasy. Maltese dogs can also have red fur on their feet, but this is not permitted in most show competitions.
Try telling the dog “no” to a behavior you don’t want it to do. If the dog seems to understand, or at least try to, then this is a good sign for trainability.
You want a Maltese dog that is comfortable around people and not afraid of a crowd. Your dog should not be aggressive or shy.
Behavioral characteristics in dogs are often shared genetically – so a dog that is mild-mannered is likely to give birth to puppies with similar mild-mannered temperaments. And vice versa with disobedient or aggressive behaviors. This is also a great way to get an estimate about the ultimate size your Maltese puppy will grow to.
In some competitions, other types of registrations are partially acceptable. For example, CKS and APRI registered dogs are often allowed to participate in most events at shows, only excluding the Conformation event. If you don’t have any papers for your purebred Maltese dog (and you can’t get any from the breeder), you can contact the AKC to see what they can do to help you. In some cases, accreditation can be given with photo evidence and written statements by witnesses who claim that the dog is a purebred.
You could also check with another relevant body, such as the Kennel Club. In some cases, the show entity will have its own rules regarding breed-specific weight requirements.
Avoid punishment or older theories involving dominance as they are likely to make your dog fearful or competitive. To get your Maltese to a point where it is ready to succeed in a dog show, you’ll need to focus on obedience training. This means practicing commands, establishing your position as the leader, rewarding your dog when it behaves correctly, leash training, and teaching your dog some simple commands. Once your dog masters some easy commands (like “sit,” “stay,” and “come”), you can move to more complicated tasks like fetching, following you without a leash, and rolling over. Make sure your dog knows how to stand and carry itself well so that its flowing coat is on display. Some shows also require entry into a preliminary competition at an unofficial dog show called “Matches. ” These events are still hosted by kennel clubs and help dogs become more socialized and accustomed to the show atmosphere.
A dog who loves to perform, even under pressure, will be able to succeed in the stressful show environment when other dogs may break due to the stress of the situation.
