The Maltese Chihuahua is a fascinating cross-breed dog, to say the least. They possess a host of remarkable traits that can take a while to get used to. But don’t worry, in this piece I’ll be providing a guide that will help you get along just fine.
First of all, it is worth noting that the Maltese Chihuahua, also known as the Malchi, is a small crossbreed dog resulting from the mixing of a Maltese and a Chihuahua parent. It is not a distinctive breed on its own, but its status as a mix breed is recognized by most canine clubs and registry.
Its breed status, however, is one of the least fascinating things about it. In a bit I’ll be taking a look at some of the more noteworthy aspects of the Malchi, such as how long they live, how to take care of them, common health problems, and their temperamental peculiarities.
What Is A Maltese Chihuahua Mix?
A Maltese Chihuahua mix is a designer crossbreed dog formed from a Chihuahua and Maltese’s sexual interaction.
The Malchi, as it is commonly known, is a relatively young breed, having just come into existence in the year 2000.
Still, a lot has been learned about them over the years, most of which were obtained from studying the parent breeds in general.
In terms of behavioral attributes, Malchis are generally loving and full of heart. They have a relatively loud voice for their size, and are not the most social of breeds. Still, with early training and practice, they can be made to mix with both children and other animals as easily as any other breed.
In terms of growth and development, a Maltese Chihuahua mix can get as big as 13 inches tall, or as short as 10 inches, which, of course, isn’t that big even compared to average dogs.
A Malchi weighs about 4 to 7 lbs on average.
But of course all these are expected given the fact the parent breeds consist of two of the world’s smallest dogs.
That doesn’t seem to matter much to them, however, as their confidence is usually really high.
They generally believe that they are bigger than they are, and do not shy away from attempting to bully bigger dogs. This is what is known as the ‘small dog syndrome’.
It is finally worth noting that, apart from the Malchi, there are also about a dozen recognized designer crossbreed dogs of similar fashion to the Malchi at the moment. These include the Yorkie Chihuahua mix, known as the Chorkie, and the Pomeranian Chihuahua mix, known as the Pomchi.
How Long Do Malchi Dogs Live? Common Health Problems Of A Malchi
A Malchi has a general lifespan ranging from 12 to 15 years on average.
It is always advisable to ensure that you get your malchi from a reputable breeder or any other valid, trustworthy source.
This ensures that you get a doggie in tiptop health condition right from the start, thereby increasing the chances of a long and healthy life.
It is never advisable to save costs on purchase by buying below the average price. Unfortunately, doing this may lead to situations where you end up paying ten times more on medications and visits to the vet.
Some of the common health problems a Maltese Chihuahua mix may face include:
- Seizures
- Hypoglycemia
- Easy bone damage
- Shivering
- Sensitive stomach
- Intestinal and digestive problems
- Eye diseases
- Collapsed trachea
- Ear infections
Malchis are not prone to experiencing life-ending diseases, except due to neglect or unforeseen circumstances.
Mild illnesses, which they do experience, are generally easily treatable with a visit to the vet. Of course no one wants constant sicknesses, even mild ones, which is why proper care is important.
In fact, apart from ensuring to get your doggie from a reputable breeder or shelter, another particularly effective way to ensure a long and healthy life is by making sure to follow all important health and care practices, most of which I go over in detail in the next section.
How To Take Care Of A Malchi?
Below are some of the practices to keep in mind when it comes to caring for your Malchi:
Food And Diet
Malchis are small doggies and as such don’t require a lot of feeding. Giving them a cup-sized food a day should do. Of course, it is also worth mentioning that, just as in most aspects of dog care, quality is usually better than quantity when it comes to food and diet.
Pet Plate is our recommendation for a particularly healthy Malchi diet. It is made from all-natural ingredients and very suitable for smaller dogs to prevent them from becoming overweight.
The Pet Plate box also offers a range of options and plans, giving you more flexibility and control over taste and ingredients.
Size
It is always important to always have it in mind that tiny dogs such as the Maltese Chihuahua are quite fragile with bristle bones, even though they themselves may not know it.
As such, you must always guard against substantial contact between them and hard objects. The definition of “substantial” in this case, of course, has to be adjusted to suit their size, seeing as contacts which may not be deemed substantial for bigger dogs, may be enough to hurt a Malchi.
Exercise
Another important aspect of caring for a Malchi is ensuring that it fulfills all the needed exercise requirements – which, again, isn’t much, thanks to its size and the fact that they don’t consume energy as much as other larger breeds.
A decent 30-minute walk a day, or some quality indoor play time for the same duration, should provide them with everything they need in the fitness department.
Is A Malchi Hypoallergenic? How Do You Groom A Maltese Chihuahua?
Malchis are moderate shedders – on average.
Granted, some Malchis have a tendency to be heavy shedders, but also sometimes they have a tendency to not even shed at all.
Both, however, are not very common occurrences, and the average falls squarely in the moderate range. Either way, it never hurts to be prepared for a medium to a high level of shedding and grooming from your Maltese Chihuahua mix.
Grooming
Your Malchi will most definitely have relatively long hair, which will require consistent visits to the groomer, especially if your Malchi is one that sheds less frequently than average.
You will also have to do a lot of brushing, no less than twice everyday. This not only makes sure they look good, but also minimizes shedding, excess hair loss and keeps them in a healthy physical condition.
Deshedding Tool
So what kind of brush do you use on a Maltese? Again, quality is paramount in this case, and the FURminator Deshedding Tool is one of the few brushes that we’ve tried and tested, and found exemplary for this purpose.
It is not only sturdy, super efficient, and quite easy to handle, but also boasts of a remarkable ejector button that makes it unbelievably convenient to get rid of loose hair with complete ease.
Teeth Brushing And Bathing
Finally, in the aspect of grooming, brushing your Malchi’s teeth once every day should do just fine. In terms of bathing, however, this is a function of coat size and thickness. Longer coat equals longer, more frequent baths, and vice versa.
Temperament Of A Maltese Chihuahua Mix
Do Malchis Like To Be Held?
Malchis are just like their parent breeds – filled with a remarkable amount of energy and always loving to be the center of attention. So, yes! Malchis like to be held.
In fact, not holding them enough or giving them as much attention as they require may lead to a case of separation anxiety from the onset.
Do Malchis Love their Owners?
Absolutely. Malchis are full of heart and don’t just like to be loved, but are also very capable of loving their owners to the fullest. This, of course, makes them remarkable companion dogs that anybody will be lucky to have.
They also love to cuddle a lot, and, as mentioned earlier, they don’t require much exercise and feeding.
Do Malchis Bark A Lot?
Malchis are generally loud dogs – another feat derived from their parent breeds. They tend to bark at visitors and other animals, believing themselves to be quite larger than they are.
With the help of early socialization training, however, this tendency can be considerably reduced. Regardless, they still remain absolutely caring and loving creatures underneath their loud exterior.
Do They Get Along With Other Pets?
Not necessarily. Again, this is all down to whether or not you train your Malchi early to be comfortable with constant socialization.
Naturally, though, they tend to get provoked by other animals easily, and this, along with their tendency to bark, makes them suited to life without other animals around.
How Many Hours Can a Malchi Be Left Alone?
Depending on their age, a Malchi can be left alone for as long as two hours before the age of six months, and eight hours maximum thereafter. It is always good to commence crate training before leaving your Malchi alone.
Related Questions
What Is The Price Of A Maltese Chihuahua Mix? A new and healthy Maltese Chihuahua puppy generally goes between $500 to $1,000. And while you can also get them for as low as $300 sometimes, this isn’t usually advisable. Going as high as you can ensures you get your puppy in a sound and healthy condition.
Are Malchi Easy To Potty Train? A Maltese Chihuahua mix dog is usually a smart dog but, at the same time, is considered stubborn. In the end, training is usually a little bit harder than it is for your average dog. Starting as early as possible, though, and taking it slow and steady, ensure a much easier outcome.
Why Do Maltese Chihuahua Stink? A Malchi may stink for a number of reasons, including accumulated body oil, yeast infection, odors coming from the mouth, and urine or feces. All of these can be corrected through proper hygiene and grooming practices, including regular baths, regular and thorough brushing, and making use of a deodorizing spray.
