Full Description
Celebrating the angelic, pure white toy dog prized for his sweet personality, the Maltese, this Smart Owner's Guide, created by the editors at Dog Fancy magazine, offers the most up-to-date and accurate information every dog owner needs to become a well-informed caregiver for his dog. Illustrated with color photographs of adorable puppies and handsome adults, this easy-to-read primer is designed in a modern, lively manner that readers will find user-friendly and entertaining. Each Smart Owner's Guide offers a description of the breed's character and physical conformation, historical overview, and its attributes as a companion dog. The reader will find informative chapters on everything he or she needs to know about acquiring, raising, and training this remarkable purebred dog, including: finding a breeder and selecting a healthy, sound puppy; preparing for the puppy's homecoming, shopping for supplies, and puppy-proofing the home; house-training; veterinary and home health maintenance; feeding and nutrition; and grooming. Obedience training for basic cues (sit, stay, heel, come, etc.) and solving potential problem behaviors (barking, chewing, aggression, jumping up, etc.) are addressed in separate chapters, as are activities to enjoy with the dog, including showing, agility, therapy work, and more. Entertaining tidbits and smart advice fill up colorful sidebars in every chapter, which the editors call "It's a Fact," "Smart Tip," "Notable & Quotable," and "Did You Know?" Real-life heroes and rescue stories are retold in full-page features called "Pop Pups" and "True Tails." Recipes, training, and care tips are highlighted in the "Try This" feature pages. The Smart Owner's Guide series is the only series that offers readers an online component in which dog owners can join a breed-specific online club hosted by dogchannel.com. At Club Maltese, owners of the breed can find forums, blogs, and profiles to connect with other breed owners, as well as charts and checklists that can be downloaded. More than just 20,000 pages of solid information, there's a host of fun to be had at the club in the form of downloadable breed-specific e-cards, screensavers, games, and quizzes. The Resources section of the book includes contact information for breed-related organizations and rescues, as well as practical guidance on traveling with dogs, identification, and locating qualified professionals to assist the dog owner, such as pet sitters, trainers, and boarding facilities. This information-packed Smart Owner's Guide is fully indexed.
Contents
FOREWORD: K9 Expert Education By Allan Reznik, Editor-at-Large, Dog Fancy magazine Small but Mighty The Maltese may be a toy dog, but he can actually be quite hardy. Maltese in Mini Our simple two-page guide gives you all the necessary information about the Maltese -- in 300 words or less! From the Land of Malta The Maltese comes from a very special time and place, but he has taken over the dog world. Pick of the Litter Find out how to choose a reputable breeder and pick a healthy puppy, or maybe you'd like to adopt a dog from a shelter or rescue organization. Either way, there are plenty of Maltese out there waiting for homes. Home Goods You need to puppy-proof, or Maltese-proof, your house, as well as make sure that you have all the things he requires to be comfortable, such as bedding, toys and lots more. Help with Housetraining Your first job is getting your Maltese to do the doo where you want him to. Using a crate -- aka a modern-day den -- will expedite the process. In Good Hands Selecting a vet means doing some research and planning your Maltese's first vet visit. Also, learn what to do when everyday bumps and bruises come about. Health Matters Learn how to deal with external and internal parasites, skin problems, and common medical and behavioral conditions. Food Equals Fuel With proper knowledge and know-how, you can feed your Maltese a sound diet so he won't end up a pudgy pooch. Maltese Maintenance From nail clipping instruction to brushing and bathing basics, we'll have your Maltese looking magnificent. The Basics of Training Every toy dog needs to learn the basics of sit, down, stay and come, and additional training advice will make your dog obey without hassle. Oh, Behave! A well-behaved dog isn't born that way. When problems arise, prompt training will turn bad habits into appropriate behavior. Teach your dog that there are better ways to get attention, and you'll save yourself a lot of headaches. Stars of the Show This toy breed loves to play and be active. You can harness his energy into productive activities like agility, flyball, musical freestyle, conformation and more. Resources Index
