Kennel owner plans to rebuild

Allentown Morning Call - A veteran Slate Belt dog breeder and handler has vowed she’ll start over after a fire Thursday night devastated her kennel A breeder of Yorkshire terriers and Maltese, she said nine puppies and two adult dogs saved from the fire were ‘’doing wonderful
Source: www.mcall.com

The tiger’s lair
Los Angeles Times - In the evening, around 8, my Filipina neighbor, Irene, on the other side of the duplex, throws open her windows and plays her drums in the front room while her white Maltese, Ocha, barks at any passing dog on the street. Sometimes, after midnight or
Source: www.latimes.com

Respect Other People’s Fear Of Maltese Dogs Through Leash Control

When Maltese owners have poor leash mechanics and control over walking his or her pet, their dog will invariably pull toward strangers. Some strangers are fearful when dogs approach them in this manner. Owners make the mistake of trying to comfort a person who is fearful by saying, “It’s okay, my dog is friendly, she won’t bite.” But this is not a comforting response to someone who is fearful of dogs or just doesn’t like dogs near them. You can make the person feel more comfortable by using your leash to sit your dog at your side and giving the person some space to pass. When a person sees a pulling dog and an owner being pulled off balance, the perception is lack of control.

By having your Maltese dog sit at your side, you are exhibiting to others that your dog is well trained and can be controlled. Senior citizens and parents with kids are generally more apprehensive when dogs pull too close. A pulling dog, especially if it is a big dog, can be seen as aggressive rather than friendly.

Also use this maneuver if your dog is pulling to greet a strange dog. Your dog may be friendly, but never assume a strange dog is friendly. Sometimes the consequences of a dog pulling toward a strange dog can be dangerous if the strange dog is aggressive or has a mean streak.

Be patient with yourself as you learn leash mechanics. Leash handling is like learning to drive a car or playing an instrument - it will feel a little awkward at first, but with a little practice you will improve. When puppies and dogs are out of control when out for a walk, it’s because the owner has no knowledge of leash handling. Use the leash as a tool of communication as you lead your puppy on your walks.

Many owners frustrate or confuse their dogs because of poor leash mechanics. The dog will only do what you are directing him to do. If you don’t know how to maneuver your dog, don’t expect your dog to read your mind. You will only frustrate your dog. Frustrated dogs either become more aggressive or learn to tune you out all together.

Smart leash handling is essential in the city, particularly in tight, congested areas. By learning how to maneuver your dog on leash, you not only keep your Maltese dog safe at your side, but you also are practicing good dog owner etiquette. Your dog won’t be a nuisance to other people and other dogs that you meet along the way.

Free Expert Advice on Caring for A Beloved Dog

Onlypunjab.com - www.special-dog.com has been developed by experienced dog breeders Janet and Larry Combs specifically for dog lovers who want Whether it is a Shih Tzu, Maltese, Bichon Frise, Dachshund ,Siberian Husky, or any breed of dog www.special-dog.com provides Read More

Daily Telegraph - The Chihuahua’s miniature brothers in crooked arms - the Pomeranian, Pekinese, Maltese, Bichon fris and Yorkshire terrier However, what is concerning the Kennel Club and other small-dog breeders is cross-breeding. There is a new fashion for dogs Read More

North County Times - There are no bad dogs - only bad breeders and bad owners.” Retrogrouch wrote on November 01, 2006 12:54 PM : “Hey MB and Another of my neighbors, a woman in her sixties, used to walk her maltese daily on our road. She had to stop all walks, with Read More

Removing Maltese Hair From Your Clothes, Bedding, & Drains

1. Maltese Hair On Your Clothes

Keep a roll of masking tape or a sticky roller in your car to remove dog hair after you leave the house. Keep some in your office drawer at work to do the same.

Remove dog hair from your clothing with a dampened rubber glove, sticky roller, or masking tape, or blow it off with a blow-dryer.

2. Maltese dog Hair On Your Bed

When there is dog hair on your bedding, run your bedding through the air-dry or fluff cycle of your dryer to remove hair before putting it in the washing machine.

If some dog hair remains at the bottom of the washing machine after you’ve done your laundry, remove the hair by running the washer through one rinse cycle.

3. dog Hair Clogging Drains

If your dog’s hair accompanies you into the shower and clogs the drain, or your drains run slowly after giving your dog a bath, keep a plunger handy. Plunge after each use to keep the dog hair from severely clogging your drains.

Purchase a mechanical plunger for those hairy pipes. All types of plungers are available in hardware stores and builders’ outlets.

Lastly, be sure to place steel wool in your drain to catch hair.

Local News 

Gas man robbed in Attard A gas delivery-man was robbed of about Lm600 - the morning’s takings - when he was held up in Mdina Street, Attard, yesterday at about 11.30 a.m., the police said. The… Continued…

Libby, a 1-year-old, snow-white Maltese, posed proudly Sunday with Santa Claus and with the girl who saved the pup’s life. It was a perfect picture, and Shantel Murphy snapped it quickly. Continued…

‘Tecom to announce SmartCity next month’ Tecom International will make a formal announcement on the launch of SmartCity in Malta next month, according to a top official in Dubai quoted in the Gulf News yesterday. Tecom International… Continued…

The luxurious yacht MY SeaDream 1 with 110 passengers on board on November 3 called at Dwejra Bay. The yacht was making her maiden trip from Syracuse to La Goulette, Tunisia. Continued…

For Better Maltese Training Results: Understand Your Dog’s Hearing Ability

A Maltese’s keen sensitivity to low-volume sound is often troublesome. They can hear a faint sound at 75 feet, while most humans could only detect it at 17 feet. This indicates that a dog must learn to ignore myriad sounds that do not affect him, and accommodate to a veritable avalanche of sounds in a family household, such as television, radio, stereos, etc.

However, when this sensitivity is translated to phobic behavior relative to, say, thunderstorms, it indicates that dogs may hear the thunder of an approaching storm over 50 miles away, while the sky is still clear. If a dog has a history of becoming upset by thunder or other explosive sounds, he may become increasingly anxious as the storm nears, salivating, pacing, hiding, seeking comfort if the owner is home, or escaping.

This sensitivity may also explain why “desensitizing” techniques, such as playing recordings of thunder at low levels, rarely succeed. Audio speakers are not designed to produce volumes softer than humans can perceive. Also, storm activity is generally preceded by elements to which dogs and some other mammals appear to be sensitive. Merely producing low-volume thunder claps may not fulfill the total stimulus complex required to achieve desensitization.
But such programs are usually more successful with dogs than fear gunshots or other loud noises. However, even with storm phobias, if we can change their emotional interpretation of such stimuli by providing a behavioral example, rehabilitation is generally quite successful.

An important auditory/learning tendency in dogs is to quickly develop a motor movement response to a sound stimulus when the sound is accompanied by a visual signal. In other words, dogs tend to move their head, ears, eyes or other body part in response to sound accompanied by movement. This leads to some problems if owners are not aware of this mechanism, but it facilitates training for those who use it properly.

Two examples typify common problems. The first is the owner’s tendency to raise his hands while telling a jumping dog, “Down!” Raising the hands not only causes reflex movement upward, but also encourages the dog to continue jumping. The usual outcome of this sort of mis-teaching is an owner who resorts to punishment, such as kneeing the dog in the chest or pushing him down, and a fully confused dog.

Effective use of this learning tendency involves moving the hands abruptly down and/or toward the dog while saying “Down.” Even more effective is to apply the movements without speaking, and to praise the dog’s downward response. In this way the situation itself becomes the conditioned stimulus to stop or not start jumping.

The second problem occurs when owners try to teach their pet to “Come” as they lean or move toward the pet. Both movements visually instruct the pet to stay or retreat. Most owners end up approaching the pet and often punishing him, or giving up. A better method is to abruptly lean or move away or crouch down with one side of the body toward the dog and praise the first signs of approach by the dog.

This method facilitates initial learning, even in adult Maltese dogs that are resistant due to improper Maltese training. This type of initial training, in which the dog actively performs the proper motor responses, is much faster than those that force passive movements through physical manipulation by the hands or leashes.

Pet peeves about pet owners 

Time was when cutesy anecdotes and tales of disciplinary woe were the sole domain of parents. Not any more.
Source: www.lansingstatejournal.com

Hard to resist this fundraiser 
Libby, a 1-year-old, snow-white Maltese, posed proudly Sunday with Santa Claus and with the girl who saved the pup’s life. It was a perfect picture, and Shantel Murphy snapped it quickly.
Source: www.greatfallstribune.com

POLICE BRIEFS: Police looking 3 men who robbed man at gunpoint 
Police are looking for three men who robbed a 40-year-old Westside man and held him captive for two days.
Source: www.jacksonville.com

‘puppy mill’ dogs adopted, cats neglected 
dogs are flying out the door of the old Critter Clinic in Gallatin as adoptions continue today in the aftermath of a puppy mill bust. Cats are another matter.
Source: www.fairviewobserver.com

Find Out If Your Maltese Dog Has Allergies Or Hot Spots

Allergies: Unlike humans, the first sign of discomfort usually shown by an allergic Maltese dog is itchy, irritated skin. Some dogs also get a runny nose or eyes, sneeze or even suffer from vomiting and diarrhea. Uncovering the source of the allergy can be quite frustrating for owners and veterinarians alike.

Some Maltese dogs are allergic to components in their diet. A food allergy can emerge early in life; usually the offenders are beef or soy products. The best way to determine if diet is causing an allergic reaction is to feed hypoallergenic food for several weeks and see if the signs regress. To be altogether certain of a food allergy, you’d need to challenge the dog with the prior food and see if the signs recur.

Another common allergic condition is known as atopy. Atopy refers to an inhalant allergy or a reaction to environmental components. Molds, plants, dust, even furniture stuffing fall into this category. Signs of atopy may be seasonal. The only practical way to discover what’s bothering this allergic dog is to ask a veterinary dermatologist to conduct an intradermal skin test, much as is done with human allergy sufferers. Then you can try avoiding offensive material, or attempt hyposensitization. These problems are also best discussed with a qualified dermatologist.

A few comments about some common dog allergies: many dogs are sensitive to flea collars, flea bites or dyes in plastic food dishes. These things are easily identified and corrected. If a flea collar irritates your dog’s neck, remove it and wash the area thoroughly with a mild shampoo. Switch to another type of product. And if your dog’s red, irritated nose is caused by an allergy to dyed plastic by replacing the plastic dish with metal or glass. If it’s an allergy, the condition should be resolved.

Hot Spots: One of the most common summertime complaints seen by veterinarians are hot spots - round hairless patches of tender, red, oozing skin which seem to erupt overnight. They are usually found on the rump, although they may appear anywhere on the body. Hot spots are especially prevalent in heavy-coated breeds and in any dog with skin allergies.

Hot spots probably begin as a focus of irritation caused by a flea bite, impacted anal sacs or other small annoyances. However, the more the dog licks and chews at the spot, the worse it feels, so the more the animal licks and chews. A small problem explodes into a large one. These lesions need to be treated promptly before you have a dog in agony.

Treatment of a hot spot begins with clipping away the surrounding hair and cleaning the surface of the wound. The area is then covered with a soothing spray, liquid or ointment. The veterinarian will attempt to find and eliminate the source of the complaint. Your Maltese may need to wear an Elizabethan collar (a plastic contraption similar to a lampshade) around his neck, to prevent it from attacking the area further, until the skin begins to heal. Antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications may be prescribed as well.