Black Maltese: Not A Purebred Maltese!

I recently bumped into a friend who had found a cute little Black Maltese that she wanted to buy, but before she made the commitment, she wanted to know whether the pooch was purebred.

So, is the Black Maltese a purebred Maltese? No, the Black Maltese is not a purebred Maltese. The black color does not exist among purebred Maltese. Any Black Maltese you come across is a hybrid between a Maltese and another doggie breed that gave it the black color.

If you’re interested in bringing a Black Maltese to your home, you definitely want to know everything there is about this cute little fido in advance. In this article, we’ll go over everything you need to know about the Black Maltese, including their lifespan, how to care for them, their temperament, grooming requirements, and so on. Before that, however, let’s look at the colors of a purebred Maltese.

What Colors Can Maltese Be?

Breed Standard

I started by saying that the Black Maltese is not a purebred Maltese, so at this point, the question in your mind is definitely “what colors are purebred Maltese?”

According to the AKC standards, a purebred Maltese should be white in color. Any other coat color is not recognized by the AKC.

The white coat color of a purebred Maltese was achieved through generations of selective targeted breeding to ensure that the Maltese retained the coveted white color.

Are Maltese Dogs All White?

Ideally, a purebred Maltese should be all white.

However, it is possible for a purebred Maltese to have some tan or lemon-colored areas, especially on the ears. A purebred Maltese can also have some spot markings on the lips, nose, around the eyes, and on the paws.

While these black markings and the tan or lemon-colored areas are accepted by the American Kennel Club, they are not desirable.

Can A Maltese Be Black?

If you check on the internet, you’ll find several breeders advertising Black Maltese. This can be very confusing since we have already seen that purebred Maltese should be white. So, are Maltese dogs ever black?

The answer is no. If you ever come across anyone advertising a Black Maltese, you can be certain that the pooch is a mix between a Maltese and another dark coated dog breed.

Black Maltese is usually achieved by breeding the Maltese with small, dark-colored dog breeds, such as the Poodle or the Pomeranian.

How Long Do Black Maltese Dogs Live?

Lifespan

The Maltese is a generally healthy dog breed, and depending on the other breed it has been mixed with, you can expect your Black Maltese to live for about 12 to 15 years.

Still, your Black Maltese could be vulnerable to some of the common health problems that affect purebred Maltese. These include:

Collapsed Trachea

Tracheal collapse is a condition that is common to small and toy breed dogs. If your furry friend has a collapsed trachea, they will have a consistent dry cough. Fortunately, this condition is treatable, either through surgery or medication.

Patella Luxation

This is a developmental problem that affects the kneecaps, leading to pain when walking. It is possible for your pooch to live normally with the condition, though in extreme cases, it can be crippling.

Does Black Maltese Have Skin Problems?

Your Black Maltese is susceptible to different kinds of skin problems, such as sebaceous adenitis, which is characterized by hair loss and dry, scaly skin, and Malassezia dermatitis, which is characterized by hairless, greasy patches of skin. If you keep the hair of your Black Maltese long, parting of the hair on the back can also lead to sunburns.

Are Maltese Smelly?

Generally, Maltese are not smelly dogs.

In some cases, however, your four-legged buddy can develop a foul smell. If you notice that your Maltese has become smelly, this could be caused by dirt, accumulation of body oil, issues to do with the anal glands, yeast infection, ear infection, a skin infection, or bad breath.

How To Take Care Of A Black Maltese?

Feeding

Being a small dog, you should be very careful with feeding, otherwise, your canine buddy can easily become obese. 

Ideally, you should feed your pooch about a quarter cup of dry food, two times a day.

So, what is the best food for Maltese dogs? I recommend feeding your dear fido with Pet Plate’s Beef Barkin. This feed contains a high content of protein and is made using human-grade ingredients, which makes it good enough for your Black Maltese.

You should also supplement food with multivitamin treats supplements like Zesty Paws Probiotics. These supplements help maintain the health of your doggie’s digestive system. This is very important considering how delicate the digestive systems of Maltese dogs can be.

Exercise

Due to the small size, your Black Maltese won’t require as much exercise as a larger dog breed would. About half an hour of exercise every day should be enough. You can exercise your Black Maltese by playing a game of fetch or taking them out for a walk.

Since they are very prone to chills, do not take them outside when it is cold. Instead, play with them around the house. Being a small dog, they can still get enough exercise inside the house, and without causing any damage in the house.

Vet Visits

To ensure that your furry companion is always in good health, you should schedule regular vet visits for checkups. This will allow any issues to be identified and treated before they become a major problem.

Are Black Maltese Good Dogs? Temperaments Of A Black Maltese

Are Maltese Dogs Smart?

What they lack in size, Maltese dogs make up for in brains. They are one of the fairly smart dogs, and they love a mental challenge. However, they do tend to get bored easily.

Are Maltese Easy To Train?

Maltese are generally very obedient and eager to please, and therefore, they are very easy to train. Your Black Maltese will quickly learn commands without the need for excessive repetition.

Are Maltese Good Family Dogs?

Maltese are people-oriented dogs that are great for families with older children. They love playing with the family and being held and cuddled. However, they can be intolerant to other pets and even small children and will bark, and sometimes even bite them.

Their small size also means that Maltese dogs can easily get injured, and are therefore not suitable for families with small children or toddlers who can easily injure them.

Do Maltese Dogs Bark A Lot?

Yes, Maltese dogs bark a lot. The barking could be a result of separation anxiety when they are left alone for prolonged periods of time, when they are bored, when they are stressed, or when they encounter unfamiliar people or strange noises.

Do Maltese Dogs Bite?

Yes. Despite being cute and affectionate fur balls, Maltese can sometimes get aggressive and bite. This is common among dogs that did not receive adequate training. Other things that could cause your canine buddy to bite include teething, inadequate socialization, feeling threatened, or the need to protect their territory.

Does Black Maltese Shed? Grooming Tips For A Black Maltese

Shedding

Shedding is one of the major concerns of every pet owner, so before bringing a Black Maltese into your home, you definitely want to know, how bad do Maltese shed?

Maltese dogs do not have an undercoat, and therefore, they are not heavy shedders. This makes them suitable for people with pet allergies.

Despite being light shedders, you will still want to keep furs on your floor to a minimum. For this, I recommend the iRobot Roomba i3+ vacuum cleaner, which cleans your floor autonomously, saving you from doing the work yourself.

Brushing

Even though the Maltese does not shed, you’ll still need to brush your fido’s coat to keep it clean and prevent matting. Ideally, brushing should be done daily. For this, I recommend the Furminator Undercoat Tool, which is designed for small dogs with long hair, just like your Black Maltese.

The Furminator Undercoat Tools also has an ergonomic handle for comfort while brushing your furry buddy, and a FURejector button to easily release the hair from the brushing tool.

Bathing

Due to their small size (they are a lot closer to the ground) and long hair, Maltese dogs tend to get dirty very quickly, and therefore, they need to bathe regularly, about once a week. Don’t, however, give them baths more frequently than that, since it can damage their skin.

When bathing your four-legged buddy, use Paws & Pals 5-In-1 Oatmeal Dog Shampoo. This will help detangle, moisturize and condition your pooch’s hair while keeping itches and odors at bay.

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Related Questions

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How Much Does A Black Maltese Cost? A Black Maltese puppy will cost you anywhere between $600 and $1,000. The price will depend on the breeder’s reputation, market availability, and age. Many breeders will try to charge you a higher price for the Black Maltese under the claim that Black Maltese are rare and thus more expensive.

What Are Black Points On A Maltese? Black points are spots of solid black color appearing in some areas on a purebred Maltese. These spots are usually on the toe pads, the lips, the nose, and around the eyes. These spots should be solid black, rather than a combination of black and another color or fading black.

Can Maltese Have Tan Ears? Yes. It is possible for purebred Maltese dogs to have tan or lemon ears. While this is permitted by the AKC standards, note that it is not a desirable characteristic. Sometimes, the tan or lemon color on the ears will go away as your pup grows into an adult.