Pomeranian or Maltese Pup

Question
Hi Colleen,

Which would you choose between,  We are considering A Pomeranian or Maltese pup?
What sex?  we don't wish to breed the dog.
The tiny ones or normal size?
And for what reasons?
What minimun age would you suggest?
What should we look at if we go to a breeder?
Thank you for your time and any suggestions.
Jim

Answer
I am a fan of Maltese, but there are lots of reasons why pomeranians are good for families, too. With kids, I would most likely get a pomeranian. I don't have kids, so maltese are good for me. Pomeranians actually require less manicuring (grooming, etc.) than maltese, but I love the white fur on my maltese. Of course, there are white pomeranians, too. Have you looked at the shih tzu or yorkie breed? You might like them, too.

Sex--get a girl. I have a male. Males are often easier to potty train, but require more regular training due to the fact that males are often more aggressive. Girls take longer to potty train, but don't need aggression training or just a little bit of extra training. I vote for a female pup.

Tiny pups (teacups) take longer to potty train and most will never get potty trained at all. If you have a yard and plenty of space, I vote larger--between 7 and 15 pounds full grown. Of course, the larger you go, the smaller the price tag. The smaller you go, the larger the price tag. I vote normal to larger size, if it is just going to be a house dog. I see no reason why someone should pay $5000 or more for a 1, 2 or 3 pound maltese, but it happens anyway.

Minimum age--12 to 16 weeks for a pup. If you can, get them at around 14 to 16 weeks just because 12 weeks is a little young to me. 18 to 20 weeks is a little late, so you might find discounts on these dogs. If you find your perfect dog, but the dog is young, put a deposit down for the puppy. The dog will be well socialized with the siblings at 14 weeks and will be almost ready to potty train by 16 weeks. If you wish to adopt from a shelter, go for it. Any age should be fine then. Maltese can live to be more than 18 human years old. I have met one that is 19 years old before.

Breeders--find a reputable one. Get recommendations from friends or neighbors who have maltese or pom-poms and look up the breeders in the prisioners of greed master list.

The breeders who breed champions will cost considerably more, but the pups will be very pretty pups! Look at the parents of a pup to see the full grown size of the dogs. Ask for the weights of the parents, too.

Don't buy a puppy from a puppy mill. Look for honesty and health guarantees. Ask to look at their housing of the dogs before you buy them. If they really want your $600 or $1200, they will show you everything around the property. No breeder needs to be hiding anything. Be suspicious from the start, even if they seem perfectly fine. It is good to be on the lookout for weird behavior and lots fearful dogs on their property. If you feel intimidated by the breeder, I would leave. You want to get right answers the first time around, and if you feel what the breeder says doesn't match up with good policy--leave. Don't risk it.

Try not to get a sick dog. I did that and I don't recommend it. Get a dog that likes you and comes to you. Feel their bodies and their fur. Hug them, pet them, let them lick your hand. Don't get a dog that is afraid of you. It may not be fully socialized and may bite more than the others in the future. Puppy mill dogs are often more afraid and timid than other dogs.

Come fully prepared to the breeder. Come with a collar, bucket or crate (to take the dog home), toys, treats, and lots of love. Basically, you need to go to Petsmart before picking up the dog. Puppies are a handful, and you want to spend your time with it right after you get the dog--but not a Petsmart! Ask the breeder what they feed the dog before buying any pet food.

I hope you take what I have said in consideration and I recommend you buy soon because the pet stores and breeders purposefully raise prices around the buying season. Be careful not to be ripped off! Usually, around June, the prices are considerably lower than in December, even for the exact same dog. I bought my dog in a September, but I was looking around for a long time for the perfect dog. I guess I was too picky! I got my maltese for $600. Don't be afraid to negociate the price of a dog. My dog was to be sold for $750 but I got it lowered. No one really knows how to price a dog anyways but does know when they break even on a dog. It is mostly about estimation and what the market will bear. If there are flaws in the dog, such as a spot on his nose or pink points, try to build off of that for a price reduction. Basically, look for reasons why a dog isn't worth the amount they are asking. They may try to avoid you about the problems, but you need to address all concerns in the beginning.

The breeder may also ask you questions. Don't let them get too personal. You must understand they want their puppies in good homes, but digging too far crosses the line on their part. I would recommend a common conversation with them when you first meet them. Introduce yourself and let them see that you are outgoing and love the breed that they offer. Explain where you stand in shopping for puppies and how much you are willing to pay.

Just be normal and honest with them. Sometimes, being really personable can get you somewhere when negociating the price. They will know what it feels like to be in your shoes if you tell them all about what you are like. Even if they only knock off 50 dollars, you are saving money for the future vet bills that are sure to come. (Shots, pills, etc.)

I wish you luck with your purchase of your future pet!

Thanks for the question. Feel free to ask another one!