Puggle vs Mal-Shi - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Small and pretty, the Mal-shi is a new crossbreed dog which originated in the United States and only recently - in the 1990s.

There hasn’t been much interest shown in developing this small dog into an independent breed, so most of these dogs are regarded as crosses from the two parent breeds – the Maltese Poodle and the ShihTzu.

Known as a designer dog he was also bred to be a low shedder. No breed clubs for this dog have been established and there are no breed standards either.

The first Puggle was bred in the United States in the 1980s and was registered with the American Canine Hybrid Club.

None of the major kennel clubs recognize Puggles as a dog breed. The Puggle is a mix between the Pug and the Beagle, and is essentially a companion dog. Both the parent dogs are popular pets and each of the dogs - the Pug and the Beagle have their own histories.

The Mal-Shi is a small dog standing at around 25–30 cm in height and weighing between 3 and 7kg. As a designer dog he has a low-shedding coat of many colors – white, black and white, white and apricot and brown.

The coat is usually soft and silky and slightly wavy and it can grow long if left untrimmed. Most people take their pets to a professional groomer to be cut.

The skull of the dog is domed, he has small ears which can be half-erect and half-floppy.The tail is long and fairly feathery. Sometimes the dog inherits the underdeveloped tear duct of the Maltese and then there is that usual tear-staining around the eyes.

Temperament:

THE Mal-Si is such a cute little dog, making him a splendid pet for children and he is more than happy to be cuddled and petted. Small and active, he is adaptable and will live easily in the city or the countryside, as his exercise needs aren’t that demanding. He basically requires a walk each day and will love some ball games both inside and outdoors.

He is an extrovert and also an entertainer, and his amicable nature allows him to get along with other pets in the home. However, contrary to what he looks like, he is a bold dog, social and also intelligent, making him easy to train.

It is to any owner’s advantage to have a little dog like this trained and socialized, even though he is so good natured. He makes a great therapy dog too. When the Mal-Shi is at home he’s an affectionate, loving dog who just wants to spend time in the company of his human family.

As a companion dog, he won’t do well when left for hours on end on his own. Dogs are social creatures, and they can battle with separation anxiety when left alone for too long. Every dog owner needs to think of this before investing in a dog.

The Puggle isn’t a purebred and he has short legs, a fairly thickset body, a crooked tail and medium length, floppy ears.

The Puggle’s coat is short and smooth and the colors can be anything between fawn, white, tan with bi-coloring such as black and white or even tri-colored such as white, black and tan.

He may have the black mask like the Pug has or he may not. He stands in height between 25-38cm and weighs between 4 and 13kg.

Temperament:

The Puggle brings fun and games into every household with his bright, sociable personality. He gets on well with children and other dogs and makes a splendid pet and friend.

He is intelligent, albeit a bit stubborn too, but you can teach him some simple commands such as sit, stay and lie down. They are dogs which can adapt well to life in the city or in the countryside.

The Maltese Shih Tzu is an attractive little dog who is guaranteed to make you a splendid pet. Those who have owned both Maltese and Maltese Shih Tzu will tell you that the temperament of this dog is more amicable than that of the Maltese.

With his amicable nature, he is willing to be everyone’s friend, and he makes a particularly good choice for elderly people.

Being such a people-dog, the Maltese Shih Tzu's greatest joy comes from being petted and taken notice of by his human family. He can’t bear to be left for long periods of time. Like any other dog, he will require training and socialization, requiring a firm, balanced, consistent, fair owner.

Cheerful and good-natured, when he is loved to the moon and back, this little dog promises to make you and exceptional best friend.

Puggles are lively dogs who are always up for a game. They are affectionate and loving towards their human family and get on well with strangers too.

They’re the kind of dogs who love a game outside but then are more than happy to cozy up on the couch with you.

Puggles love the attention of their family members and in exchange for your attention he is willing to shower you with his companionship and devotion.

The Maltese Shih Tzu is a robust little dog, and with good care he can live to be anything between 10 to 15 years of age.

There are some health issues you want to be aware of with this particular dog breed.

Respiratory Problems:

Your little canine friend can have respiratory problems because of him being a flat-faced breed. Known as brachycephalic dogs, these dogs can have breathing difficulties. They are usually fine when resting, but during exercise or if they become too hot, they battle with breathing. It makes them more prone to heatstroke, so it is important to keep dogs like this cool and calm.

Patellar Luxation:

This is actually a common problem in small dogs - dislocation of a bone at a joint. Patellar luxation is when the knee joint slides in and out of place, causing pain.

White Dog Shaker Syndrome:

This is a disease which is seen in the Shih Tzu and Maltese. Symptoms include uncontrollable shaking and tremors. These can continue all day. The illness is worse during times of stress and there may even be difficulty with walking. The cause is unknown but he will certainly need to get to the vet.

Your Puggle isn’t likely to get sick often if you feed him healthy food, you exercise him and provide him with a loving, caring home. However, every dog can become ill, and Puggles can battle with the likes of Cherry Eye, skin problems and Hip Dysplasia among other ailments too.

Because of the Pug being a brachycephalic breed, your Puggle might also battle with respiratory problems.

Hip Dysplasia:

Hip Dysplasia is a common canine disease that has no respect for age or breed of dog. Even young dogs can develop this heritable condition where the thighbone doesn't fit properly into the hip joint. Dog have pain in one or both of the rear legs, and can become totally lame. Arthritis can also develop.

Cherry Eye:

This is when the gland in the dog’s third eyelid bulges out as a red mass. It can be treated surgically.

Diet:

The Mal-Shi is a small dog and will require eating two small meals a day. An adult Mal-Shi will eat according to his age, size and activity levels.The quality of the dog food you buy will make a huge difference to his wellbeing. The better quality foods – those without preservatives, colorants and fillers will ensure good health and longevity for your pet.

Don’t just give him dry kibble every time – mix in some chopped up cooked chicken, brown rice and vegetables. Remember that some vegetables like onion can be bad for your pet.

Dogs love simplicity, and feeding your dog these simple foods will ensure you don’t battle with upset stomachs. Make sure you always have a bowl of fresh, cool water available for your pet.

General:

Trim his nails when they get long and don’t wear down naturally.

Check his ears for redness, itchiness and discharge which could indicate an ear infection.

If you have him professionally groomed, you will still need to brush him twice a week. It’s also your time to check him over for ticks and fleas and any unusual lumps.

Exercise:

The Puggle can settle into life in the city or the countryside as he doesn’t require too much exercise. That doesn’t mean however that you can just ignore his exercise needs, as doing so can make him overweight and unfit.

Take him for walks and play games with him indoors as well as outdoors.

Grooming:

The Puggle, with his short-haired coat, is a low maintenance dog that is easy-to-groom. A good brush twice a week will be excellent for him.

A brushing session gives you a chance to look inside his ears for signs of redness and ear infections, to look at his eyes and have a good look inside his mouth. Bad teeth can cause pain but can also cause illness throughout the body.

Trim your dog's claws as well, because left too long they can hook on things and rip the flesh.

Diet:

Our canine children rely on us for good food to stay healthy. Luckily, for convenience sake, there are excellent commercially manufactured dog foods on the market. The best ones ensure that your dog gets a good balance of vitamins and minerals.

However, you want to also provide your pet with some tasty home-made food too. Dogs thrive on simplicity and consistency, and home-cooked food twice a week and added to the dry kibble can keep him healthy and thrilled with his lot.

Boiled chicken, sweet potatoes, brown rice or pasta, carrots and spinach will be excellent for him – it is simple just as he likes it and it is nutritious. Chop the food up finely and add it into the dry kibble. Also, your Puggle will do well on some raw meat occasionally too as this keeps the skin free of rashes and free of infections.

Make sure he is never without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.