Welsh Springer Spaniel vs Mal-Shi - Breed Comparison

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 Welsh Springer Spaniel is thought to be an old Land Spaniel similar to the English Springer Spaniel. They were pretty mush an unknown breed until they won a string of dog trials and became more popular. Following this surge the breed was recognized by the UKC in 1902 and were named the Welsh Springer Spaniel. No one really knows when the breed was developed and cannot be traced because of lack of documentation. They were brought to America in the early 1900’s and were recognized as a breed by the AKC (American Kennel Club) in 1906.

There are images of a dog looking a lot like the Welsh Springer Spaniel in old prints and pictures. The pictures are of a dog known as a Land Spaniel very much like the Welsh Springer Spaniel. These dogs were thought to be preserved by the Welsh and originally called the Welsh Starter. It was a hunting breed working with falcons.

At one point the breed was called the Welsh Spaniel and was also in the UK studbook as a Cocker Spaniel or a Welsh Cocker. There were several different types of Cocker Spaniels including the English Cocker, the Welsh Cocker, the Devonshire Cocker. The Welsh Cocker Spaniel was a solid dark color while the Welsh and Devonshire Cockers were liver colored.

Following World War II there were no dogs left in Wales or anywhere else in the United Kingdom whose parents were registered pedigree. The unregistered dogs were used to restart the breed and these dogs are the ancestors of the modern Welsh Springer Spaniel.

The breed is still rare with only 299 registered in the UK in 2016. They are listed now a vulnerable Native Breed.

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 breed is a medium size, solid and compact dog bred to work. Their forequarters are angled and there hindquarters are well developed. This is a very good looking breed that is only red with white markings. A hard working dog bred to hunt. They are slighter longer than tall and are not penalized as long as the height tis not greater than the length.

The tail in docked except in countries where it is illegal to do so. Their eyes should be brown. Noses are black or brown. The ears are small with a fethering like most setters. The show and field styles are the same. They are confused with the Engolish Springer Spaniel even though there are many differences. But both breeds are born to hunt and “spring” at the prey. They are smaller than the English Springer Spaniel and larger than the English Cocker Spaniel.

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.

Characteristics

1Children friendliness yes they love their own children, but might be wary of others.

2.Special talents - endurance and stamina are intense with this breed.

3.Adapability – not that good in an apartment as this is a rare working dog.

4.Learning ability - intelligent and willing

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.

Health Problems

The Welsh Springer Spaniel has a few serious health concerns such as:

• Hip and elbow dysplasia – can cause lameness and arthritis.

• Eye Diseases – Glaucoma can cause blindness; Entropian – eyelids curl inwards and can damage the cornea.

• Autoimmune thyroiditis – can be treated with medication.
• Ear infections – be sure to keep them clean to prevent this.
• Epilepsy – as many spaniels have. Can be treated with medications.

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.

1Feeding the puppy active puppy. Feed breed specific or medium breed high quality dogfood. Feed ½ -3/4 cup in 2-3 meals

2.Feeding the adult active breed. Feed breed specific or medium breed high quality dogfood. Feed 1-1/2 cup in 1-2meals

3.Points for Good Health endurance/stamina – can outlast many hunting dogs.

4. Games and Exercises – Needs a secure fenced yard. Loves sports and outdoor activity. Agility, obedience, rally, tracking and loves to run, bike and hike.