Perdiguero de Burgos 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 Iberian Peninsula is thought to be the place of origin for many of the pointing breeds of Europe, and the Perdiguero de Burgos hails from Spain. Known as the Spanish Pointer, the dog has contributed to the development of other pointer breeds.

The dog has been around since the 1500s and believed to be a descendent of the Perdiguero Navarro and the Sabueso Español.

Today's Perdiguero de Burgos is smaller and lighter so as to make it into a better bird-hunting dog.

The Perdiguero de Burgos has always been used to hunt deer but today it is used as a pointer of smaller animals and birds.

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 Perdiguero de Burgos is a large dog with straight, strong legs and a strong, musculr body. He stands at between 52 - 64 cm and weighs between 22 - 32 kg.

The short, smooth coat is white and liver and the coat is heavily flecked or speckled. The ears are Long and floppy, the nose dark brown, the eyes dark hazel and the tail long and fairly slender. The tail has always generally been docked.

The chest is deep, it has a strong, square shaped head with the muzzle being long and quite broad. This dog isn’t recommended for life in the city as they are active dogs requiring a lot of open spaces.

Temperament:

These are wonderfully calm dogs, being gentle and intelligent and with a quite, confident expression to them. Even on the hunt these gun dogs are calm and steady. He is obedient and intelligent, easy to train and patient with children and other dogs.

Training and socialization of this excellent dog simply makes him even more obedient, amicable, Loving and loyal, making him a splendid pet.

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.

Your Perdiguero de Burgos is such an amicable dog, making a splendid family pet. He can sometimes be a little reserved but he is never aggressive.

He can be stubborn but he is intelligent and responds well to training and socialization. He is lively, playful, energetic, calm and loving and he will be willing to join you when you go out jogging or riding your bicycle.

When it comes to grooming he is also pretty low maintenance, so you can see that when it comes to choosing a fantastic family pet, this easy-going, calm dog should be a top consideration.

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.

All dogs can develop health problems, and with the Perdiguero de Burgos you will need to be made aware of some of the common heath problems there are -

Hip Dysplasia:

Hip dysplasia is a common skeletal disease where the dog’s hip joints don’t develop properly and the hips partially dislocate. It makes it very painful for the dog to get around. Hip dysplasia is a genetic condition, although diet and environmental factors can play a big part too. Rapid weight gain can also contribute to hip dysplasia as the extra weight puts strain on the joints.

Hypothyroidism:

This is caused by inflammation of the thyroid gland. Thyroid cancer can also cause hypothyroidism, and it occurs more often in large breed dogs. A common sign of low thyroid function in dogs includes thinning of the hair and a dull, lifeless coat. There is also weight gain and reduced activity. Hypothyroid dogs also are inclined to have ear infections as well as skin infections. Your pet will need to get to the vet for blood tests and treatment.

Other health problems include eye problems, allergies, bloat and even epilepsy. Once you buy a puppy, it is your responsibility to protect him from some of the deadly diseases there are and take him to the vet for his puppy vaccines.

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 is of critical importance to these energetic dogs. That is why it is important for them to live in a home where there is plenty of opportunity to run, swim and hike. They’re way too energetic to be confined to a tiny city property.

Grooming:

The dog is an average shedder and the smooth coat of the Perdiguero de Burgos simply requires a brush-down twice a week. A rub down too with a chamois will be therapeutic for your pet and leave the coat shiny and vibrant.

Rubbing your pet down like this will give you the opportunity to feel for any unusual lumps and check for fleas and ticks. It is also your chance to check inside the dog’s ears. The ears are floppy and because the dog loves water so much, dirt, wax and moisture can be a breeding place for bacteria and painful ear infections.

Diet:

If you feed your Perdiguero de Burgos a commercially manufactured dog food, make sure you choose a high quality one that has been manufactured particularly for large, energetic dogs. Some of the poor quality foods have bad ingredients in them such as colorants, preservatives and worthless, toxic fillers that can have a detrimental affect on your pets health.

Try and include some tasty homemade food into your dog’s diet too. Tasty, nutritious food such as boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and wholesome vegetables such as sweet potato, carrots and spinach will do your pet the world of good. You can every now and then, also include some raw meat.

All a dog wants is a simple, wholesome diet like this as it ensures he doesn’t have any digestive upsets. Dogs like simplicity and consistency. Make sure your pet has a never-ending supply of fresh, cool water.