Serbian Tricolour Hound 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 Serbian Tricolour Hound was once known as the Yugoslavian Tricolour Hound. It’s a rare dog breed that you won’t find much outside of the Balkans.

These dogs were bred for hunting in packs but in these more modern times they are more of a companion dog.

It is thought that the Serbian Tricolour Hound was a variant of the Serbian Hound until 1946 when a separate breed standard was established. It was recognized by the Federation Cynologique Internationale in 1961.

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 Serbian Tricolour Hound is a medium sized dog standing at between 44 to 55cm in height and weighing in the region of 20 to 25kg.

He is a strong, muscular, solidly built dog with a rounded skull and longish muzzle. The ears of this dog are long and floppy and the long, curved tail hangs down but is held high when the dog is excited.The dog has a short, glossy coat which is essentially a rusty color. There is quite a lot of black with some white on the coat too.

Temperament:

Loving and loyal, this dog was once used for hunting and he has learned to listen carefully to- and respond well to his owner.

He loves his human family and makes a great family pet. He gets on well with the kids, loving to take part in their games. He is intelligent and with training and socialization he is obedient, well balanced and well mannered.

Friendly and social, all he wants is to be with his human family, but even so he is better suited to life with a family who lives on a large property in the suburbs or countryside as opposed to living in the city.

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.

The Serbian Tricolour Hound is a loving, loyal, active, devoted breed that loves his human family, wanting to be involved in all the activities they’re involved in.

He is somewhat reserved with strangers but training and socialization helps to make him well behaved around them and it means you can take him with you wherever you go as he is well behaved.

These Serbian dogs make splendid pets, and if you take good care of yours, he will provide you with unconditional love.

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.

The Serbian Tricolour Hound is such a healthy dog breed and with the right nutrition and exercise can reach 12 to 15 years of age. He is a rare dog breed so there isn’t a whole lot of information available about his health.

There are always going to be those common dog illnesses that many dogs succumb to. Some of them are hip dysplasia, cancer, skin problems and parasites.

Ear Infections:

With his floppy ears, check out the insides of his ears to ensure there are no signs of redness and ear discharge.

Hip Dysplasia:

Hip dysplasia is a condition where parts of the hip joints don’t fit properly together. This creates a situation where there is abnormal wear and tear on the joints. It can lead to arthritis even and pain for your dog.

Parasites – Tapeworm, Fleas ad Ticks:

The tapeworm is a parasite spread to dogs but also to people and it is through the ingestion of infected fleas. You can often detect this when you discover parts of the worm crawling in your dog’s bowel movements.

Check your dog over for ticks and fleas too when you brush him as these can lead to other illnesses such as tick bite fever.

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.

The short, shiny coat of the Serbian Tricolor Hound will require nothing more than a good brush twice a week to keep the coat nice and smooth. You can even take a damp cloth and wipe the coat over with it to remove dust.

Exercise:

Provide your dog with a regular amount of exercise every day. Dogs become sad and unhealthy when they’re just stuck in the back yard and left on their own. Take him for walks each day and throw a ball for him to fetch. Simple little games like this will keep him happy as he loves to spend time with you.

Vaccines:

Keep your dogs vaccines up to date to avoid deadly diseases.

Diet:

Only the very best food is good enough for a dog. Dry kibble is excellent and convenient but try and feed your dog some home-made food too. Avoid spicy, exotic foods as this can upset your dog’s digestive system. Speak to your vet if you’re unsure how to feed your dog to ensure his good health and longevity.