10 things you need to know about the Malshi dog, before you buy one

The Malshi is a small, cute and fluffy hybrid dog type that is just one of a number of popular toy dog type hybrids, and small and toy dogs of all shapes and types are very popular in the UK and very common all over the country too.

Whilst all dogs of the toy type share a number of common broad traits, they are all individuals as well, and the care requirements, core traits, and personalities of different toy dogs can differ considerably from each other on a breed by breed basis too.

When you factor in deliberate cross breeds like the Malshi, finding out the essentials you need to know about the dog type in question can be much more challenging than it is when you’re dealing with a pedigree dog, as there is no breed standard or formal agreed consensus on what they should have in common with each other.

With this in mind, this article will tell you ten things you need to know about the Malshi dog type, before you go ahead and buy a Malshi of your own. Read on to learn more.

Malshis are cross breeds, not pedigree dogs

First of all, the Malshi is a hybrid dog type, which put another way, means they’re cross breeds. Malshis are comprised of the crossing of a Maltese dog with a Shih Tzu, and as such, they are not afforded pedigree status by the Kennel Club.

This in turn means that there is no breed standard in place, and Malshis don’t have a breed registry or any formal body overseeing them – and they cannot be entered in Kennel Club shows.

The Malshi is a small dog

Both of the Malshi’s two parent breeds are small dogs and as you might expect, the Malshi in turn is a small dog too. They can be slightly variable in terms of height and build due to the variance between the two parent breeds and of course, individual dogs within each breed too, but the average Malshi stands between 20-28cm tall at the withers and weighs up to around 6.8kg.

The Malshi is quite expensive to buy given their non-pedigree status

According to our Pets4Homes statistics, the average asking price for Malshis for sale in the UK at the time of writing (September 2019) was £634 each, which is objectively rather high for a dog that is not afforded pedigree status, and more in line with the broad norms for the average pedigree dog of a small breed.

However, pedigree Maltese dogs have an average asking price of over £1,000 each, which goes some way towards explaining the rather high average price of the Malshi itself.

Malshis don’t shed much fur but need regular grooming

Both of the Malshi’s two parent breeds are low shedding, and not only do they not shed much but when they do shed, this hair tends to get tangled in the rest of the coat. This in turn means that such dogs need regular brushing and grooming to keep their coats in good condition, and Malshis with longer fur may need this to be taken care of on a daily basis to prevent knotting and tangling.

Malshis aren’t very tolerant of being left alone

The Malshi thrives on human company, and they are personable, loving little dogs that aren’t keen on being left alone. Many Malshis suffer from separation anxiety and may make a big fuss when you leave and take a long time to settle down, so you should get your Malshi puppy used to spending time alone whilst they are still young in order to prevent this.

Malshis aren’t hugely intelligent

The Malshi’s two foundation breeds are both toy dog types and companions rather than dogs bred for working roles, and whilst the Malshi itself can make for a great pet, they are not one of the most intelligent dog breeds.

Malshis need to be taught all of the basic training commands and should be expected to follow them, but they don’t tend to be capable of learning a wide range of commands or complex commands.

Malshis need a moderate amount of exercise

The Malshi is a small dog type and whilst they are playful and like to run around in the dog park just like any other dog, they are not a hugely high energy dog type and so are perfectly happy with just a moderate amount of daily exercise.

A couple of half-hour walks per day is usually perfectly sufficient.

The Malshi tends to be a very vocal dog

The Malshi is a dog type that is often said to like the sound of its own voice, and they tend to bark with little or sometimes, no reason! They do have quite yappy voices too, which many people find grating – and your neighbours may be among them – so bear this in mind if you live in a house with shared walls.

Malshis aren’t usually a great pick if you have younger children

The Malshi is a dog that tends to like to be the centre of attention, and they are sometimes jealous of their owners spending time with others. They do also tend to be a little intolerant of children, particularly younger ones, and so might not be an appropriate choice for people with growing families.

The Malshi is loyal and very loving, but they can be high maintenance

The Malshi is a loyal, affectionate little dog that loves company and is very demonstrative, but they can also be very demanding and high maintenance to own, and this is not a good pick for everyone. They also need to be trained and managed appropriately and not permitted to display bad behaviour or break the rules just because they are small, and can become unpleasant and hard work, just as any other dog can, if this is not achieved!