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My basic info
Breed
Maltese/Poodle (Miniature)
Color
White
Age
Adult
Size
Small 25 lbs (11 kg) or less (when grown)
Weight
–
Sex
Male
Pet ID
–
My details
Good with kids
Good with dogs
Good with cats
Shots current
Spayed / Neutered
Housetrained
My story
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Here's what the humans have to say about me:
Gianni was abandoned at a rural shelter. We're not sure why - he's a GREAT little dog. He's looking good now, but was matted and dirty when he arrived. The information available at the shelter was that he is 1.5 years old, housetrained, and is a shih tzu/poodle mix. He IS young and IS housetrained, but I think he's a Maltese. He adores children and would be fine in a household with children who are old enough to be careful with him, since all small dogs are somewhat fragile.
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BREED INFORMATION: MALTESE: The Maltese is a hardy little companion dog with a luxurious silky white coat hanging straight to the ground on each side of a center part line. The color is pure white, although light ivory is acceptable. The long pendant ears and tail are thickly covered with hair and the tail drapes over the back. The eyes are dark, round, large and deep with dark rims. The Maltese is fine-boned, but sturdy. A properly built Maltese seems to float along the ground under his cloud of white hair.
Temperament
The Maltese is spirited, lively and playful. Gentle, loving, trusting and devoted to its master. Highly intelligent. Good at learning tricks. Bold and quick to sound the alarm in case of suspicious noises. It is a classical companion dog; graceful and lovable. They do well with other animals. Maltese love to play outdoors but have a penchant for jumping in puddles. A bath must follow! If you feed them table scraps, they can become picky eaters. Include small biscuits and dry dog food in this breed's regular diet to help the teeth stay strong and healthy. Do not allow these dogs to develop Small Dog Syndrome, human induced behaviors, where the dog believes he is pack leader to humans. This causes a varying degree of behavior problems. If the dog believes he is boss, he can be snappish with children and even adults. Do not over-pamper or overprotect these little dogs, for they will become unstable, and some may become jealous of visitors. Maltese who are allowed to take over the house, being boss of the humans can also develop separation anxiety, guarding, and obsessive barking. These are not Maltese traits, but rather behaviors brought on by the way the dog is treated by the people around them. These behaviors will go away when the dog is surrounded by stable pack leaders.
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Gianni deserves to be an indoor dog and to live with a responsible and caring person or family. We require an approved adoption application and we normally ask potential adopters to visit once before the adoption is approved. We also reserve the right to make a home inspection. Gianni is VERY SPECIAL and will stay here until the right match comes along. If you would like to arrange to meet him or if you have additional questions, please email or call us.
Gianni will be neutered and fully vetted before adoption. He is free of all parasites and is on monthly heartworm prevention. Gianni's adoption donation is $575, 100% of which is used to offset our expenses for high-quality dog food, excellent vet care, and the numerous other expenses involved in rescue. Most of the dogs and puppies we foster are in need of extensive rehab as a result of the abuse and neglect they have endured. We rescue only four or five dogs at one time so that we can give them that individual attention.
Thank you for considering a rescue dog!!
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