Maltese puppies are known for their silky white coat that hangs straight down to the floor on each side with a part in the middle. 
While it looks like there is a great deal of fur, Maltese dogs do not have an undercoat of fur. The fur that you see is all that they have and this is what makes the fur hang straight down. The fur of a Maltese should not be curled or kinky and a true Maltese dog's fur is fully white in color. There have been some breeds that have ivory-coloured fur, but most are pure white. The ears are hidden beneath the long fur. If you were to pull the fur back you would find long pendant shaped ears. The tail is hidden in the same way. The eyes are always black with dark rims. Most of these dogs have wide eyes.
Maltese puppies are spirited little animals and they love to play. They are gentle pets and are devoted to their master. These dogs are highly intelligent and are easy to train. Some say that these are one of the easiest dogs to train and to teach new tricks. They respond well to rewards, which helps in training them. These dogs do bark, however, at the sound of an unfamiliar noise. They are good companions because they are extremely loveable. They get along well with other animals and love to play outdoors. Owners of Maltese dogs say they love to jump into puddles and get dirty. Therefore you must be prepared to bathe them.
If you have children, then you should be aware of the fact they do get snappish with inconsiderate children, but if your kids know how to treat the dog properly there is nothing to worry about.
Maltese puppies do not grow to be very big. They reach a maximum weight of six to nine pounds and will only grow to be about eight to ten inches. This dog breed is known to suffer from certain health problems if not cared for properly. For example they are prone to sunburn if they are left outside for a long time. The most common area that gets burned is the middle of the back where the hair parts mainly because this is the only area of the skin that is always exposed to the sunlight. If you are taking your dog for a walk, you might want to wait until the sun goes down a little. They have also been known to have skin, eye, and teeth problems. Regular trips to the vet will help reduce the occurrence of these problems. They do not like the cold weather and it is recommended that they be paper trained so they do not have to go outside when it's cold and damp.
Daily grooming of these dogs is very important. However, you must ensure that you are gentle when combing their fur as it is delicate and silky. These puppies can get very dirty when eating, so you must clean their fur around their mouth in order to reduce staining. These puppies should be bathed on a regular basis but make sure that they are dried and kept warm after their bath. The eyes and ears should be cleaned on a daily basis to reduce the chances of any kind of infection. Maltese puppies are cute, cuddly and playful pets and are a dog owner's dream.
