Malton Dog Breed

Though not an official member of any breed group, the Malton is certainly a toy breed, since both its parent breeds are. This multi-hybrid, in which one of its parents (the Cavachon) is itself a crossbreed, is surely a product of the designer dog craze in the U.S. during the late twentieth century. Maltons are bred to be purely companion dogs, and are great as pets for singles, seniors, and families of any size.

PROS:

• Extremely affectionate
• Low to moderate exercise requirements
• Great for apartment living
• Fairly easily trained
• Excellent with children/family
• Good at learning tricks
• Suitable for first-time owners
• Socializes fairly well with other pets

CONS:

• Prone to separation anxiety
• Not adaptable to climate extremes
• Difficult to find/obtain
• Fairly high grooming requirements
• Can be difficult to housetrain
• Can be injured easily from rough play
• Potential for developing Small Dog Syndrome

The Malton is a small-sized, "multi-hybrid" companion dog, meaning it is produced by crossbreeding a hybrid (the Cavachon, which is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel-Bichon Frise mix) with a pure breed (the Maltese). Maltons have medium- to long-haired coats that will require a good bit of maintenance, and loving temperaments one would expect of companion dogs. While these dogs aren't known for being super-intelligent, they compensate for any lack of brain power by having social, affectionate personalities.

A Malton will make an exceptional lapdog, and will follow its humans everywhere--while doing chores, cooking dinner, even to the bathroom if allowed. These dogs undoubtedly develop close bonds with their human family members! One problem that normally arises with Maltons is that they become spoiled and develop Small Dog Syndrome, in which they exhibit selfish, fussy behavior.

*Since Maltons are fairly rare and difficult to obtain (and therefore expensive), puppy mills will often develop this multi-hybrid crossbreed using unethical breeding methods, and offer puppies at a high price (which can have a terrible effect on the dogs' temperaments).

A healthy, well-kept Malton, though, is normally a pleasure to have. These dogs are active, but not hyper; combined with their normal household activity, a long daily walk will be enough to have Maltons sleeping well each night.

As a multi-hybrid crossbreed of the Cavachon and the Maltese, the true origin of the Malton is unknown. It is likely that this crossbreed is a product of the designer dog craze that began in the U.S. during the 1980s; it's further likely that this multi-hybrid was developed to combine the affectionate temperament of the Cavachon with the silky, long-haired coat of the Maltese. For a better understanding of a Malton's history, here's a brief look at the origins of the parent breeds of the Cavachon (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel x Bichon Frise) and the origin of the Maltese:

• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: Descendants of other small breeds like the Pug and various toy spaniels, Cavaliers became popular in the United Kingdom during the seventeenth century, when they were often lapdogs for the ruling class. The breed is named after Charles II, who owned several, and who was sometimes referred to as the "Cavalier King."
• Bichon Frise: This breed is likely descended from the Barbet, a medium-sized French water dog. These dogs were also popular among nobility, beginning with French rulers in the sixteenth century.
• Maltese: An ancient toy breed that is known to have existed in Greek, Egyptian, and Roman cultures, the exact origin of these dogs is uncertain. Like the above-listed breeds, the Maltese became popular among European aristocrats in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

Since the Malton is a multi-hybrid--dogs of this breed are typically 50 percent Maltese, 25 percent Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and 25 percent Bichon Frise--its genetic traits are often hard to determine. What complicates this issue is that since Maltons are rare, breeders of these dogs are few and far between--and it's likely that some Maltons are products of puppy mills, which often use questionable breeding methods. So the possibilities of an individual Malton's true DNA are numerous. A dog of this breed could conceivably have any percentage of Maltese, Cavalier, and Bichon DNA, and even the genetic material of other breeds like the Pug, the Shih Tzu, or the Toy Poodle. Malton owners who want to determine their dog's true DNA can contact various canine DNA testing organizations for more info--just be prepared for some possibly surprising results!

In regards to coat type, a Malton that is a true Cavachon-Maltese mix can have either a medium- or long-length coat, and the coat can be straight or wavy. Since the Maltese and the Bichon Frise (one of the Cavachon's parent breeds) have primarily white coats, white Maltons are most common, but other coat colors (both solid and multi-colored) are possible.

This crossbreed has little variation in size; practically all Maltons average 12 pounds in weight and 10 inches in height. Any noticeable deviation from this average probably means the dog is the offspring of a different breed than those listed above.

Affectionate, playful, active, loyal, and at times selfish and needy, the Malton is the very definition of a companion dog. These multi-hybrids are extremely loyal to their owners--and usually expect the same devotion in return. Maltons are normally obedient, gentle, and fantastic snuggle-buddies; a few dogs of this breed, though, have the potential for becoming spoiled, so some consistent, gentle discipline is recommended. Maltons socialize well with kids and other pets, and are a bit suspicious of strangers at first, but will quickly warm to any unknown people.

Training these little dogs is normally fairly easy. While not known for their great intellect, Maltons are extremely willing to please their owners, and thus will work hard to learn any commands. And once they've mastered the command, they will perform it for anyone--these dogs are good at tricks, in other words.

Maltons' watchdog skills are decent. They're not overly vocal, and their protective instincts are moderate, so they may or may not bark at unknown sights and sounds.

As Maltons are rare, multi-hybrid crossbred dogs, very few health records exist that describe specific health issues for these animals. Of course, some dogs of this breed may suffer ailments common to all small-sized and/or long-haired breeds, like patellar luxation or conjunctivitis. A Malton might also inherit some health issues from one or both of its parent breeds. Here are a few for each:

Cavachon:

• Heart problems
• Allergies
• Immune system disorders
• Eye infections

Maltese:

• Deafness
• Shaker Syndrome (characterized by full-body tremors)
• Dental issues
• Hypoglycemia