How large does a maltese female need to be to breed?
My husband and I are looking for a maltese puppy and Im curious to know how large a female should be to breed. I know some breeders are breeding very small females to get these so called tea cups. Is a 3lb maltese suitable to have puppies? Would there be any health issues with the litter?
What does looking for a puppy have to do with breeding?
No REPUTABLE breeder is going to sell you a show/breeding potential if you have no intention of showing and being reputable yourself. Most won’t even sell to someone who does not have an established breeding program to begin with.
No GOOD breeder will breed a female under 4/5 lbs. Secondly a 3lbs dog could still produce a pup that will be 6 lbs when grown since up to THREE previous generations can influence the adult size of a pup.
Basic breeding checklist (for those looking for a female to breed:)
- Female should come with an AKC registration and your sale contract should allow breeding under certain conditions (meaning no pet contracts, no buying from those WITH NO contracts, and dog must be worked or shown in order to breed.)
- Female should come with pedigree going back at LEAST five generations for health and conformation purposes.
- Breeder should offer themselves as a mentor OR point to towards one.
- Parents of female dog should have been tested for genetic diseases, and should have been shown themselves.
All of those are requirements, not suggestions. Not having any or all of those points towards breeding unhealthy dogs with possible faults (which could mean poorER health for the pups.)
Breeding Checklist (Once you Have the Female:)
- Female must compete and win titles in show or work competitions (IE must be breed standard, which is NOT 3 lbs but 4-6 lbs…)
- Female must be two years of age or older, but under six.
- Female must have passed all genetic examinations.
- Male dog must have all of the above as well.
- Owner must have a year or so of experience under a mentor to give her b*tch a good chance at healthy pregnancy and whelping.
- Owner must have $3,000 MINIMUM saved up just for the care of the b*tch and any emergencies that may pop up.
- Owner must know: http://www.learntobreed.com/questions.html
- Owner must have homes lined up for all puppies AND should have a waiting list in case homes fall through or don’t work out.
- Owner must be willing to take back ANY dog for ANY reason at ANY time, or keep them should homes not be found.
- Owner must have a legally binding contract that prevents indiscriminate breeding, shelter dumping, and that gives new owners lifetime protection of their dog having any genetic diseases.
- Owner must be able to take time off of work during whelping week and following weeks to care for pups and mother, especially if mother does not accept the pups.
And this is just the basics! You do not breed if you won’t breed to standard or for health of the dogs themselves, PERIOD. The smaller the female the higher the risk of complications and/or death during whelping. The less YOU know (IE if you don’t have a mentor prior to breeding) the higher the chance of whelping death.
If you don’t have the time, money, or inclination to breed for HEALTH then do not breed.
Add – On the off chance that you’re asking if it’s SAFE to breed smaller and should you buy from someone that does… then the answer is NO.
If a person does not breed to standard (which is 4-6 lbs) then they likely did not put any effort into the dog(s) and they likely did no health testing or put any health care into the litter.
No such thing as "teacup."
I’m sorry some people are so mean. Please feel free to join my group ‘For The Love of Maltese’, where your honest questions can be answered without mean-ness.