Meliora Maltese

Meliora Maltese We are Maltese pet owners first and above all. We show and raise AKC maltese

01/14/2026

Boys ready mid March.

01/12/2026

Sunday is dog bath and grooming day, so I apologize to everyone who tried to message me today. Tomorrow will go through and respond the the messages in the order they were received. I'm terribly sorry for the delay.

01/10/2026

We have 2 adult dogs looking for homes now. A 1 year old male Maltese, and a 4 year old female chihuahua (she was sent here to be assessed and for us to find her a good home). As always with adult dogs we prefer local homes, but will consider others. PM more more information.

Trés is such an adorable little boy.Ready mid March.
01/06/2026

Trés is such an adorable little boy.
Ready mid March.

12/28/2025

Monday I am gonna write about the importance of getting a Maltese from a preservation show breeder who studies structure and movement vs. a BYB who breeds for cute faces. I will be sharing a pair of movement videos of 2 dogs here. 1 bred by me with conformation and soundness in mind, and the other a pet we got before I knew anything about dogs. People often think that with toy breeds structure isn't as important as it is in a working breed, but if you care about the comfort and longevity of your dog it always matters no matter the breed.

12/27/2025

We trim around the upper lip and that has helped us keep dental disease down because it helps us keep the mouth and mouth area cleaner.

12/27/2025

The issue with pet owners on FB groups giving each other advice is two fold.
1. A pet owner doesn't have the vast experience in a particular breed that a show preservation breeder does.
2. Pet owners tend to believe their way is the only and best.
Case in point.. topic: should you pluck hair from a Maltese ears?
There are pet owners saying "never! I've never had to pluck my dogs ears, and they are perfectly healthy"
Another owner in the comments saying "Yes! You MUST keep the hair out of their ears!"
Now, as a breeder and a person who has rescued multiple Maltese, raised them, and shows them, I know a better answer, but do I comment?... no.
Both will argue with me... yet, I have a much larger group of dogs and more experience and I know why they have completely different opinions.
It depends on the dog. Haircut, bathing technique, and grooming style are factors. It also depends on head shape and some other structure features along with coat type.
Do I pluck ear hair on my dogs? Yes and No. Fin, Corbin, Fluff, Envy, and Phoebe need their ears plucked. That's 5 of 15. The rest not at all.
But I scroll by because people are crazy and all that happens is they tell me their one dog is the exception that proves the rule.
But if your Maltese needs their ear hair pulled, then do it. If it doesn't, good for you. However, some people need to stop pretending having a pet somehow makes them an expert on the subject.
Rant over.
Now, for those dogs that need their ears plucked, here is how a veterinarian taught me to do it.

12/27/2025

1 week old puppy checks.

12/23/2025

Sometimes I'm not perfect, and pulling a stuck puppy can be difficult. It requires firm and delicate strength. That being said I somehow managed to damage one of the new puppy boys back toes. As advised by vet we are monitoring it, but both the vet and myself knew the toe would simply fall off and then the foot will heal just fine. The toe fell off early this morning and the rest of the foot looks healthy and perfect. So, I have a little puppy with only 3 toes on a back foot, I am gonna nickname him "Tres" for now.
I hate mistakes, and while this post makes light of it, and the puppy is fine, I will forever have a twinge of guilt. I have to grip those back feet so firmly in order to pull a puppy down and out before it dies stuck, and I have done it about a dozen times, but I somehow put too much pressure and damaged that toe. It's the first time I have ever had this happen, and I am livid with myself. Although thinking back I was running out of time, he was very stuck, and the new momma was panicked. Anyway, I feel like crap about it, but feel free to lightheartedly ask me for updates on "Tres" over the coming days and weeks.

12/23/2025

If you have a dog from me I want you to know a few things. I loved them first, I tried my best to breed to the standard and selected their parents (whom I also love) with care. Always aiming for healthy dogs that met the breed standard as well. I was there awake night after night watching the expecting mother. When whelping began anxiety and fear gripped me, but I had to set those aside to focus. I took notes every few minutes of everything momma did in an obsessive and desperate need to spot anything wrong soon enough to help. I pulled the backwards puppies before the delay caused positional asphyxiation. Then I clamped their cord, and suctioned their tiny nostrils. I rubbed their tiny wet bodies until I heard the slightly lower more robust squeak I had learned meant it was safe to pass them back to mom. But the job was still not even close to done. I made sure they latched and nursed, I made sure their momma was happy with them and felt safe. I managed the heat in their bed very carefully, I put a baby monitor on them before I dared to extend the time between checks.
As they grew I saw their little noses peak over the box and I knew the next step. I had to balance the need for more space with their dexterity. I gave them silly nicknames. When momma finally started wanting away from them for more then a few moments, I snuck in and gave their tiny noses boops. I watched each bit of black come in; sometimes fast and sometimes slow. I learned to tell them apart and see not just their bodies, but their spirits and personalities.
I guided them to be emotionally ready for a transition to a new home. They played at my feet. When they were first able to explore the house my whole family went back to walking in slow shuffles to prevent stepping on darting and playing puppies. I gave them their first baths, and talked slowly and gently as I did so. By their first shots I knew them so well that I knew who would yelp and who wouldn't even notice. I took the time to know each puppy, because to match one to the right family I have to know what each puppy needed and preferred. I loved them deeply and I loved them first.

My husband demonstrating just how tiny Maltese puppies are at 2 days old. This little boy is so adorable.
12/22/2025

My husband demonstrating just how tiny Maltese puppies are at 2 days old. This little boy is so adorable.

12/21/2025

Born only a few minutes ago. Because he was backwards he didn't want to breathe or move right away. He is just fine now.
Mom took a long rest and then she had one more little boy. Now mom got her special post partum mash and some treats, and all three are sleeping peacefully. Mom will get her post whelp bath in the morning, and then I will share photos of her and the two baby boy..

Address

Dwight, NE
68635

Telephone

+14026412421

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Meliora Maltese posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Meliora Maltese:

Shortcuts

Share

Category