Weimaraner vs Mal-Shi - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

The Weimaraner is a German breed also know as the Grey Ghost. He was bred to hunt by royalty in the early part of the 19th century. They went after large game including the bear, boar and deer. Once these large game hunts disappeared, the breed became known for hunting small prey like rabbits, fowl and fox.

They are an all-purpose gun dog, hunting, chasing, tracking, pointing and retrieving. They got their name from the city of Weimar in Germany as a favorite of Karl August, the Grand Duke of Saxw-Weimar-Eisenach who hunted with the dogs. They are believed to have descended from either the St. Hubert Hound and Bloodhound, or the Chien-gris dogs.

The breed did not arrive in the United States until the 1920’s. Before that they were barely known outside the city of Weimar. By the 1950’s they were very popular in the States with President Eisenhower having one at the White House.

Small and pretty, the Mal-shi is a new crossbreed dog which originated in the United States and only recently - in the 1990s.

There hasn’t been much interest shown in developing this small dog into an independent breed, so most of these dogs are regarded as crosses from the two parent breeds – the Maltese Poodle and the ShihTzu.

Known as a designer dog he was also bred to be a low shedder. No breed clubs for this dog have been established and there are no breed standards either.

A very athletic and elegant breed, muscular and lean, the Weimaraner is built for stamina and speed. They are a very unique looking breed, nick named the Grey Ghost due to the appearance and coloration. The breed has a very short coat that fits like skin over his bone structure. It is smooth and hard and runs from a blue-gray to silver-gray to charcoal-blue. The skin is pink not black, the coat is thin with no undercoat.

They should not be black but they can be a longhaired Weimaraner, according to US AKC Breed Standards. In the AKC standards the tail is docked. This has now been changed in standards around the world as many countries are banning tail docking. They have webbed paws and striking amber, blue-gray or gray eyes. The long haired version can only be produced when both parents carry the recessive gene

The Mal-Shi is a small dog standing at around 25–30 cm in height and weighing between 3 and 7kg. As a designer dog he has a low-shedding coat of many colors – white, black and white, white and apricot and brown.

The coat is usually soft and silky and slightly wavy and it can grow long if left untrimmed. Most people take their pets to a professional groomer to be cut.

The skull of the dog is domed, he has small ears which can be half-erect and half-floppy.The tail is long and fairly feathery. Sometimes the dog inherits the underdeveloped tear duct of the Maltese and then there is that usual tear-staining around the eyes.

Temperament:

THE Mal-Si is such a cute little dog, making him a splendid pet for children and he is more than happy to be cuddled and petted. Small and active, he is adaptable and will live easily in the city or the countryside, as his exercise needs aren’t that demanding. He basically requires a walk each day and will love some ball games both inside and outdoors.

He is an extrovert and also an entertainer, and his amicable nature allows him to get along with other pets in the home. However, contrary to what he looks like, he is a bold dog, social and also intelligent, making him easy to train.

It is to any owner’s advantage to have a little dog like this trained and socialized, even though he is so good natured. He makes a great therapy dog too. When the Mal-Shi is at home he’s an affectionate, loving dog who just wants to spend time in the company of his human family.

As a companion dog, he won’t do well when left for hours on end on his own. Dogs are social creatures, and they can battle with separation anxiety when left alone for too long. Every dog owner needs to think of this before investing in a dog.

Characteristics

1.Children friendliness they love children, might not know how big they are

2.Special talents speed

3.Adaptability Not apartments. Large dog needs room to run

4.Learning ability – Very intelligent, very stubborn

The Maltese Shih Tzu is an attractive little dog who is guaranteed to make you a splendid pet. Those who have owned both Maltese and Maltese Shih Tzu will tell you that the temperament of this dog is more amicable than that of the Maltese.

With his amicable nature, he is willing to be everyone’s friend, and he makes a particularly good choice for elderly people.

Being such a people-dog, the Maltese Shih Tzu's greatest joy comes from being petted and taken notice of by his human family. He can’t bear to be left for long periods of time. Like any other dog, he will require training and socialization, requiring a firm, balanced, consistent, fair owner.

Cheerful and good-natured, when he is loved to the moon and back, this little dog promises to make you and exceptional best friend.

Health Problems

There are a few conditions and diseases that the Weimaraner is subject to but surprisingly for their size hip dysplasia is rarely one of them. There are prone to

Bloat – Gastric torsion when the stomach twists itself and cuts off blood circulation and digestive processes. Bloat is deadly unless caught quickly.

Skin allergies - they have allergic reactions to parasites.

Ear infections – make sure you keep the ears clean and dry.

Elbow Dysplasia – can cause lameness or arthritis.

Cryptorchidisn – the dog is missing one or both testes.

Hypothyroidism – can be treated with medication as with humans.

Von Willebrands Deisease – bleeding disorder

Hunting Accidents like sprains, strains, and cuts.

The Maltese Shih Tzu is a robust little dog, and with good care he can live to be anything between 10 to 15 years of age.

There are some health issues you want to be aware of with this particular dog breed.

Respiratory Problems:

Your little canine friend can have respiratory problems because of him being a flat-faced breed. Known as brachycephalic dogs, these dogs can have breathing difficulties. They are usually fine when resting, but during exercise or if they become too hot, they battle with breathing. It makes them more prone to heatstroke, so it is important to keep dogs like this cool and calm.

Patellar Luxation:

This is actually a common problem in small dogs - dislocation of a bone at a joint. Patellar luxation is when the knee joint slides in and out of place, causing pain.

White Dog Shaker Syndrome:

This is a disease which is seen in the Shih Tzu and Maltese. Symptoms include uncontrollable shaking and tremors. These can continue all day. The illness is worse during times of stress and there may even be difficulty with walking. The cause is unknown but he will certainly need to get to the vet.

Caring for Pet

1 Feeding the puppy - Feed high quality dog food with high protein but not rich foods. Rich foods cause digestive issues and eating to fast, too soon before or after strenuous exercise do to threat of bloat. Also do not use the raised foot bowls as they hold an even great risk for bloat. Feed puppy 3-4 meals per day.

2.Feeding the adult Feed high quality dog food with high protein but not rich foods. Rich foods cause digestive issues and eating to fast, too soon before or after strenuous exercise do to threat of bloat. Also do not use the raised foot bowls as they hold an even great risk for bloat. Feed the adult twice a day.

3.Points for Good Health stamina and speed

4. Games and Exercises – This is a very athletic and energetic dog. They need activity and will become destructive without it. They develop separation anxiety very easily. They need both physical and mental stimulation. They are great at agility, course running, field trials and CAT.

Diet:

The Mal-Shi is a small dog and will require eating two small meals a day. An adult Mal-Shi will eat according to his age, size and activity levels.The quality of the dog food you buy will make a huge difference to his wellbeing. The better quality foods – those without preservatives, colorants and fillers will ensure good health and longevity for your pet.

Don’t just give him dry kibble every time – mix in some chopped up cooked chicken, brown rice and vegetables. Remember that some vegetables like onion can be bad for your pet.

Dogs love simplicity, and feeding your dog these simple foods will ensure you don’t battle with upset stomachs. Make sure you always have a bowl of fresh, cool water available for your pet.

General:

Trim his nails when they get long and don’t wear down naturally.

Check his ears for redness, itchiness and discharge which could indicate an ear infection.

If you have him professionally groomed, you will still need to brush him twice a week. It’s also your time to check him over for ticks and fleas and any unusual lumps.