Essential Facts About the Maltese Shih Tzu Mix

Most times breeders want to create a low-shedding crossbreed, they resort to mixing a Poodle with almost every other dog breed. However, that’s not the only good option and the Malt-Tzu mix proves this. Also called Malti Zu and Mal-Shi, the purpose of this cross is to create a new low-shedding and hypoallergenic mixed dog. And the attempt is definitely successful.

So, even though the Malt-Tzu is a “designer crossbreed” and not purebred, don’t sleep on it if you’re looking for a cool, social, and low-shedding lapdog breed. If you’re looking for a bit more info, here are the 7 crucial things to know about the Maltese Shih Tzu mix.

7 things to consider before getting a Malt-Tzu

So, is the Maltese Shih Tzu a stable mix or is this one of those crossbreeds that can look vastly different depending on which parent they take on? Despite having one European and one Asian parent, the Malt-Tzu’s look and features are actually quite consistent. It’s still a designer dog and not a purebred dog, of course, but that doesn’t matter much if you just want a healthy and fun family companion. Here’s exactly what you can expect from this breed:

1. As you’d guess from its parents’ size, the Matl-Tzu is a pretty small dog

Sitting at around 10 inches of height at the shoulder (~25 cm) and somewhere between 6 and 12 pounds of weight (3 and 5.5 kg), the Maltese Shih Tzu is not just small but very much a toy breed. Essentially the size of a standard house cat, the Maltese Shih Tzu is perfectly suited for apartment life. It can also feel great in houses, of course, as well as play in well-fenced yards. However, a yard isn’t really necessary for such a small dog as it can satisfy all its playtime and exercise needs in a standard medium-sized living room.

Naturally, that small size also means that physical trauma is not unlikely even after a light knock. So, if this is your first pet, you might want to be extra careful in the beginning while you’re getting used to watching your step around the house.

2. The Maltese Shih Tzu’s appearance can vary a bit but it’s very rarely brachycephalic

As with any other crossbreed, the Malt-Tzu’s appearance can range between the looks of its two parent breeds. Thankfully, Maltese and Shih Tzu dogs aren’t all that different. Aside from their coats – which we’ll address below – the other main difference is that the Shih Tzu is a brachycephalic breed and the Maltese isn’t.

If you’re not clear what this term means, Brachycephalic Syndrome is what we call flat-nosed dog breeds. This syndrome is characterized by the occasional difficulties breathing, intolerance to high temperatures, and certain risks of respiratory problems.

Now, purebred Maltese dogs also look like they have short snouts but they are not short to the point of being flat-faced or Brachycephalic. Purebred Shih Tzu dogs fall right in this category, however.

Does this mean that a Maltese Shih Tzu has a 50/50 chance of being Brachycephalic? You’d think so but, it turns out that most Malt-Tzus don’t have this problem. This is quite fortunate for the crossbreed and essentially makes it a non-Brachycephalic Shih Tzu which is pretty great. In the few cases when puppies of this mix end up having flat noses, that can be relatively easy to spot early on. Not that you should turn your back on such a pup – this syndrome is easy to account for, the dog just needs a bit of extra care at times.

3. Whether double- or single-coated, Malt-Tzu sheds very little and is pretty hypoallergenic

The coats of Shih Tzu and Maltese dogs are similar in some regards and different in others. The main difference between the two parent breeds is that the Shih Tzu is double-coated, i.e. it has the soft undercoat layer typical of many other dogs whereas the Maltese breed is single-coated. Like the Poodle, the Maltese breed doesn’t have an undercoat and only has one layer of curly white hair.

So, a Maltese Shih Tzu can either be single- or double-coated. How does this relate to shedding, grooming, and allergies, however?

Well, not much, as it turns out. Both Shih Tzu and Maltese dogs shed surprisingly little despite their different coat types. Both need a fair amount of grooming to keep their hair in good shape, however, as well as to avoid skin problems. And, both are considered pretty good for people with dog allergies.

The word “hypoallergenic” is thrown around pretty easily with breeds like the Poodle and the Maltese, and, of course, no breed is truly hypoallergenic. However, like the Poodle, Maltese dogs are as close to being hypoallergenic as possible and the Shih Tzu isn’t far off either. This, together with the breed’s small size, makes the Malt-Tzu pretty great for folks with allergies.

And if you’re wondering about the aesthetics of their coats – Maltese Shih Tzu dogs will have medium-to-long hair with a silky and soft texture, whether It’s double-coated or not. It can be wavy but not curly, and it can come in fully white or white with tan, black, or brown markings.

4. This crossbreed is pretty timid and well-mannered – excellent for first-time owners and families

People often think that all small dogs are hyperactive and overly yappy. And while every small dog can be raised to be that way, the Maltese Shih Tzu is inherently calm, loving, gentle, and affectionate. This dog loves its people and needs to be around them. This makes it a fantastic lapdog but it also means you’ll need to watch out for separation anxiety in case you have to leave your dog home alone.

As long as that’s not the case, however, a Maltese Shih Tzu can be a fantastic companion for elderly people as well as for families with small children.

5. Despite not being a working dog, this designer breed is very smart and easily trainable

Neither the Shih Tzu nor the Maltese is really a working breed. Or, at least, they haven’t been working breeds for quite some time. This doesn’t make the Malt-Tzu any less intelligent or trainable, however. Their affectionate nature makes them eager to please which, together with some obedience training early on, is all you really need to teach this dog anything you want.

6. Maltese Shih Tzu dogs very rarely have Napoleon’s Complex and can be pretty social instead

Another misconception people have about small dog breeds is that they are overly aggressive toward strangers and larger dogs in particular. That’s not something typical or biologically inherent to small dogs, however. On the contrary – it’s simply the result of bad upbringing and training.

This trend, often called Napoleon Complex, is just the result of the dog’s owners not training out bad behaviors early on in the pup’s life. This is something the owners of larger breeds do more often as a large misbehaving dog is a danger for those around it. A small misbehaving dog, however, is usually seen as harmless fun.

In other words – all you need to do is not skip your pup’s training and socialization, and your Maltese Shih Tzu will be friendly, social, and fun with everyone it meets, be it guests, strangers, other dogs, or even non-canine pets such as cats.

7. This cross is quite healthy with a few exceptions to keep an eye for

As a small and relatively healthy breed, the Maltese Shih Tzu has an expected average lifespan of 12 to 14 years. This is pretty good but also isn’t anything spectacular or unexpected – smaller breeds always have longer lifespans than larger dogs. And, if 14 seems short, keep in mind that this is just an average – if you get a healthy pup from a reputable breed who’s given you a health certificate for the dog, and if you take care of your pet from then on, chances are that it will live well beyond the 14-year mark.

To achieve this, however, you’ll also need to watch out for some of the more common conditions that can affect the Maltese Shih Tzu. Patellar Luxation and White Shaker Syndrome are two prime examples.

All in all, the Maltese Shih Tzu cross is what you’d expect it to be. This isn’t a jogging companion nor is it a watchdog unless you’ve skipped its socialization. Instead, this is a more or less ideal family companion and lapdog. The low shedding potential combined with the small size is excellent for people with dog allergies and for those who don’t want to constantly have to clean dog fur off the sofa. The health is pretty good too, provided that the dog was bred adequately and you’re offering good care. Aside from that, this is a mostly indoors companion that doesn’t do well alone so it’s best if you’re the indoorsy type as well.