Mal-shi
 An adult Mal-shi | |
| Other names |
Malt-tzu,[1] maltzu,[1] malti-zu[1] |
|---|---|
| Foundation stock | Maltese, Shih-Tzu |
| Variety status | Not recognized as a standardized breed by any major kennel club. |
| Domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) | |
Mal-shi, also known as malt-tzu, maltzu, and malti-zu, are a type of designer dog resulting from a cross between a purebred Maltese and a purebred Shih Tzu.[1][1] Most Mal-shi are F1 crosses, as there has been little interest in developing the dog as a breed.[1] They are not recognized by any major kennel club.
Because they do not shed, mal-shis need to be groomed often. Sometimes this breed can also have some health problems because of their size, flat face, and small wind pipe. Some mal-shi suffer from malformed knee joints, known as patellar luxation, which causes internal friction and can eventually cause arthritis.[2]
Appearance
Most Mal-shi weigh between 5 and 15 pounds (2.3 and 6.8 kg) and are between 10 and 20 inches (25 and 51 cm) tall at the shoulder.[1] They come in all the colors of the Shih Tzu, namely white, black, brown, and any combination of these three colors.[1] They have silky coats and curled tails.[1]