Foundation stock Maltese, Shih-Tzu | ||
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Other names Malt-tzu
maltzu
malti-zu
Malshi Variety status Not recognized as a standardized breed by any major kennel club. | ||
Mal-shi, also known as Malshi, 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. Most Mal-shi are F1 crosses, as there has been little interest in developing the dog as a breed. They are not recognized by any major kennel club.
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Health
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 White Shaker Syndrome, malformed knee joints, known as patellar luxation, which causes internal friction and can eventually cause arthritis.
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. They come in all the colors of the Shih Tzu, namely white, black, brown, and any combination of these three colors. They have silky coats and curled tails.