Collection: Personalised Mal-Shi Gifts

The Mal-Shi breed is a cross between the Shih Tzu and the Maltese and a recent breed appearing in the last twenty years. Crucially, the Mal-Shi doesn’t drop coat so the evolution of this breed is thought to be partly in response to the increasing demand for hypoallergenic dogs for allergy sufferers.

This cross offers the best attributes of both breeds and is a popular breed because they are sociable with engaging personalities and perfectly suited to family life.

As a cross-breed, the Mal-Shi has a fairly recent pedigree although both of the foundation breeds have been prized for several centuries. As with all cross-breeds, it is takes decades to establish a new and truly consistent breed standard so some Mal-Shi’s may have more Maltese characteristics whilst others will owe more to the Shih Tzu.

The breed is said to have been driven by the desire for something new and just a little bit different and is part of the current trend to cross popular standard breeds to produce something novel and unique.

The temperament of any dog can vary from litter to litter so it is even more important with the Mal-Shi that a puppy is selected from two parents who are good specimens of their own breed with kind, tractable natures. Even though the Mal-Shi is a very new cross, it generally has a calm and engaging personality, a reflection of the two foundation breeds.

Mal-Shi’s are very human-focused and will form a strong bond with their owners. They have sociable and defined characters and don’t like to be left too long without human company. Bright and intelligent, they are easy to train and do not require huge amounts of exercise – it’s stimulation and engagement they crave more than anything else so they can make an ideal family pet. They are also a good breed for first-time dog owners.