WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MALTESE AND ISLANDPUPPYLOVE

IslandPuppyLove.com

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MALTESE AND ISLANDPUPPYLOVE

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REMEMBER; OUR NAVIGATION BAR IS AT THE TOP OF EACH PAGE, RIGHT UP THERE IN THE BLUE BOX -

Please read this entire page before you consider buying a puppy from us. We have some tiny ones available 09/30/2011. Will only go to APPROVED HOMES

First off, we really do reserve the right to NOT sell you a puppy.

These are our pets - they have free roam of their house - Well, unless one of our girls is in the mood, then she gets a private room to herself.

Health Guarantee - if the pup should pass in the first 2 years for genetic reasons or a problem starting with us you will be reimbursed your money.

Pups are fully vaccinated with Pfizer Vanguard 5 and Bordatella, A link is provided at the bottom of this page for info on vaccination schedule. You need to be cautious about THE LEPTO. VACCINATION, this vaccine is not recommended for dogs under 10 lbs because of side effects. We were informed by our vet there is no need for that vaccination in this area - Mobile, Alabama. But -THERE WAS AN OUTBREAK OF LEPTO IN PENSACOLA, FL MANY YEARS AGO. Spoke with a lady at a Vet's office in Pensacola, Fl. They DO VACCINATE FOR LEPTO. They vaccinate at 12 weeks old then at 15 weeks old and a booster every year. They have NOT LOST ANY PUPPIES from this vaccination. This vaccination should be given seperate from other vaccines preferbly on a different day. You can google Leptospirosis for your area to see if it is needed.

We will take the pup back if needed, we do NOT want our babies in a BAD situation.

We use Revolution Flea & Tick protection; this does not "Poison" the dog- DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND BUY THIS FROM YOUR VET. YOU MIGHT FIND IT CHEAPER ELSE WHERE, LIKE TV OR THE INTERNET, BUT IT SIMPLY DOES NOT WORK WELL. NOT SURE WHAT IS GOING ON THERE.

We feed our dogs and puppies top of the line dog food. Look for the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Statement on the back of the bag. If it is there, it's a top line dog food. Also look for an expiration date. These types of foods will keep your pet healthier. When is the last time you saw a dog in a wheat field chowing down? A dog's liver cannot process the gluten part of wheat very well and wheat is usually one of the first ingredients in dog food without the AAFCO statement. Also, by feeding your pet this quality of food, it is possible they will live into their 20's.

IMPORTANT UPDATE ABOUT FOOD - Our Friend has a Maltese, she did NOT buy the Maltese from us; she bought the pup before we started to breed Maltese. Poor Maltese Lilly Girl had PANCREATITIS - Lilly was fed some dog treats with NASTY INGREDIENTS. Please BE CAREFUL what you FEED your PUPPY.

You won't find the above type of food at the supermarket. By what we can figure, IAMS is the best one you can buy from the supermarket when it comes to ingredients.

We do NOT feed our dogs any thing from China. Watch out for chews - a lot of them come from China. These dogs are hardy but small and if fed the wrong thing can develop diarrhea fast which can lead to HYPOGLYCEMIA. B&B Pet Stop has natural pig ears that the dogs love. Do yourself a favor and buy some. The Maltese breed is known for teeth problems because their mouth is small and the teeth can become crowded. Natural chews REALLY helps. DO NOT USE RAWHIDE, it cannot be digested and is a BAD IDEA for such a small dog.

Speaking of HYPOGLYCEMIA, this can be a problem. This is low blood sugar. NutraCal is used for this, there are many other products. If your pet has vomiting, diarrhea, or illness watch them closely. Signs are listlessness, no energy, walking strangely, eyes rolling back (at the worse). We do not advocate using NutraCal for any other purpose - do not like the idea of feeding our pets corn syrup. We have had no problems with HYPOGLYCEMIA but it CAN happen.

TEACUP MALTESE - Would you like 1 or 2 lumps of sugar with that teacup of Maltese? By the true sense, there are no teacup dogs. The normal size of Maltese according to the AKC standard is 4 to 7 pounds. Any thing under 4 pounds is the runt of the litter or their parents are tiny. We have Maltese lines that come from proved tiny lineage.

Things to think about with the smaller dogs - tend to have more teeth crowding, yeast in ears and hypoglycemia. Our dogs do not have these problems because we take care of them and love them. You might have to give extra care also. Extra teeth can fall, even up to 18 months old but it is best to have your vet remove them earlier. Maltese ears can be small and retain bath water thus creating over growth of yeast or bacteria. Try not to get water in their ears and DRY their ears. We use a cleaning solution for their ears which helps to keep the ears clean. A little yeast or bacteria can be normal but please don't let it get out of control. The smaller the dog, the higher the chance that hypoglycemia can occur - Always have food and water available for them.

For potential buyers of our puppies - there is a group of people that deal with puppy mills. Said people are trying their best to get a hold of our top notch puppies. Believe this has unfortunately happened and said puppy is being resold out of California now for $5000 and the so called "Reputable Breeders" are claiming the puppy will weigh 2 1/2 pounds. Said puppy will weigh 6 pounds full grown. I, Ann Marie Thrower, have stirred up a lot of grief for these people on the internet. Before you buy a puppy from any breeder, this is what I suggest you do - type the breeder's name or kennel then add the word complaint, scam or con after the name/kennel. There are breeders who claim they have Maltese that will be 2 1/2 pounds full grown. Every Reputable Breeder that I know of has not had a puppy to average out to that size as an adult. There is definitely NO 1 1/2 pound full grown Maltese. For the prices these disreputable breeders are asking - you can buy a Champion Titled Maltese. PLEASE DO YOUR RESEARCH FIRST. Do not buy a puppy off of the internet without seeing the environment the puppy was raised in. Also, if said breeder does not have the parents on the premises - you might want to second guess said breeder. Do not rely on registration papers either. There are many ways of manipulating registration papers. Many of these disreputable breeders are getting their puppies out of Korea and reselling them to you for outrageous prices and not honoring any health guarantee. I have been breeding only for 3 1/2 years and have learned there are many breeders who will tell you any thing to sell the puppy. Here at Island Puppy Love you will receive the truth and we will honor all agreements in writing.

And now for some good news - Mobile Kennel Club has asked us in the past to represent them for the Maltese Breed for the new and upcoming AKC Toy Kennel Club. This is by special invitation only. We may do this - more to come. We have a lovely reputable breeder who is willing to mentor us.

Puppy Love to All

Ann Marie Thrower and the Island Puppy Love Crew

IF YOU DO NOT TRULY THINK YOU CAN LOVE A MALTESE PROPERLY - DON'T EMAIL US OR CALL. Now to answer questions on a link from our home page. These questions are on the American Maltese Association's Web Site.

How long have they been breeding Maltese? Only 3 crazy fun filled years
How many other breeds do they have? A real plus if they only breed Maltese dogs - We breed only Maltese
Does the breeder insist that all non-show-quality puppies for sale be spayed/neutered at the appropriate age and not be allowed to produce puppies of their own? Yes - spay/neuter or Vasectomy/Tubal Ligation - We will need to see this in writing from your Vet within the first year unless otherwise agreed upon.
Do they have an agreement to take or buy the dog back, should this ever become necessary? Will they put it in writing? Yes
What temperament problems can be encountered? Is it an easy breed to train and housebreak? We know our pups, they are already potty trained and basic commands started.
Do they have shot records? Are they documented? Pup comes fully vaccinated with Pfizer Vanguard 5 and 2 Bordatella shots
What type of contract, conditions or guarantees are involved in the sale of the Maltese puppy? You are reading it folks.
Reputable Maltese breeders will provide a written contract/guarantee with a spay/neuter requirement and limited registration for any pet puppies. They do not sell breeding animals to pet homes. Our pups come with LIMITED registration unless otherwise agreed upon.
Could they give you at least 2 references of someone who acquired one of their Maltese in the past? Yes.
Does the Maltese breeder participate in the rescue of abandoned and owner-relinquished Maltese? Yes.
Did the Maltese breeder require you to visit the premises where the mother dog and the litter of puppies reside, so that you can see how they're raised and cared for? You are more than welcome to see the pups home.
Is the Maltese breeder USDA licensed? If they are, that is a RED FLAG to you that this breeder is a puppy mill. Licensing is required by USDA for any breeder who sells more than $500 per year of puppies to a broker or pet shop. - We do not have this license.
Be careful giving a breeder a "non-refundable" deposit. Paying for the puppy in full is a much better approach to insure YOU will get a puppy and not some other prospective buyer when the puppy becomes of age to be sent home with you. "Deposits" aren't good for either party and it's a fact that they have caused many hard feelings between breeders and puppy buyers. Usually puppy buyers who are a little unsure about actually following through with the purchase favor a deposit as it's a way out of the sale without losing the entire purchase price. If you feel the least bit uncomfortable about giving the breeder full payment up front several weeks before actually taking possession of the puppy, you probably haven't found the right breeder or Maltese puppy and you should move on.
Was the Maltese breeder responsive to openly discuss these concerns, or seem ignorant of them, or defensive, offended etc...?
If you have any doubts as to the honesty of any of the information the breeder gives you-check it out. Remember it is your right and responsibility to make your purchase from someone who takes all steps necessary to produce dogs of quality and health, and then stands behind what they sell. There can be no gray areas when it comes to selling living creatures. Defective Maltese puppies, unlike toasters or automobiles, suffer pain, as do the owners who love them.
If you find a Maltese breeder that suggests meeting you in a store parking lot to save you from driving that extra mileRED FLAG, you should wonder what they are trying to hide. You should ALWAYS be able to see the living conditions of both the Maltese puppies and the parents. Maltese Breeders who do not question you about your home and family situation or how you intend to care for your Maltese are those you should be cautious of. They are more than likely concerned about the financial aspects of the sale than about providing the very best home possible for their Maltese.
Also, remember that responsible breeders will want to ensure their pups will go to good homes, so do expect to be asked some questions yourself such as:
Do you have any young children?
If so, do you understand a Maltese is very fragile as a pup?
Do you have ample space for a new Maltese?
Do you have other pets? If so, how will they be around another?
Have you ever owned a Maltese dog before?
Have you had a dog before? If so, what happened to it?
Have you ever got rid of a dog? If so, why?
What do you know about raising and training dogs? Island Puppy Love Response - All of the pups are smart; We will tell you if there is difficulty with the training
Why did you choose the Maltese breed?
Is anyone in your family allergic to dogs? Island Puppy Love Response - These are one of the best dogs for people with allergies.
Do you have the time to give the attention that a Maltese puppy requires? Island Puppy Love Response - Some acquire more attention then others. Do NOT be fooled, some of the big ones need a lot of attention too. Also, some of the small ones are perfectly happy at home while you are at work.
What type of socialization with your new Maltese puppy are you planning to do?
How much time during the day will the dog be alone?
Do you rent? If so, does the landlord allow pets?
Do you have the patience needed to housebreak a new Maltese puppy? Island Puppy Love Response- They are already potty trained but there is a transition period. One key for housebreaking, give the pup limited space while you are away with necessary food, water, paper or litter, etc.
You will know you have found a responsible Maltese breeder when the breeder makes you PROVE you are qualified to own one of their puppies. If a breeder doesn't ask you any questions but only asks to see your checkbook, walk away. If the breeder makes you feel like you are trying to adopt one of their kids, you have found a responsible breeder. If a breeder will sell to you without giving you the third degree, walk away. A Maltese breeder who sells carefully will have bred the litter carefully.
And a Maltese breeder who requires that you return the dog to them, if at any time, at any age, for any reason you decide not to keep the dog, is a responsible breeder. A responsible breeder will always be willing to take back one of their dogs - they feel responsible for every puppy they sell, for that dog's entire life.
Hopefully all will go well between you and the breeder. If you do decide to purchase a Maltese puppy, don't be afraid to ask a lot of questions. A responsible Maltese breeder can be very helpful with some answers and remember to find a breeder who is willing to take back a puppy or dog if any problems develop or if you become unable to care for your Maltese any longer. Good Luck!

~Patience is bitter... but its fruit is sweet!

12/07/11 -New Pictures SOON. I would like every one to know that all of our pups have been born into my hands. If you are not there for these small babies when they are born, most would not make it into this world of ours. Maltese is one of the hardest dogs to breed unless you know what to do. We have not lost a puppy because we love them all and treat them just like babies. Most breeders who sell their puppies for $200 to $300 are not the same caliber as Island Puppy Love. There have been many things done during the birth of our Maltese's babies to help the moms. Most breeders do not go to the extent that we do here at Island Puppy Love.
We love our dogs much and treat them all with love and care.
We have a total of 16 Maltese - At least 9 will go to new homes. After that we will not be breeding - it has come to my attention that horrible breeders are trying to get a hold of our puppies. All puppies have been spayed and neutered to avoid the puppy being bred; prices will reflect this cost. Even though we will not be breeding - We will STILL HONOR A 2 YEAR HEALTH GUARANTEE AND WILL TAKE THE PUPPY BACK ANY TIME DURING THE PUPPIES LIFE. Also, full refund will be given within ONE WEEK if the puppy does not fit your situation as long as the puppy is returned to us the same way he/she leaves our home- comes back with no fleas, ticks, etc and comes back in the same mental state. Also, you will get nothing but the truth from us. Beware of breeders claiming they have 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 pound full grown Maltese. There are NO 1 1/2 pound full grown Maltese. Now back to our scheduled program......

All puppies must be spayed or neutered unless otherwise agreed upon, which will be RARE. You will receive AKC Limited Registration papers/application when you show proof of spay/neuter or vasectomy/tubal ligation. It is best to wait till they are around 6 months old for these procedures. Copied the quote below from Spoiled Maltese Forum - VERY IMPORTANT!!!! If your vet is unaware of small breed concerns, be weary. You can lose small dogs easy to unforeseen but easily avoidable "accidents". YOU must be your pup's advocate.

Anesthesia

there are different phases of anesthesia. there is a premedication, and induction medication, and a maintenance gas used for the whole procedure.

premeds goals are to relax the pet with a tranquilizer and begin pain control before the procedure is even started. they also reduce the amount of induction medications needed which may be harsher for your pet. there are a vast number of types of premeds so i will not go into detail.

induction medications allow your pet to completely relax and allow the veterinarian to intubate your pet. common medications are Ketamine/valium combination and propofol. ket/val should not be used in animals with kidney or heart problems and in animals prone to having seizures. propofol should not be used in animals with trouble breathing unless there are far worse risks with other medications.

maintenance gas anesthesia may be either isoflurane or sevoflurane. both are very safe. it was once thought that sevo was a superior gas but now it is known to be equally as safe as isoflurane. iso is cheaper and far more common. there are other gases out there but these are the two that can be trusted. my personal preference is isoflurane b/c sevo can lower the pets temperature during recovery from anesthesia and can be dangerous if the patient isnt watched carefully. but with proper care both are a good choice.

Below is other information to help you avoid "accidents -

Anesthetics
By Terri Shumsky

Buttons was almost 10 months old when his owner took him to their vet, a good family friend for many years. Though she received all the normal "warnings" about barbituate overdosing on toy dogs, she felt a great confidence in her Vet that she had for all these years.

He gave a pre-anesthetic tranquizer for intubating which is normal, but then he gave the little 3 pd dog PENTABARB and the little dog went to sleep forever NEEDLESSLY. Look at this little face, and weep with us for something that did NOT HAVE TO HAPPEN. If your vet will not use Isoflurane or gas anesthesia (because it is expensive).... FIND ANOTHER VET THAT WILL.

Here's some of the comments from veterinarians who have heard of this mishap.

"I can't believe that anyone is still using PENTABARB.... that is only used for severe seizures that NOTHING else will control....a last resort"

"This is unheard of in todays veterinary medicine. This vet is DECADES behind"

This was a fine and healthy, chubby little Yorkshire Terrier, full of mischief and not at all sickly in any way. An autopsy showed no reason that this dog should have expired other than an overdose. Even the Vet, who is a family friend, feels very badly about this "overdose".

When your breeder preaches ISOFLURANE.....FIND A VET THAT WILL USE IT BEFORE YOU NEUTER OR SPAY YOUR LITTLE TOY DOG.

If you are all shocked and moved by this tragedy, please spread the word and Buttons will not have died in vain.

Thank you
Terri Shumsky

I too had an experience with anesthetics. My mother got one of our Yorkies (Pee Wee) neutered. The vet (a family friend) gave him too much anesthetia and he ended up having a problem with seizures and became a very SLOW thinking animal. He was the most loveable animal of the five, and was always warm-hearted. He loved me more than anything, and only SAW me in his eyes. The only thing he would leave my side for was food (but can you blame him). Anyhow, he had seizures 2 - 3 times a month and we put him on phenobarbital. These slowed his seizures to 1 - 2 a year, but we knew it would take his toll on his liver - which it did. We were told he would only live 3 - 4 years, but he made it until 7.
Sincerely,
Steve

If you get lost - Navigation bar is above on every page

3 Puppies Ready Now - Pictures SOON - these puppies will be on bigger side. Think they will be around 7 to 8 pounds as adult - more info soon.

All puppies from previous litter made an excellent transition to new owners and are WELL LOVED and, of course, healthy. Some of the pups from last litter may be smaller than we thought.

We have tiny ones now - will not let them go to new home till they are FULLY VACCINATED AND VET CHECKED. These Pups are currently charting to be 4 to 5 pounds as an adult. If you are looking for a puppy at 8 weeks of age; you are looking in the wrong place.
08/05/11 - These pups are staying small. Healthy and sweet faces. The female is charting for 4 1/4 pounds; today is her 6th week birth day. Update soon.

Also, there are web sites using IslandPuppyLove.com's Information. These websites do NOT have links to us but are using our domain name for reference information. We do NOT know the creators of said web sites, therefore, we do NOT support them. It will be up to you to be your own advocate to decide about trusting other websites. Here - We are TRUE BLUE'S. And the only way you will know if a breeder is who they say they are is - Go visit the Breeder's home or kennel. Also, when researching a breeder or kennel - Google, or what ever search engine you use, the breeder's name or kennel name. Then add - complaint, scam, con, puppy mill at the end. Example type in - IslandPuppyLove.com Complaint - this should bring you to Coolpetsinfo.com - Have NO IDEA WHO THESE PEOPLE ARE - So, if I was you would not waste your money with them. Seems they are trying to make a buck off of other's websites?????????.
We did have a link to the Complaints Board and Rip Off Reports - To be Honest you can NOT trust every thing on those sites. Breeders are getting on these sites and posting complaints to take their competition down. We will NOT support sites we do NOT fully believe in. Therefore, that link has been taken off of our web site. There are no complaints of us out there. It is very simple - For any reason within the first week, you decide to return the puppy to us in the same condition the pup went out - you get your money back. We back our puppies for 2 years for Health/Genetic Reasons. But for this to apply - you have to feed them correctly, give them the correct flea/tick medicine, heartworm medicine, make sure they do NOT jump off of high objects (this can cause bad knees). Will update more - there is a lot of things going on with the pet population that should not be occurring. A lot of people are feeding their dog's Science Diet - A link is provided below about this food. This food is NOT good food. It is just about the money for vets. This food causes a cycle of health problems and most vets know this. Also - Comfortis and Sentinel flea tick control is too strong for small animals. These can cause seizures and liver damage. Revolution is the best. Then Frontline. Also, when it comes to the Lepto. Vaccine - skating on thin ice there. Most literature states do NOT give to dogs under 10 pounds but Vets are vaccinating for it. The likelihood that this vaccine will even protect for numerous strains of Lepto. out there is slim. If Lepto. was as rampant as the vets claim, all of our dogs would be dead. We take our dogs/pets every where and our dogs/pets are healthy.

02/17/11 - Draft Notes- If you are the type of person who sits around and plucks fleas off of your Maltese and think that is flea protection, then you might be a redneck. Do us a favor and do NOT call or email us. Also, do NOT call or email if you are going to tether your dog, rather it be inside or outside.

If you are looking for a $200 to $300 puppy, you should do the dog population a favor and go to ASPCA. The Mobile, Alabama SPCA will have the $200 to $300 SO CALLED "Teacup" Poodles and Shih Tzus that you see at certain Mobile, Alabama "Markets". The Poodles and Shih Tzus are not available yet, soon though.

And get this, they are only $150 to $300 from Mobile SPCA. And said dogs/pups will be neutered/spayed, updated on all shots, wormed and had the proper Vet. care. There are a handful of people who do sell their pups around $300 and you will get a great pet in return. But they are few and far between. Please do NOT add to the problem, buy from a reputable breeder. The only way to know for %100 that a breeder is reputable is to go to their home or kennel unless you were referred by a friend.

A link is provided below for the Mobile, Alabama SPCA - 08/01/11 Update - link below is no longer working. Will fix this problem soon.

We recently placed Cuddles and Sara. Both are full grown at 4 1/2 to 5 pounds.

We had no idea how old Cuddles was when we received him. He was full grown and in Horrible shape - he was suppose to be a "Top Notch" dog from a Show Home. We did our research on the breeder, found no complaints and had referrals from other people connected with this breeder. Therefore, we were comfortable with buying him over the internet.

Well, his right testicle had not descended, his baby teeth were NOT removed and his gums were bleeding with brown/black bacteria all over them, he was dehydrated and close to death. He was scared to death of every one and every thing. If you gave him a wrong look, he would run to a crate with his tale between his legs and curl up in a little ball in the corner of the crate. Even so, we had "Breeders" offer us $2000 for him - these breeders are connected to the seller of this dog. Cuddles' brother and sister died according to the original seller of this dog - the seller thought she was going to get Cuddles back through intimidation because she no longer had a small stud.

Long story short, Cuddles was neutered and medically taken care of. Cuddles became happy with us but we wanted to see him get one on one loving. So, we placed him with Ms.Ruby for the cost of the medical bill (Way less than $2000) and Ms. Ruby is aware of Cuddles past history. Cuddles is very happy now. God sent him to us for a reason and that reason is Ms. Ruby - she loves him dearly.

The breeder of Cuddles goes by many names on the Internet - we being new to breeding were unaware of how far breeders will go just to make a dollar. Really suggest not buying a dog/puppy unless you can go to the breeder's home or kennel.

Sara comes from an excellent line - she comes from Dian's Midis Line. We went to Sara's previous owner and purchased her and her puppy. The previous owner was Sara's second owner. Sara's puppy is Tarzan, one of our sires. Tarzan was the main reason for the purchase since Sara was already 6 years old at the time of purchase.

We found a nodule in Sara's breast. Naturally we had our vet take care of the situation. She was 7 years old at the time - So, we had her spayed too. Unfortunately, Sara's nodule was malignant. She had a C-Section in the past and we were NOT aware of this. The vet believes this could be the reason she had cancer. She was bred after the C-Section by the second owner and gave birth to the puppy naturally. The owner we bought Sara from was not aware of the C-Section either.

We think the disease was caught before it spread. We placed Sara for FREE with great people. We placed her with people who we knew would take care of her. These people are financially sound and will be able to provide for Sara. Guess, my point is - we will NOT scam you. We could have easily sold either of these dogs for "Top Dollar" and kept our mouth shut about their health. Not going to happen here. So, with that said, We expect the same from you - If you are going to buy a puppy and do NOT have the money to keep the pup/dog's teeth cleaned, properly groomed, mentally stable - Then DO NOT BUY A MALTESE PUPPY.

Science Diet Food Info and More

Click Here for Mobile's SPCA

Click Here for AAHA Vaccination Guidelines

Anesthetics By Terri Shumsky

Anesthetics
By Terri Shumsky