Who is McHenry Maltese? McHenry Maltese is a small group of select, honest reputable breeders of predominately Maltipoos and sometime other crosses with toy poodles or malteses. Originally starting out in the NW suburbs of Illinois (McHenry County) where most of our clients lived locally, we quickly expanded due to the high demand, and now clients come from all over the United States. We are now located in Colorado and Oklahoma and our puppy courier service can bring your puppy to you anywhere in the USA. Collaboratively, with a combined 40 plus years of breeding experience, our networking breeders together offer a plethora of breeding knowledge and some hold positions as dog show handler, veterinarian tech, therapeutic dog trainer and dog groomer. Our puppies range in sizes between 5-12 lbs. depending on which parents we use, are hypoallergenic and non-shedding, making them an ideal pet for people with allergies, and have many color variations in thick, wavy to curly coats. Our breeding lines are carefully chosen from purebred parents and first generation maltipoos (F1) and some are even previous show dogs. Please review our About Us page for more details about who we are.
Where do I start? On our FIRST Step page.
How do I reserve a puppy? If you see a puppy you like under our Available Puppies, complete our Puppy Application for consideration. Someone will get back to you to discuss the puppy you are interested in. PLEASE NOTE: ONLY fill out our application if you see a puppy listed under “Available Puppies Page". If you fill out an application without a specific puppy indicated, your application will not be reviewed. Also, we screen our buyers and will not sell to anyone we do not feel comfortable with. We also will not sell to anyone over the internet alone as we must talk with you on the phone. There are far too many unfortunate stories that have put innocent puppies at risk and therefore we do take that extra step to make sure our puppies are going to secure, loving homes.
Do vaccinations come with the puppy? Puppies are vaccinated at approximately 6.5 – 9 weeks of age with DA2PPv – 5 way Vaccine against Canine Distemper, Adenovirus Type 2, Parainfluenza & Parvovirus. This vaccine is the first of a 3 or 4 shot series (some vets will do 4 shots). In addition, they are put on Pryantel Pamoate and Panacur-C for Canine Dewormer control at a 2 week interval until they go home.. The puppies first rounds of shots are the most important!. These shots are what builds your puppies immune system against harmful diseases. Until your puppy has completed his series for puppy shots, he can be susceptible to getting a disease. This is why it is important to always vaccinate your puppy and keep them away from public areas and other strange dogs until the series of puppy shots have been given. We can not stress enough how important this is. Vaccination and deworming records are provided to you when you get your puppy and these records should be shown to your veterinarian.
Why do you not sell to everyone? We receive many inquiries and applications on our puppies. We review each application carefully and contact you by phone. We must completely be confident that our buyers are right for our puppies and that the new buyer is comfortable with us as breeders, and our policies and procedures. In some instances, it may not be a good match, and we therefore would not be able to provide you with one of our puppies.
How to get puppy to you (Delivery Options)? Depending on which puppy you choose and where you live, we offer a few options on getting your puppy. 1) Pick up puppy at breeder's home - our buyer would be responsible in picking up puppy directly from breeders location. 2) Airport Delivery Service. ($150). We meet you at the airport where the breeder lives (Baggage Claim Area) and drop off puppy directly to you. If you choose this option, you must have an airline approved pet travel bag that fits under the seat. 2) Puppy Nanny Service ($450-$500 not including price of puppy). Our puppy nanny will meet you at the closest major airport to you and meet at Baggage Claim Area. This service allows puppy to be with someone at all times – puppy nanny has a little crate they put puppy in and fits under seat. Visit the Courier Service page for more information. 3) Cargo Shipping - American Airline or United Pet Safe are the carriers we most often use. Details and arrangements are made about a week prior to delivery of your puppy.
How much of a deposit is required to reserve a puppy? A $400 deposit (this goes towards the purchase price of the puppy) is required to hold the puppy you are interested in. Upon pick up the remaining balance is due in full. If you are using our Puppy Nanny or Cargo service full payment must be made at least 2 weeks prior (check or money order). Please note, we accept cash, money order or cashiers check upon pick up. Deposits are non-refundable.
How are deposits/payments handled? The fastest way to secure a deposit for one of or puppies is through Pay Pal or Venmo. Keep in mind Pay Pal does charge a service fee and Venmo is free. With Pay Pal, you have an option to pay using your credit card. Deposits are used towards the cost of the puppy. Deposits can also be made using a cashiers check or money order. Deposit is $400 – which once paid will put a reserve on your puppy. The remaining balance of the puppy is to be paid in full (cash, cashier’s check or money order only) upon pick up. Please note, we do not except personal checks or credit cards on day of pick up. Deposits are non-refundable. If we are shipping your puppy or you are using our puppy nanny service, the remaining balance of the puppy, plus the cost of the airline ticket, must be paid in full before flight arrangements can be made (usually by 2 weeks prior).
What happens after the deposit is made? After your deposit is received, a confirmation email or letter including a receipt and other pertinent information regarding your puppy will be provided.
Once my deposit is made, do I get to come and choose my puppy? We do not allow visitation until the puppies are at least 8 weeks of age AND at least one round of vaccinations must be administered. There are far too many outside elements “germs” that can be brought in to the whelping area, so we do adhere to this policy. I know this is sometimes difficult in not being able to “choose” the puppy and hold them, etc. but we can say we breed for outstanding temperaments and our offspring exhibit these characteristic. We also will describe the personalities of the puppies to help you find a compatible match. In addition, we are more then happy to give you phone number’s of past clients who have puppies from previous litters of same parents, so you can ask specific questions regarding the temperaments of their puppies, etc.
Pet Insurance? Check out our helpful blog about Pet Insurance.
Do you provide photos of the puppies? We provide photos to our clients every 3 weeks or so as the puppy grows.
Are prices negotiable? Our prices are firm. A lot of consideration goes into the prices of our puppies. We try to be very competitive within the industry and we look at many factors involved in pricing. This includes; time of year, supply vs. demand, coloring and size of puppies, pick of litter status, as well as our expenses regarding vet checks, vaccinations, quality of care, food, transportation cost (if applicable), etc.
Do you have a wait list? We currently do not have a wait list as we like to have the puppies born so we can determine gender, colors and pricing before we take any deposits.
Our 72 hour policy – Within 72 hours of bringing your new puppy home, you are required to bring him to a licensed veterinarian. This will assure you are getting a happy and healthy puppy and address any questions you have immediately. A Vet Verification Form is sent to you in your confirmation pack and we also have extra forms on day of puppy pick up. Your vet is required to mail back the form to McHenry Maltese showing proof that you have brought your puppy in within the 48 hour time frame. Failure to bring your puppy in within the 72 hour window, will constitute you accept your puppy “as is” at time of sale AND failure to return the Vet Verification Form to us, will constitute an “as is” condition of your puppy.
Once the puppies are born, can I come see them? For the health and safety of puppies as well as our whelping females, visitation is allowed only after 8 weeks of age AND at least one round of vaccination administered. Once a litter is born, we will send photos to you as soon as we feel comfortable in taking the pups from their moms for a quick photo. Some moms don’t mind this at all, other moms are very sensitive if we take the puppies from them. We also provide photos around every 3 weeks as the puppies grow.
Can I come pick out my puppy at McHenry Maltese? Fortunately we do not run like a pet store where countless people handle our puppies. When dealing with a small breed, you must be extra careful in outside elements that people can bring into our home and we must be considerate of our whelping females. Keeping our puppies healthy and safe is our utmost importance. Visitations is at 8 weeks of age, and only after the puppies first round of shots. Puppies are not fully immunized until 16 weeks of age, so we take the precautionary measure very seriously.
I am skeptical, how do I know you are a legitimate? Buying a puppy should be a great experience. Unfortunately, too many scams are out there and you must be very careful in where you buy a puppy from. For that reason, it puts a lot of doubt in ones mind about buying a puppy. You should not only be well educated on the breed of puppy you are buying, but also from the breeder you are buying from. Ask questions – Does the breeder have experience? What are their credentials? Are they a breeder of just a dog owner who wanted to have a litter of puppies? Where are the puppies kept/whelped? Are the puppies in a clean/safe environment? Are the females/males at their facilities? Do they have references? How many litters has the mom had? What type of guarantee does the puppy come with? These are some of the questions that are important to ask. Whether you purchase a puppy from McHenry Maltese or not, please educate yourself and make sure questions are answered before you purchase your puppy.
What if I change my mind about the puppy? Please make sure you and your family are 100% completely committed into bringing a new puppy into your home. It is a big commitment and you must be ready for the responsibility. If you are not fully ready, think about waiting until everyone is "on board” for the undertaking. Our policy is, we do not take back a puppy if you change your mind. I know things come up in people’s schedules and such, but we do have to adhere to our policy. On the other hand, if we can’t sell you a puppy or something comes up on our end, your money is fully refunded.
Scheduling when to pick up your puppy – Our puppies can go home at a minimum of 8 – 14 weeks and in some instances even longer or around 2.5 – 3 lb. minimum. In some instances the puppy could be a little smaller, and as long as we feel pup is ready to go at our discretion. 1 week prior to that 8 week mark, we can get a pretty good idea of when we feel the pup can go home. But keep in mind, it is up to our complete discretion. When deciding on when pups can go, we look at growth milestones including: is puppy weened completely from mom?, is puppy eating well on their own?, is puppy at the appropriate weight? Our buyers must be flexible on puppy pick up date and if you are planning around specific dates such as vacations, prior commitments, you must ask yourself is the timing right to bring in a new puppy to your busy schedule? Our buyers must be flexible and again it is up to McHenry Maltese complete discretion and no exceptions or promises will be made!
What if I can’t pick up puppy when our puppy pick up is scheduled? – our buyers must be somewhat flexible in terms of when we scheduled puppy pick up. Please do not plan a vacation or time away when your puppy is planning on coming home. Our goals is to have your puppy get to their new owners as soon as we feel they are ready (usually around 8-14 week mark) and we like the litter mates to all go home roughly around the same time. This is also best so that your puppy is not left alone in our whelping area as this could put added stress on the puppy. For this reason, we do not “keep” your puppy additional time then needed. Again, please make sure you are fully ready for your new puppy without any major engagements on your calendar.
Health risk of small breeds you should be aware of - Small breeds are cute and adorable, but please make sure you are fully aware of certain health risks that the toy breeds may be prone to. Click Here for an in depth article.
Do you have references? Absolutely! We have excellent references upon request. We receive many referrals from satisfied customers and satisfied customers is what we strive for. We are there for our customers to answer any questions they may have along the way and after the puppy goes to their forever homes. We love receiving updated photos of the puppies growing up and posting them on our website. Please also visit our Facebook page as we have over 2000 follower including many past buyers that post reviews at www.facebook.com/Mchenrymaltese/,
What is a designer puppy anyway? A (Designer Puppy) is an offspring of at least one purebred parents and an F1 generation parent of different breeds. At McHenry Maltese, we use both combinations depending on which characteristics we are looking for in particular litters. When combining the two brings better traits to the puppy and a wonderful calm, lovable temperament. They typically are gentle, easy to train and funny little puppies that will make you laugh every day. These puppies often avoid the negative personality and health problems of the bloodlines of the purebred parents, because of the introduction of two totally unrelated bloodlines. Not to mention they are just so darn cute. Our puppies love people and children. They are of course like us and do like to have some alone and quiet time. Please read our blog on Our Breeds.
Smaller mouths in toy breed dogs – Click Here for an article about canine teeth in small breeds that you should be aware of.
Are parents on site? Yes, all of the parents are on site at the breeders locations. Visitations may be considered and photos can be provided of parents upon request.
I would like more information about McHenry Maltese – check out our About Us page for more info.
Any suggestions on Puppy Names? Please check our Puppy Name page.
Are the puppies guaranteed? Yes. Our puppies come with a 1 year written health guarantee against any major defects such as heart, lung, kidney and other life threatening congenital defects. You will receive our full contract that clearly states our conditions and guarantee and other important information that is outlined in our contract once a deposit is made. Our breeders all carry similar guarantees. Please make sure you clearly understand the guarantees outlined and ask questions! Please Note: You are required to sign and date the provided contract, make a copy for your records, and return it to McHenry Maltese for our guarantee to be valid. We must have a signed and dated contract in our files at McHenry Maltese within a few days of taking possession of your puppy, or our contract is null and void.
Males vs. Female: Click Here for an in-depth article regarding gender.
Two Puppies? I usually recommend if you want to get two puppies, you should get a male and female vs. two males or two females. The first month or two will be more difficult and busier, but after a few months they will be easier and will keep each other entertained while you are away. Much less separation anxiety and great companionship. They will transition easier and have less stress in the beginning. Plus a lifetime with their brother, sister or another buddy is just a wonderful thing for you to give them and for them to bond and play with. This will not change the bonding to you at all.
Products for Potty Training: We highly recommend the Potty Training Puppy Apartment (PTPA). Please click Modern Puppies for information. Be sure to use code: MM60012 to receive a 5% discount upon check out.
Any advise on potty training & grooming? Yes! please our Potty Training Blog.
I would like to learn about other Dog Foods on the Market – For complete “Dog Food Review” information, Click Here .
Can you guarantee the color of my puppy? For information about colors of mixed breeds Click Here.
Do you have any recommended readings? Here are a list of my top favorites: Little Dogs: Training your Pint-Sized Companions by Deborah Wood, The Dog Listener by Jan Fennell, The Dog’s Mind – Understanding your Dog’s Behavior by Bruce Fogle, Caring for your Dog – The Complete Canine Home Reference by Bruce Fogle, Raising Puppies & Kids Together – A Guide for Parents by Pia Sivani & Lynn Eckhardt. We also love Cesar Millan of the Dog Whisperer Dog Channel.
Do the puppies shed? Maltipoos, Malshis, Shipoos, Shishons, Yorkipoos, Morkies are all excellent dogs for allergy sufferers as they do not shed and are hypoallergenic.
When can puppies go home? 8 – 14 weeks (sometimes longer) is the minimum time we allow our puppies to go to their forever homes. We like the puppies to be at least 2 to 3 lbs. before they can go home. We DO NOT look at the date of birth of the puppies so much as we look at the weight and also if they are reaching their growth milestones before we determine if they can go home. If they go home any earlier, it can put them at risk for hypoglycemia. Again, we take in to consideration the puppies size, when he/she has been weened from mom, puppy’s temperament, and if they have reached certain growth milestones. It is up to our discretion when the puppy is ready to go home, NO exceptions!!!
Are you or the breeders you network with a puppy mill? Absolutely not. McHenry Maltese is a small group of reputable breeders that work together and provide the healthiest, sound quality, well temperament puppies around.
Should I Microchip my new puppy? Have you ever lost a pet? You may think your pet is protected from getting lost. But accidents happen, and some things – like hurricanes and other natural disasters – are out of your control. In fact, one in three pets will become lost during their lifetime. According to the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy, only about 2 percent of cats and 15 percent of dogs that enter U.S. animal shelters ever find their way back to their original owners. Almost 4 million pets are euthanized every year because their owners can’t be found in time – if a shelter cannot determine a pet’s owner or medical history, the pet may be euthanized in as few as three days or less. To help give your pet the best chance of being identified should he ever become lost, have him implanted with a MicroChip. We do not MicroChip when puppies are under 8 weeks, but your vet will be a good resource for you to discuss your options.
What do I get on pick up day? You will receive complete vaccination and deworming records, sample puppy food that your puppy has been eating, and of course your new bundle of joy!
How much do your puppies cost? All of our puppies are $900 and up. On occasion, we have puppies that are a little less, taking into consideration pick of litter status, coloring, size, age, etc. Each breeder prices their own puppies at their discretion.
Where do I start? On our FIRST Step page.
How do I reserve a puppy? If you see a puppy you like under our Available Puppies, complete our Puppy Application for consideration. Someone will get back to you to discuss the puppy you are interested in. PLEASE NOTE: ONLY fill out our application if you see a puppy listed under “Available Puppies Page". If you fill out an application without a specific puppy indicated, your application will not be reviewed. Also, we screen our buyers and will not sell to anyone we do not feel comfortable with. We also will not sell to anyone over the internet alone as we must talk with you on the phone. There are far too many unfortunate stories that have put innocent puppies at risk and therefore we do take that extra step to make sure our puppies are going to secure, loving homes.
Do vaccinations come with the puppy? Puppies are vaccinated at approximately 6.5 – 9 weeks of age with DA2PPv – 5 way Vaccine against Canine Distemper, Adenovirus Type 2, Parainfluenza & Parvovirus. This vaccine is the first of a 3 or 4 shot series (some vets will do 4 shots). In addition, they are put on Pryantel Pamoate and Panacur-C for Canine Dewormer control at a 2 week interval until they go home.. The puppies first rounds of shots are the most important!. These shots are what builds your puppies immune system against harmful diseases. Until your puppy has completed his series for puppy shots, he can be susceptible to getting a disease. This is why it is important to always vaccinate your puppy and keep them away from public areas and other strange dogs until the series of puppy shots have been given. We can not stress enough how important this is. Vaccination and deworming records are provided to you when you get your puppy and these records should be shown to your veterinarian.
Why do you not sell to everyone? We receive many inquiries and applications on our puppies. We review each application carefully and contact you by phone. We must completely be confident that our buyers are right for our puppies and that the new buyer is comfortable with us as breeders, and our policies and procedures. In some instances, it may not be a good match, and we therefore would not be able to provide you with one of our puppies.
How to get puppy to you (Delivery Options)? Depending on which puppy you choose and where you live, we offer a few options on getting your puppy. 1) Pick up puppy at breeder's home - our buyer would be responsible in picking up puppy directly from breeders location. 2) Airport Delivery Service. ($150). We meet you at the airport where the breeder lives (Baggage Claim Area) and drop off puppy directly to you. If you choose this option, you must have an airline approved pet travel bag that fits under the seat. 2) Puppy Nanny Service ($450-$500 not including price of puppy). Our puppy nanny will meet you at the closest major airport to you and meet at Baggage Claim Area. This service allows puppy to be with someone at all times – puppy nanny has a little crate they put puppy in and fits under seat. Visit the Courier Service page for more information. 3) Cargo Shipping - American Airline or United Pet Safe are the carriers we most often use. Details and arrangements are made about a week prior to delivery of your puppy.
How much of a deposit is required to reserve a puppy? A $400 deposit (this goes towards the purchase price of the puppy) is required to hold the puppy you are interested in. Upon pick up the remaining balance is due in full. If you are using our Puppy Nanny or Cargo service full payment must be made at least 2 weeks prior (check or money order). Please note, we accept cash, money order or cashiers check upon pick up. Deposits are non-refundable.
How are deposits/payments handled? The fastest way to secure a deposit for one of or puppies is through Pay Pal or Venmo. Keep in mind Pay Pal does charge a service fee and Venmo is free. With Pay Pal, you have an option to pay using your credit card. Deposits are used towards the cost of the puppy. Deposits can also be made using a cashiers check or money order. Deposit is $400 – which once paid will put a reserve on your puppy. The remaining balance of the puppy is to be paid in full (cash, cashier’s check or money order only) upon pick up. Please note, we do not except personal checks or credit cards on day of pick up. Deposits are non-refundable. If we are shipping your puppy or you are using our puppy nanny service, the remaining balance of the puppy, plus the cost of the airline ticket, must be paid in full before flight arrangements can be made (usually by 2 weeks prior).
What happens after the deposit is made? After your deposit is received, a confirmation email or letter including a receipt and other pertinent information regarding your puppy will be provided.
Once my deposit is made, do I get to come and choose my puppy? We do not allow visitation until the puppies are at least 8 weeks of age AND at least one round of vaccinations must be administered. There are far too many outside elements “germs” that can be brought in to the whelping area, so we do adhere to this policy. I know this is sometimes difficult in not being able to “choose” the puppy and hold them, etc. but we can say we breed for outstanding temperaments and our offspring exhibit these characteristic. We also will describe the personalities of the puppies to help you find a compatible match. In addition, we are more then happy to give you phone number’s of past clients who have puppies from previous litters of same parents, so you can ask specific questions regarding the temperaments of their puppies, etc.
Pet Insurance? Check out our helpful blog about Pet Insurance.
Do you provide photos of the puppies? We provide photos to our clients every 3 weeks or so as the puppy grows.
Are prices negotiable? Our prices are firm. A lot of consideration goes into the prices of our puppies. We try to be very competitive within the industry and we look at many factors involved in pricing. This includes; time of year, supply vs. demand, coloring and size of puppies, pick of litter status, as well as our expenses regarding vet checks, vaccinations, quality of care, food, transportation cost (if applicable), etc.
Do you have a wait list? We currently do not have a wait list as we like to have the puppies born so we can determine gender, colors and pricing before we take any deposits.
Our 72 hour policy – Within 72 hours of bringing your new puppy home, you are required to bring him to a licensed veterinarian. This will assure you are getting a happy and healthy puppy and address any questions you have immediately. A Vet Verification Form is sent to you in your confirmation pack and we also have extra forms on day of puppy pick up. Your vet is required to mail back the form to McHenry Maltese showing proof that you have brought your puppy in within the 48 hour time frame. Failure to bring your puppy in within the 72 hour window, will constitute you accept your puppy “as is” at time of sale AND failure to return the Vet Verification Form to us, will constitute an “as is” condition of your puppy.
Once the puppies are born, can I come see them? For the health and safety of puppies as well as our whelping females, visitation is allowed only after 8 weeks of age AND at least one round of vaccination administered. Once a litter is born, we will send photos to you as soon as we feel comfortable in taking the pups from their moms for a quick photo. Some moms don’t mind this at all, other moms are very sensitive if we take the puppies from them. We also provide photos around every 3 weeks as the puppies grow.
Can I come pick out my puppy at McHenry Maltese? Fortunately we do not run like a pet store where countless people handle our puppies. When dealing with a small breed, you must be extra careful in outside elements that people can bring into our home and we must be considerate of our whelping females. Keeping our puppies healthy and safe is our utmost importance. Visitations is at 8 weeks of age, and only after the puppies first round of shots. Puppies are not fully immunized until 16 weeks of age, so we take the precautionary measure very seriously.
I am skeptical, how do I know you are a legitimate? Buying a puppy should be a great experience. Unfortunately, too many scams are out there and you must be very careful in where you buy a puppy from. For that reason, it puts a lot of doubt in ones mind about buying a puppy. You should not only be well educated on the breed of puppy you are buying, but also from the breeder you are buying from. Ask questions – Does the breeder have experience? What are their credentials? Are they a breeder of just a dog owner who wanted to have a litter of puppies? Where are the puppies kept/whelped? Are the puppies in a clean/safe environment? Are the females/males at their facilities? Do they have references? How many litters has the mom had? What type of guarantee does the puppy come with? These are some of the questions that are important to ask. Whether you purchase a puppy from McHenry Maltese or not, please educate yourself and make sure questions are answered before you purchase your puppy.
What if I change my mind about the puppy? Please make sure you and your family are 100% completely committed into bringing a new puppy into your home. It is a big commitment and you must be ready for the responsibility. If you are not fully ready, think about waiting until everyone is "on board” for the undertaking. Our policy is, we do not take back a puppy if you change your mind. I know things come up in people’s schedules and such, but we do have to adhere to our policy. On the other hand, if we can’t sell you a puppy or something comes up on our end, your money is fully refunded.
Scheduling when to pick up your puppy – Our puppies can go home at a minimum of 8 – 14 weeks and in some instances even longer or around 2.5 – 3 lb. minimum. In some instances the puppy could be a little smaller, and as long as we feel pup is ready to go at our discretion. 1 week prior to that 8 week mark, we can get a pretty good idea of when we feel the pup can go home. But keep in mind, it is up to our complete discretion. When deciding on when pups can go, we look at growth milestones including: is puppy weened completely from mom?, is puppy eating well on their own?, is puppy at the appropriate weight? Our buyers must be flexible on puppy pick up date and if you are planning around specific dates such as vacations, prior commitments, you must ask yourself is the timing right to bring in a new puppy to your busy schedule? Our buyers must be flexible and again it is up to McHenry Maltese complete discretion and no exceptions or promises will be made!
What if I can’t pick up puppy when our puppy pick up is scheduled? – our buyers must be somewhat flexible in terms of when we scheduled puppy pick up. Please do not plan a vacation or time away when your puppy is planning on coming home. Our goals is to have your puppy get to their new owners as soon as we feel they are ready (usually around 8-14 week mark) and we like the litter mates to all go home roughly around the same time. This is also best so that your puppy is not left alone in our whelping area as this could put added stress on the puppy. For this reason, we do not “keep” your puppy additional time then needed. Again, please make sure you are fully ready for your new puppy without any major engagements on your calendar.
Health risk of small breeds you should be aware of - Small breeds are cute and adorable, but please make sure you are fully aware of certain health risks that the toy breeds may be prone to. Click Here for an in depth article.
Do you have references? Absolutely! We have excellent references upon request. We receive many referrals from satisfied customers and satisfied customers is what we strive for. We are there for our customers to answer any questions they may have along the way and after the puppy goes to their forever homes. We love receiving updated photos of the puppies growing up and posting them on our website. Please also visit our Facebook page as we have over 2000 follower including many past buyers that post reviews at www.facebook.com/Mchenrymaltese/,
What is a designer puppy anyway? A (Designer Puppy) is an offspring of at least one purebred parents and an F1 generation parent of different breeds. At McHenry Maltese, we use both combinations depending on which characteristics we are looking for in particular litters. When combining the two brings better traits to the puppy and a wonderful calm, lovable temperament. They typically are gentle, easy to train and funny little puppies that will make you laugh every day. These puppies often avoid the negative personality and health problems of the bloodlines of the purebred parents, because of the introduction of two totally unrelated bloodlines. Not to mention they are just so darn cute. Our puppies love people and children. They are of course like us and do like to have some alone and quiet time. Please read our blog on Our Breeds.
Smaller mouths in toy breed dogs – Click Here for an article about canine teeth in small breeds that you should be aware of.
Are parents on site? Yes, all of the parents are on site at the breeders locations. Visitations may be considered and photos can be provided of parents upon request.
I would like more information about McHenry Maltese – check out our About Us page for more info.
Any suggestions on Puppy Names? Please check our Puppy Name page.
Are the puppies guaranteed? Yes. Our puppies come with a 1 year written health guarantee against any major defects such as heart, lung, kidney and other life threatening congenital defects. You will receive our full contract that clearly states our conditions and guarantee and other important information that is outlined in our contract once a deposit is made. Our breeders all carry similar guarantees. Please make sure you clearly understand the guarantees outlined and ask questions! Please Note: You are required to sign and date the provided contract, make a copy for your records, and return it to McHenry Maltese for our guarantee to be valid. We must have a signed and dated contract in our files at McHenry Maltese within a few days of taking possession of your puppy, or our contract is null and void.
Males vs. Female: Click Here for an in-depth article regarding gender.
Two Puppies? I usually recommend if you want to get two puppies, you should get a male and female vs. two males or two females. The first month or two will be more difficult and busier, but after a few months they will be easier and will keep each other entertained while you are away. Much less separation anxiety and great companionship. They will transition easier and have less stress in the beginning. Plus a lifetime with their brother, sister or another buddy is just a wonderful thing for you to give them and for them to bond and play with. This will not change the bonding to you at all.
Products for Potty Training: We highly recommend the Potty Training Puppy Apartment (PTPA). Please click Modern Puppies for information. Be sure to use code: MM60012 to receive a 5% discount upon check out.
Any advise on potty training & grooming? Yes! please our Potty Training Blog.
I would like to learn about other Dog Foods on the Market – For complete “Dog Food Review” information, Click Here .
Can you guarantee the color of my puppy? For information about colors of mixed breeds Click Here.
Do you have any recommended readings? Here are a list of my top favorites: Little Dogs: Training your Pint-Sized Companions by Deborah Wood, The Dog Listener by Jan Fennell, The Dog’s Mind – Understanding your Dog’s Behavior by Bruce Fogle, Caring for your Dog – The Complete Canine Home Reference by Bruce Fogle, Raising Puppies & Kids Together – A Guide for Parents by Pia Sivani & Lynn Eckhardt. We also love Cesar Millan of the Dog Whisperer Dog Channel.
Do the puppies shed? Maltipoos, Malshis, Shipoos, Shishons, Yorkipoos, Morkies are all excellent dogs for allergy sufferers as they do not shed and are hypoallergenic.
When can puppies go home? 8 – 14 weeks (sometimes longer) is the minimum time we allow our puppies to go to their forever homes. We like the puppies to be at least 2 to 3 lbs. before they can go home. We DO NOT look at the date of birth of the puppies so much as we look at the weight and also if they are reaching their growth milestones before we determine if they can go home. If they go home any earlier, it can put them at risk for hypoglycemia. Again, we take in to consideration the puppies size, when he/she has been weened from mom, puppy’s temperament, and if they have reached certain growth milestones. It is up to our discretion when the puppy is ready to go home, NO exceptions!!!
Are you or the breeders you network with a puppy mill? Absolutely not. McHenry Maltese is a small group of reputable breeders that work together and provide the healthiest, sound quality, well temperament puppies around.
Should I Microchip my new puppy? Have you ever lost a pet? You may think your pet is protected from getting lost. But accidents happen, and some things – like hurricanes and other natural disasters – are out of your control. In fact, one in three pets will become lost during their lifetime. According to the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy, only about 2 percent of cats and 15 percent of dogs that enter U.S. animal shelters ever find their way back to their original owners. Almost 4 million pets are euthanized every year because their owners can’t be found in time – if a shelter cannot determine a pet’s owner or medical history, the pet may be euthanized in as few as three days or less. To help give your pet the best chance of being identified should he ever become lost, have him implanted with a MicroChip. We do not MicroChip when puppies are under 8 weeks, but your vet will be a good resource for you to discuss your options.
What do I get on pick up day? You will receive complete vaccination and deworming records, sample puppy food that your puppy has been eating, and of course your new bundle of joy!
How much do your puppies cost? All of our puppies are $900 and up. On occasion, we have puppies that are a little less, taking into consideration pick of litter status, coloring, size, age, etc. Each breeder prices their own puppies at their discretion.