Maltese vs Circassian Orloff Wolfhound - Breed Comparison

Maltese is originated from Italy but Circassian Orloff Wolfhound is originated from Russia. Maltese may grow 51 cm / 20 inches shorter than Circassian Orloff Wolfhound. Maltese may weigh 35 kg / 77 pounds lesser than Circassian Orloff Wolfhound. Maltese may live 3 years more than Circassian Orloff Wolfhound. Maltese may have less litter size than Circassian Orloff Wolfhound. Both Maltese and Circassian Orloff Wolfhound requires Moderate maintenance.

History

maltese - historyThe Maltese dog hardly needs any introduction as this is an ancient breed which is still as popular as ever. Some people refer to it as the "Maltese Lion Dog," or "Melita" which was Malta’s previous name.

It was in the 19th century, that the Kennel Club settled on the name of Maltese for the dog breed. The dog has been selectively bred to keep its small size. The exact origin of the dog is unknown and there are various stories surrounding where its origins are, thought to be Italy.

It is believed that dogs such as spaniels and poodles have been used to bring about the Maltese. The American Kennel Club, a registry for pure bred dogs, recognized the breed in 1888.

Very little is known of the history and development of the Circassian Orloff Wolfhound. It is suspected that it is related to the Hare Hound, Deerhound and the Greyhound. They were taken from Siberia to the Circassian southern mountains to hunt hare and small prey. The breed is also like the Borzoi but more intelligent and it is much faster than the other sighthounds.

The color and some other minor characteristics have evolved over the centuries to be different from the Siberian that was originally brought to the mountains. All the historical data suggests that the original parents of all these sighthounds was the Celtic Greyhound

Description

maltese puppy - descriptionThe Maltese is looked upon as a toy dog. Both male and female stand roughly between 20-25cm in height and weigh between 1 and 4kg.

He is as cute as a button with a rounded skull, a pitch black nose, brown eyes and medium length floppy ears. The tail is feathery and is curled. He has a long, silky coat without an undercoat.

The color of his coat is pure white, and because he doesn’t shed he is looked upon as being hypoallergenic. Most people who own a Maltese like having the coat short to one length all round.

Temperament:

These little dogs have been bred to be companion dogs. They may be little, but it is a good idea to have him trained and socialized as they are inclined to be a bit snappy, especially with children.

He is intelligent, so training him won’t be difficult. Brought up the right way though, he can be good with children as well as pets in the home. They love their human families and want to be constantly with them. He is an energetic little dog too, and will just love ball games both inside and outside.

His very temperament and smallness make it that he fits perfectly into life in the city or the countryside. He is sweet and gentle but he makes a good watchdog, alerting you with his barking to strangers coming close by. Don’t leave him for long period of time as he hates being on his own and then he may start barking from sheer boredom and frustration.

The Circassian Orloff Wolfhound had many of the characteristics of any sighthound. He has strong straight legs and they are longer than most sighthounds which allows the Circassian to run amazingly fast. The head is long, the muzzle is wide, and the eyes are large and dark. They have a deep chest and medium tail. They also have a graceful and aristocratic demeanor.

Characteristics

maltese dog - characteristicsThe Maltese is a popular dog no doubt, and his smallness is a draw-card as he adapts easily to life in the city or the countryside.

He is loving, loyal, intelligent and responsive, making him a good family dog and being an excellent playmate for children. Teach your children how to respect animals because raucous, disrespectful kids might produce a nip from an agitated Maltese.

Being a light shedder is another draw-card, with him being looked upon as a hypoallergenic breed. He has got so many good things going for him that he is guaranteed to make you an ideal pet.

Fun and games are right in this breeds wheelhouse. They love to run. They need to run. Their activity level is very high, and they need lots of space and regular exercise. They are very intelligent and need mental stimulation as well. They are great at lure coursing and they love racing of course

Health Problems

maltese puppies - health problemsYour Maltese is a feisty little thing who, with good care, can live for a good few years – up to 15 or even longer. As with any other dog, he can become ill. One or two illnesses to look out for include -

Skin Problems:

Sebaceous adenitis is caused by inflammation of the sebaceous glands and is an uncommon skin disease found in some breeds of dog.

There are two types - one for long coated breeds and one for short coated breeds. For long or double-coated dogs, you’ll notice a white/silvery kind of dandruff on the coat as well as hair loss. There can also be skin lesions along the back and ears. It can make your pet miserable and he will need to see a vet.

Thyroid Problems:

A common hormonal problem is canine hypothyroidism, brought on by inadequate levels of thyroid hormones. Symptoms include hair loss, weight gain, coldness and a weakened immune system.

Again, little is known about the health of this ancient breed, except to propose that it faces many of the same challenges as the Greyhound. This would include skin irritation, bloat, osteosarcoma and esophageal achalasia.

Osteosarcoma is a bone cancer.

Esophageal achalasia is rare and affects the esophagus’ muscles. The upper muscles can’t relax and that causes the lower muscle or sphincter not to open and no food can get to the stomach.

Caring The Pet

Diet:

maltese dogs - caringYour Maltese is going to require quality food, water, exercise and shelter to enjoy a good life. The type of food you feed any dog has a direct impact on his health.

You need to provide him with quality food, and if its commercially manufactured food, you need to read the labels carefully so that the food is appropriate to your Maltese. For instance, you can’t mistakenly pull a ‘large-breed’ packet of food off the shelves and expect your Maltese to be able to stomach it.

If you do buy him this kibble, make sure the ingredients are wholesome. To break the monotony of eating kibble every day, give him some boiled chicken, brown rice and some raw or cooked vegetables chopped up finely into his kibble. He will love you for this as it makes a tasty meal for him and will keep him healthy.

Try to keep his diet nice and simple to avoid digestive problems.

Make sure he has constant access to fresh, cool water.

General Care:

Make sure your Maltese dog has a nice warm, dry place to sleep.

Get him to the vet if you notice that he is ill.

Brush his hair twice a week and take him to have it professionally cut if you prefer.

Clip his nails when they become too long and check around his eyes and inside his ears for any kind of infection.

These little dogs are prone to dental problems and he will need to have his teeth brushed 2 or 3 times a week.

This dog is a lean running machine. Do not overfeed. It is also better to feed him two to three times a day in smaller portions rather than one large meal.

Health issues

They tend to be allergic to insecticide and anesthesia. It’s best not to treat your yard for insects if your Circassian Orloff Wolfhound will be out in it.

Exercise and games

Fun and games are right in this breeds wheelhouse. They love to run. They need to run. Their activity level is very high, and they need lots of space and regular exercise. They are very intelligent and need mental stimulation as well. They are great at lure coursing and they love racing of course.

Basic Information

Group:
Toy dog
Hound dog
Origin:
Italy
Russia
Height Male:
20 - 25 cm
7 - 10 inches
71 - 76 cm
27 - 30 inches
Height Female:
20 - 25 cm
7 - 10 inches
68 - 73 cm
26 - 29 inches
Weight Male:
1 - 5 kg
2 - 12 pounds
27 - 40 kg
59 - 89 pounds
Weight Female:
1 - 5 kg
2 - 12 pounds
27 - 36 kg
59 - 80 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
1 - 3
1 - 12
Size:
Small dog
Large dog
Other Names:
Melita, Maltese Lion Dog
Hare hound
Colors Available:
White
is dark fawn or black
Coat:
Long and silky
thick and long
Shedding:
Minimal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Sweet, Territorial
Alert, Courageous, Energetic, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loyal, Playful
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
Yes
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Circassian Orloff Wolfhound - Breed Comparison
  2. Greyhound vs Circassian Orloff Wolfhound - Breed Comparison
  3. Francais Blanc et Noir vs Circassian Orloff Wolfhound - Breed Comparison
  4. Saluki vs Circassian Orloff Wolfhound - Breed Comparison
  5. Mountain Cur vs Circassian Orloff Wolfhound - Breed Comparison
  6. Rajapalayam vs Circassian Orloff Wolfhound - Breed Comparison
  7. Plott Hound vs Circassian Orloff Wolfhound - Breed Comparison
  8. Petit Gascon Saintongeois vs Circassian Orloff Wolfhound - Breed Comparison
  9. Otterhound vs Circassian Orloff Wolfhound - Breed Comparison
  10. Mudhol Hound vs Circassian Orloff Wolfhound - Breed Comparison
  11. Ibizan Hound vs Circassian Orloff Wolfhound - Breed Comparison
  12. Rampur Greyhound vs Circassian Orloff Wolfhound - Breed Comparison
  13. Galgo Espanol vs Circassian Orloff Wolfhound - Breed Comparison
  14. Hanover Hound vs Circassian Orloff Wolfhound - Breed Comparison
  15. Majestic Tree Hound vs Circassian Orloff Wolfhound - Breed Comparison
  16. Polish Hunting Dog vs Circassian Orloff Wolfhound - Breed Comparison
  17. Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs Circassian Orloff Wolfhound - Breed Comparison
  18. Segugio Italiano vs Circassian Orloff Wolfhound - Breed Comparison
  19. Sloughi vs Circassian Orloff Wolfhound - Breed Comparison
  20. Tasy vs Circassian Orloff Wolfhound - Breed Comparison
  21. Treeing Walker Coonhound vs Circassian Orloff Wolfhound - Breed Comparison
  22. Hortaya Borzaya vs Circassian Orloff Wolfhound - Breed Comparison
  23. Circassian Orloff Wolfhound vs Bloodhound - Breed Comparison
  24. Circassian Orloff Wolfhound vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  25. Circassian Orloff Wolfhound vs Borzoi - Breed Comparison
  26. Pomeranian vs Maltese - Breed Comparison
  27. Maltese vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  28. Maltese vs Cockapoo - Breed Comparison
  29. Maltese vs Cavapoo - Breed Comparison
  30. Maltese vs Cavachon - Breed Comparison
  31. Maltese vs Japanese Chin - Breed Comparison
  32. Maltese vs Bolognese - Breed Comparison
  33. Maltese vs Italian Greyhound - Breed Comparison
  34. Maltese vs Jug - Breed Comparison
  35. Maltese vs Australian Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  36. Maltese vs Dorgi - Breed Comparison
  37. Maltese vs Belgian Griffon - Breed Comparison
  38. Maltese vs Carlin Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  39. Maltese vs Dorkie - Breed Comparison
  40. Maltese vs German Spitz (Klein) - Breed Comparison
  41. Maltese vs Doxiepoo - Breed Comparison
  42. Maltese vs Bospin - Breed Comparison
  43. Maltese vs Bantam Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  44. Maltese vs Damchi - Breed Comparison
  45. Maltese vs Lowchen - Breed Comparison
  46. Maltese vs Cyprus Poodle - Breed Comparison
  47. Maltese vs Doxiepom - Breed Comparison
  48. Pug vs Maltese - Breed Comparison
  49. Maltipoo vs Maltese - Breed Comparison
  50. Papillon vs Maltese - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds