Black Points

[Kristy]

When do they usually come in? Does your Maltese have them?

I think they're really important and I want to make sure that the Maltese I get has nice dark ones.

[Chloeandj]

IMO, if they have good dark pigment, they will have a lot of it by 4-6 weeks. By the time you would be bringing the pup home, it should have it all in. It may get darker and spread out more as they get a little older. However do not ever let a breeder tell you that it will eventually come in if the skin is not atleast very light grey in the area they should have it. If the skin is pink, then they will not have it in that area ever.

Check out these babies. They have very strong pigment even at 2 weeks. I love her dogs.
http://www.diamondjs.net/rosie_male1.shtml

[Kristy]

Her babies are very pretty. I always read on breeder websites that the black points will come in, but the dogs are already 8 weeks old with pink noses :confused:

[Sassy's Mommy]

Kristy,
I saw my Sassy for the first time when she was only seven weeks old. She already had all of her points and they were complete. As an adult she has wonderful pigmentation, even the part down the center of her nose is dark.

I agree with Chloe's mom that some breeders will try to say that the pigmentation will come in later. I think if the doggie is going to have black point it will acquire them early on.

Some doggies, even those with great pigmentation can lose a little on their nose during the winter. It is normally due to the lack of sunshine (sunlight). I sometimes find my Sassy lying in our Galleria sunning herself during the winter months.

Black points will not affect the quality of the pet, but it sure makes them look pretty.

[Mystify79]

I agree.. if they are going to have black points they'll have them early on. I got Tuffy at 7 weeks old and his pigment is pretty much the same today as it was then. His nose did get a little bit blacker as he got older but the parts of his paw pads that were pink then are pink now.

[luvmypupster]

Bentley has black points when I got him. I thought they were born with them but to be honest I have never seen a newborn maltese. Bentley was about 16 weeks old when I got him.

[I wanna maltes]

Hi I'm new to the forum I have a

[I wanna maltes]

Oops pressed enter by mistake!! anyway, I have a 1 year old yorkie that weighs 3.5 to 4.0 lbs, and I post on YT under I LUV MIKO and I am looking for a maltese. I really want a companion for my little one. Do you think it matters that I want a girl? He is not fixed and in no way I want to breed, but I'm scared that If I bring a little girl home, he will try something! if you know what I mean? I'm thinking of fixing him, but I haven't had the heart too? I really don't want a male maltese because I want to be able to do the girly thing, bows, dresses etc.

[Sassy's Mommy]

Oops pressed enter by mistake!! anyway, I have a 1 year old yorkie that weighs 3.5 to 4.0 lbs, and I post on YT under I LUV MIKO and I am looking for a maltese. I really want a companion for my little one. Do you think it matters that I want a girl? He is not fixed and in no way I want to breed, but I'm scared that If I bring a little girl home, he will try something! if you know what I mean? I'm thinking of fixing him, but I haven't had the heart too? I really don't want a male maltese because I want to be able to do the girly thing, bows, dresses etc.


Hello and welcome to the forum. I can certainly understand you wanting a Maltese. My Sassy is the sweetest little doggie ever. As far as your male "trying" anything that could not happen until your little girl came into heat. And in no way would you want to breed her before she is at least 2 yrs. old. These little ones are not considered adults until then. I am not sure I understand why you have not neutered your male. If you are not considering breeding him then you are needlessly putting him at risks for future problems. There are certain health risks involved for both males and females who are left intact. Males can suffer testicular cancer and the females have a very elevated risk of breast and uteran cancers. Leaving the male intact may also cause him to develop undesirable traits if you bring another little doggie into the home ie marking, which is a very hard habit to break. Personally I would schedule my little male to be neutered before I even considered bringing another pet into the home.