Maltese Breeders: How to Choose One
The questions worth asking any Maltese breeder, and our own answers beside them.
A Maltese lives twelve to fifteen years or more, so the breeder you choose shapes a long stretch of your life. The best way to judge one is to ask plain questions and listen to how plainly they are answered. These are the questions we would ask, with what a good answer looks like and how Divine Maltese answers each.
Which health tests do the parents have?
For a Maltese, ask about patellar luxation, a cardiac examination, an eye examination by a veterinary ophthalmologist, and a bile acids test for liver shunt, and ask to see the results.
At Divine Maltese: Both parents are tested for all four, and the certificates are shown on request.
How old will the puppy be when it leaves?
A toy breed puppy benefits from extra weeks with its mother and littermates. Be wary of very young go-home ages for a dog this small.
At Divine Maltese: Pet puppies leave at twelve weeks or older, show puppies at six months or older.
Is the puppy registered, and how?
Ask which registry and what kind of registration. Pet puppies from serious breeders usually come on limited registration with a spay or neuter agreement.
At Divine Maltese: Every puppy is AKC registered; pets go on Limited Registration.
What does the contract say?
A good breeder puts everything in writing and lets you read it before you commit: the price, what is included, the guarantee and what happens if things change.
At Divine Maltese: Our full puppy contract is on this site, to read before you decide.
What is the health guarantee?
Ask what it covers, for how long, what you must do to keep it, and what the remedy is.
At Divine Maltese: A written guarantee against serious congenital and hereditary defects, with a replacement or a full refund. The terms.
Will you take the dog back?
Ask what happens if you can no longer keep the dog, at any age.
At Divine Maltese: We take back any dog we bred, at any age, for life.
Does the breeder show, or work to the standard?
Showing is not everything, but it is an outside check on whether the dogs match the breed standard.
At Divine Maltese: 105 champions owned or bred since 1992. The champions.
How will the puppy travel?
For a dog this small, ask whether it travels in the cabin or by ground with a person looking after it, and never accept cargo.
At Divine Maltese: Collection, a flight nanny in the cabin, or ground transport. Never cargo.
Maltese Breeders in Louisiana Since 1992
Divine Maltese is Angie Stanberry's Maltese-only kennel in the New Orleans area of Louisiana. The kennel's lines go back to Marcris, Pashes and Su-Le, and its foundation sire, CH Marcris Indecent Proposal ROMX, sired fifty-three champions. The American Maltese Association named Divine a Platinum Breeder in 2004. Our story.
If you are farther away, a puppy can travel to you with a flight nanny in the aircraft cabin or by ground transport. Find your state.
Questions for Us
01Where is Divine Maltese?
In the New Orleans area of Louisiana. Baton Rouge is about 1 hour 20 minutes away and Gulfport about 1 hour 15 minutes. You can collect your puppy in person, or a flight nanny or ground transport can bring it to you. Find your state.
02Can I ask questions before I decide?
Please do. Ring (856) 394-0451 or use the contact form to ask about a puppy, the breed, the contract or travel to your area. Ask about any clause in the contract before you sign it.
03What happens if I can no longer keep the dog?
Contact us first. We will take back any dog we bred, at any age and for any reason, with no time limit. Nothing bred here may be sold or given on, or surrendered to a shelter, without talking to us.
See the Puppies Available Now
Every puppy is listed with its photos, age and price.