sorry... I had to post this..long
I hear it all the time. " I just want a pet.
The answer is that quality means more than just whether a puppy is worthy of being shown or not. It also means health. In other words, " You can pay for quality now, or you can pay for lack of quality for years to come".
First, let's compare a reputable show breeder with a puppymill. The reputable breeder spends years and thousands of dollars choosing the dogs that will become their breeding stock. Much time and care goes into selecting the dogs and examining their background for genetic health and quality. More time and money is spent proving the quality of the dogs by showing them and attaining their championships, and even more time and money go into providing proper food and health care so that the pups they produce have the best chance to be healthy pets and show dogs. A reputable breeder will easily have invested $8000 or more into a dog before they produce even one puppy from it. And they continue to invest in food, health care, and thousands of hours of time caring for their dogs and puppies.
When the time comes to find good homes for the pet puppies, a reputable breeder will screen inquiries carefully, and pass up the opportunity to place a puppy if they do not feel the prospective home is right for the puppy. They care deeply for the welfare of the pups they produce long after they have gone to new homes, and are always available to answer questions, even years after the sale.
So why do you care if you buy a puppy that does not have many champions in it's pedigree, and why pay a higher price if you are only wanting a pet ? Well, the reason you are wanting a Maltese is because of the pictures you have seen ( usually of champions ) and the things you have read about the size and personality of the Maltese. That is what you want, and that is what you should get !! But if a breeder is only producing puppies to sell as pets, they do not care about the genetic health or quality of their dogs.They do not care if the puppy grows up be the size of a cocker spaniel ! All they care about is producing as many puppies as possible and selling them as quickly as possible, and they do not even care who they sell their puppies to as long as they make money. When the puppy is gone to it's new home and your money is in their hands, a puppymill breeder will not be available to help you if you have a question or a problem.
Obviously, if a breeder has invested many thousands of dollars in their dogs, they cannot sell puppies as inexpensively as someone who has invested very little. The bottom line is that a Maltese has a lifespan of 10-15 years, and your most important consideration should be to make sure that the breeder you buy a puppy from is investing in the quality and health of your puppy long before you take it home. Otherwise, you may find that the puppymill puppy ends up costing you far more than the price you could have paid a reputable breeder for a puppy that would grow up to be healthy, and the size and quality you wanted when you first chose the Maltese.
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Granted....I would frist go to a shelter..but if I wanted a breed with specific qualities and appearence....expect to easliy pay
1, 000 for a pet if not more for a qalutiy dog..with hip/eyes check..thourough sire/dam medical history. temperment test and many other things I feel comes from working with a good qaulity breeder.
Even if they are an unreqognized breed ..there is still a lot of work put into choosing the parents..health checks..screenings, care..puppy care and screenings as well as socilization.
I dont know...i just dont balk at 1k for a dog...BUT I did rescue my wonderful puppy and very happy with his hobo lineage
)passes on though. He says he won't subject the cat to dealing with a dog. Not that I blame him. I still want my Cavalier though. 
Susan
