Truffle

Nederlandse Kooikerhondjes are duck hunters from Holland. These pretty pups have been around for hundreds of years and can be seen in iconic paintings. Nederlandse Kooikerhondjes are quiet dogs and make a great match for a calmer person or family. Full-grown, they typically weigh 20-30 pounds and stand 15-16 inches tall.

Nederlandse Kooikerhondjes are generally okay with older children who know how to handle dogs. Kooikerhondjes are quiet, loving dogs. They can be affectionate companions for little ones who have been taught to pet their dogs gently. They're moderate barkers — they'll alert you when something's up but aren't excessive.

Kooikerhondjes love the outdoors  and are excellent swimmers and retrievers. You might try throwing a ball for them to fetch out of a pool or lake, which is also an easy way to tire them out! These dogs are good listeners and can also excel at agility and obedience. Overall, their exercise needs are very high.

Kooikerhondjes are striking dogs with a signature white blaze on their face. They have a long, silky coat that needs regular brushing to remove dead hairs and reduce fur on the furniture. As with all dogs with weather-resistant coats, be careful with over-bathing, which can strip the natural oils that keep their coat healthy. Grooming-wise, this breed is low-maintenance.

Nederlandse Kooikerhondjes are best suited for apartments and smaller homes. Kooikerhondjes will make good use of a large backyard, racing around and loving life. They are highly trainable and eager to learn.

The Mal-Shi is a cross between a Maltese and a Shih Tzu. This hybrid originated in the United States. It is also known by Shih-tese, Shihtese and Malti Tzu. The Maltese is a small, fearless and very playful dog with a long, white silky coat that is hypoallergenic (very low shed cycle). Maltese do very well with other animals, but are often leery of strangers. The Shih Tzu is a medium sized and more sturdy breed with a double coat that is very people focused and literally thrives on attention and affection. The combination of these two breeds produce a cute, sturdy, intelligent, family focused dog with a slow shed cycle. Full-grown, they typically weigh 6-12 pounds and stand 10-10 inches tall.

Mal Shis are generally okay with older children who know how to handle dogs. They do well with older children, nearly all animals, and with those of whom they are accustomed. They're not overly vocal and often fearful of strangers, making them a poor candidate for watchdog. They're fairly vocal dogs that bark regularly.

Mal-Shi are house pets in need of protection from extreme temperatures and they require plenty of exercise and playtime. A brisk twenty minute daily walk may do the trick, but don't neglect to fulfill their never ending desire to run, chew and play. A bored lazy Mal-Shi is likely to become depressed, destructive, disobedient or even worse, missing. Overall, their exercise needs are moderate.

The MalShih coat typically resembles that of a standard Shih Tzu with less, or no, undercoat. Like the standard Shih Tzu, the Mal-Shi does not shed as like most breeds do, but rather lose hair slowly like people. Most owners keep their Mal-Shi in a puppy cut (coat trimmed short) and others groom them daily using the traditional top knot and center part. Grooming-wise, this breed is low-maintenance. Mal Shis are considered hypoallergenic, which can be a plus for allergy sufferers.

Mal Shis are best suited for apartments and smaller homes. They are fairly easy to train.