I love 'lapdogs', have had many in my life, mostly Chihuahuas, mostly purebreds but not registered. After my husband died, I was aching for another, as I'd lost both my current Chihuahuas, who just got old, pretty close together. I responded to local 'breeder' ads, but didn't like what I found. Animal-oriented friends who are nurses pointed me to one of THEIR friends, also a nurse, who had one female and had bred her. Someone had already taken the female pup, and I just don't want male dogs(I spay/neuter, of course, but just don't like dog pee 'up the side' of everything, even if it's outside! Wonder of wonders, whoever had taken the female found they really weren't ready for a young pup, and returned her-and you can bet, I BEAT it down to the city to their house!
Angel IS registered,is now 10 1/2, and is the most wonderful little dog I've EVER had--and I've had some great ones! She has been very healthy, though she apparently hurt her back last spring(she liked to lie on the back of the sofa, and had 'baled off' there a few times, before I could stop her(my sofa,which sits out in the room and not against a wall, now is 'decorated' w/ items designed to keep her from being able to jump up there; not very attractive, but it works!) After a couple of courses of steroids, muscle relaxant, and painkillers, she has now been fine for quite a while. We also prevent her from jumping on/off the 'higher' bed here; there is a pillow ramp for the lower bed(mine). She does the 'reverse sneeze' thing sometimes, but it doesn't seem to affect her);I have never seen any sign of allergies, unless that's one-and if it is, it really has minimal effect on her.
A Maltese maintains SUCH a wonderful, puppy-like personality, in that they remain lively and outgoing and just 'bright-eyed',and are 'easy to have around'- naturally social,somewhat but not overly, independent, and not prone to developing neurotic behavior, as some toy breeds seem to be, if not handled EXACTLY correctly! I will say that I would not get ANY toy dog in a household w/ very small children; when my kids were VERY tiny, we just didn't have a dog, period-then when we did get another Chihuahua(a fond memory in itself!), they were carefully supervised, ALWAYS, with the dog(I was a stay-at-home mom, and could do so.)
My Angel is not at all 'yappy'; she is very smart and responsive to learning, and is very adaptable. My sister, who LOVES dogs but is a complete boob about training and the like, got one on my recommendation, and loves her DEARLY.
Drawbacks are the coat, which requires a good deal of care(I keep my clipped down myself, investing in a grooming table to be able to do so)-and they tend to bad teeth. VERY regular teeth cleaning should be a given. I love Angel about as I do my kids, and would have another, PROPERLY BRED, Maltese in a New York minute, including if from rescue. I would NEVER buy from a pet store, though, and would be VERY cautious about BYB--I was very lucky in where I got mine--but then, they were NOT in it for the money, and were educated and thoughtful people.
Margo