We got our puppy last November from a breeder who has been breeding maltese for many years. She also shows. We started our search for our dog about a year before that time. We researched different breeds, their traits, personalities, and looked at their level of care. We settled on a malt because a friend has one, and I always loved her dog. It turns out that our dogs are from the same breeder and that the parents are the same as well. Getting our puppy was one of the best decisions we've made.