Riley, a 1.5-year-old neutered Maltese, is a sweet, somewhat noisy adult dog who will do best in a house (not in an apartment or condo) with humans who have owned toy dogs before. Like all dogs, Riley will flourish with structure and leadership in his new home; he is very trainable with positive methods. He will need housetraining assistance; toy dogs can be harder to housetrain than larger breeds. The Atlanta Humane Society recommends crate training for all new adoptees to help with housetraining and general adaptation to a new environment. Maltese are typically fragile dogs who are best suited for quiet environments without young children, but Riley seems confident and might be fine in a home with kids. This breed needs daily brushing and regular professional grooming to keep their coats from becoming painfully matted. Maltese generally don’t need a lot of exercise, but Riley is fairly energetic, and may need more than just a daily walk. He is spirited and playful, and will bark to get his way, so his new humans must be prepared to provide clear structure and not spoil him. We do not know how he feels about other dogs, so bring any existing dogs (and children) to meet him. Riley is up-to-date on his vaccinations (though he will need a rabies shot, which will be free at one of our partner VCA clinics) and has been microchipped and dewormed. He will be available at 2 p.m. today at the Atlanta Humane Society Howell Mill Campus, 981 Howell Mill Road N.W. Sealed bids will be accepted starting at 10 a.m. if more than one party is interested. Please note that the highest bidder must meet adoption qualifications. Look at all our available pets at www.atlantahumane.org.
