Dog Breeds: M
The Magyar Agár is an elegant yet rugged sighthound from Hungary used originally for hunting hare and deer in the Hungarian plain. These dogs are rare outside of Europe but remain popular in their native country. They make great family pets as they are generally loving with children, but do require lengthy daily exercise.
The Majorca Ratter is closely related to a Valencian dog, the Gos Ratter, with the two lines diverged a little under 200-years ago. A small but courageous dog, the Majorca Ratter had a niche hunting rats and vermin. Efforts in the 1990s helped preserve this breed, with such success that numbers are now on the rise.
A multi-purpose farm dog that excels at guarding its territory, the Majorca Shepherd Dog has existed for centuries within Majorca. This breed is known to be protective of their family and is highly suspicious of strangers, thus requiring very thorough socialisation from a young age in order for them to adapt well to family life within a home.
The Majorcan Pointer is a rare dog breed, little known outside his native Majorca. He is a gentle hunting dog who prefers trotting to galloping, and looks to his master for guidance. A sweet-natured dog, it is a true shame he isn’t better known or found in greater numbers than he is today.
The Mal-Shi has been around for about the last 25 years, and is clearly here to stay. A Maltese/Shih Tzu cross, this hybrid usually has the best traits of both parents, and is a happy, sociable dog that is ideally suited to family life. It is adaptable enough to live indoors and gets along with other pets.
A handsome bear of a dog, the Malador makes a superb companion for an active, outdoorsy family. With energy to spare, this breed loves to run and hike and will never say no to a game. With the potential to become high-strung, owners should provide consistent training and should avoid leaving the Malador home alone for long periods.
The Malchi is a hybrid dog, the result of breeding a Maltese Terrier with a Chihuahua. Described as a small dog with a big personality, the Malchi can be over protective, which can result in barking or even aggression. The Malchi can be unpredictable around children, and is best suited to calm household where they’ll be the center of attention.
The Malinois Dog is a Belgian Shepherd that has a short black and tan coat with a black facial mask. A multi-purpose animal, used in the military and police force, this breed is also known to make a loving and devoted pet. Highly strung at times, potential owners need to ensure they have sufficient time and energy to put into this dog to avoid problem behaviours developing.
Frisky and fearless, the Maltese is a charming small dog with a big-dog personality. The breed thrives on affection and human contact, and can do very well in the confines of an apartment. However, if left alone for long periods they may become stressed and destructive. Their striking, elegant coat needs regular grooming, but they do not require excessive amounts of exercise.
Brave, fun-loving and entertaining, the Malti-Pug makes an enjoyable family pet that will provide hours of fun for the whole family. Owners should be cautious of giving in to them too often, as they can take advantage of kindness, sometimes becoming stubborn and disobedient. Well-adapted to apartment life, this hybrid dog does not need an abundance of exercise.
A real people pleaser, the Maltibeag thrives when in human company and has a natural dislike of being left to its own devices. For this reason, owners should be committed to spending most, if not all, of their free time with them. Cheerful and playful, they make wonderful playmates for the children of the household.
A tiny dog that does not need a lot of exercise, the Maltipom can adapt well to urban life within a small home or apartment. They are happiest when around people and make superb companions for those who spend most of their day at home. With a long, flowing coat, owners will have to understand that their grooming requires a real commitment.
The Maltipoo has been bred by crossing Toy or Miniature Poodles with Maltese for around the last 20 years. Its affable, docile nature has made it very popular with novice dog owners, and it is gentle and sociable enough to make an excellent choice for homes with children and other pets. Its fluffy, low-shedding coat requires quite a lot of maintenance, and it is prone to barking excessively.
Lively, keen and assertive, the Manchester Terrier has been keeping homes and businesses free of rats and other pests for the past two hundred years. An able watch dog and a loyal companion, it needs regular exercise and discipline to manage its strong personality. Despite its many fine qualities, it is best-suited to homes without young children or small pets.
Having protected Italian livestock from thieves and predators for the past 2000 years, the Maremma Sheepdog is a guardian breed that is still used for this purpose. Its strongly ingrained guardian instinct means that although it is loyal and gentle towards its family, it may see strangers as threats, and is quick to show aggression.
A widely misunderstood dog that is more likely to lick your hand than bite it, the Masti-Bull has a kind and slow-to-anger temperament. However, as they can be reserved and sensitive, their anxiety has the potential to turn into aggression if not managed appropriately. While these dogs do not shed very much, they will slobber everywhere they go!
A colossal dog with a big heart to match, the Mastidoodle is a gentle giant that forms close relationships with all family members, particularly the younger ones. Well-mannered and eager to please, most make pleasant house guests that respect the rules set out to them. Most will only shed fur to a low degree and some will be classed as ‘hypoallergenic’.
The Mauzer dog is a small but spirited dog who forms tight bonds with its entire family. They have moderate exercise requirements but need a good deal of mental stimulation to avoid negative behaviours from developing. Adaptable, Mauzers are more than happy to live in small homes and do not necessarily need a back yard.
The Mi-Ki is a modern, toy dog breed, developed in the 1980s. Designed as a pocket-sized companion with a placid nature, the Mi-Ki has a devoted following of owners. With low numbers of dogs the breed is still rare, but this is one to watch as word spreads of this small dog’s loving nature.
First registered in 2015, the Miniature American Shepherd is closely related to his larger cousin, the Australian Shepherd. This medium-sized dog makes a great family dog and fits in well to city life, although he does need lots of exercise. His main fault being a tendency to genetic health problems with responsible breeders now screening their parent dogs.
The Miniature French Schnauzer is a sparky little dog that is more robust than it may seem at first. They enjoy socialising with others and are quick to pick up on new tricks and commands. This crossbreed can be prone to a number of health issues so it is vital that they are purchased through a reputable breeder.
The Miniature Pinscher is a small dog with a large personality. While loving by nature, this dog requires lots of attention and can be a bit of a handful. Confident and high energy, this is a breed that loves to be ‘top-dog’ and has a tendency to act dominant. With appropriate training and sensible owners, the Miniature Pinscher makes a super pet.
A truly ancient dog that is often heralded as being the predecessor to the modern day Mastiff, the Molossus of Epirus is thought to have been around in both Ancient Greek and Ancient Rome. Traditionally used to protect livestock, property and their owners, this breed is an outstanding guard dog and is known for being faultlessly faithful.
The Montenegrin Mountain Hound is a placid, easy-going dog with a great nose for tracking, a loud bark, and a physique built for endurance. A medium-sized dog with a superb temperament, he would make an ideal family dog were it not for a strong prey drive towards other pets and his need to have lots of exercise.
Having nothing to do with a 1980s sitcom, the Morkie is one of the most popular recently developed hybrids. It is an affectionate and playful little dog, with the spirit of a far larger dog, and its self-confidence and stubbornness can make it challenging to train. Because of its light frame and small stature, it is best suited to homes without young children or larger dogs.
The Moscow Watchdog is a giant breed with a strong resemblance to the St Bernard. Popular in his native Russia, this intimidatingly large dog is used to guard and protect. To thrive, he needs plenty of space, lots of exercise, and an experienced handler.
The Mountain Cur is every inch a working dog. They accompanied the early settlers to mountainous regions of the US, where they were invaluable for guarding, protecting, and hunting. Although immensely loyal to their owner, this is not a breed suited to city life as they 100% need a job of work to do or they will become noisy or destructive.
The Mountain Feist is a terrier type dog, sharing many traits with Jack Russell and Rat Terriers. The breed is defined by their need for exercise and high prey drive. To get the best out of the breed they need an experience owner. As consummate hunters, diggers, and barkers, these dogs are best suited to country life than city dwelling.
The Mudi is an unsung delight of a dog that adores his owner’s company. An active, medium-sized dog with a course, low shedding coat, the breed makes for good family dogs or a great companion for an active senior. The only one drawback, however, is that the breed is exceptionally rare and little found outside of his native Hungary.