i have to agree the price on pure breds are very high and some are no better then back yard breeder.i have bought from both  one for three hundred and one for two thousand  doll ars, the one for 300 was suppose to be not for show  but guess what she is a champion with the akc and a great dog.. the other one is just to tiny..and has all kinds of problems ..there is not that much to having puppys dogs has been doing this for yeats .. it is all bottom line for mon ey and thats all

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: Have you considered adopting a Maltese rescue?  I have adopted 3 beautiful pure-bred Malts from a breed rescue. If you are interested in a very young dog, there are rescues available. It will take a little time a patience.  But I am extremely happy with my furkids--and AKC papers weren't a priority for me.  I just wanted to give these little orphans a chance for love and happiness.  
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: : I would also like to add that pet quality puppies from reputable breeders are still an excellent representation of the breed. There are many factors in qualifying a dog as show quality such as bite, temperament, etc.. When bu ying a pet quality puppy from a show breeder, you are still getting a wonderful dog, much better in health and temperament than you would ever get from a backyard breeder who doesn't know what they're doing, and definitely better than what you'd get from a puppy store (puppy mill). Although they may not be show quality, they are as close to breed standard as you could ever want. So please do not refer to them as "rejects".
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: : : Are you arguing that reputable breeders charge more than backyard breeders or puppy stores? I purchased my Maltese from a very reputable show-breeder..I paid 800 for her. I've seen Maltese puppies in pet stores for 1000 or more. Reputable breeders have a sincere interest in their dogs. When they breed, it is to hopefully produce a show-quality dog. The reality is that all dogs are not show quality, so the remaining puppies are sold as "pet quality". These pet quality puppies are just as important and loved by their breeders as the show quality pups. They do not consider them to be "rejects". Breeding dogs carries a huge amount of responsibility. The breeder is responsible for making sure that puppy is placed in a good home and will be cared for and loved for the rest of its life. Most backyard breeders do not care what happens to their puppies, as their interest lies in making mon ey. Puppy mills that supply pups to pet stores certainly don't care what happens to their puppies, as they have no clue where go once they leave. Good breeders love animals. Bottom line. They advocate rescuing animals and adopting from shelters. If you do truly want a purebred dog, you are foolish to bu y from anyone other than a reputable breeder. You are setting yourself up for a lot of heartache, because you are likely to get a dog with a lot of health and/or emotional problems. If you bu y from a backyard breeder or pet store, you are perpetuating the cycle of dogs being bred for profit. I purchased my 1st Maltese when I was 18. She came from a backyard breeder who, I realize now, cared nothing about her animals, and was only interested in making mon ey. My puppy came to me at 7 wks (too young for a Maltese puppy) with a host of medical problems and a lack of socialization. My 2nd Maltese came from an excellent breeder. I was asked many questions before being approved to bu y her. But I was more educated this time. I knew what to look for in a breeder and I appreciated her concern for the welfare of her puppies. I have been blessed with a healthy, happy, content dog. Good breeding pays off.
: : : As for the "conspiracy" between AKC and breeders...AKC will basically register anything with four legs and a tail. They don't care what quality the dogs are. Good breeders do.
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: : : : Maltese breeders strongly recommend you not bu y from a backyard breeder or from a pet shop or from a puppy mill and yet, though they protest strongly all the unwanted pets in the world and tell you what you should do and should not do, they have priced their pet quality dogs so high the average person cannot afford them and is forced to resort to backyard breeders or pet shops. Their dogs are not show quality dogs, they are the products of "selective breeding" but they are rejects and the exorbitant prices they charge enable their quest for the perfect dog to satisfy their huge egos. What is the average Joe supposed to do? --- be satisfied with the mutts at the pound, I suppose.  I just do not understand us having to pay for THEIR hobby.  They cite their costs but the costs are involved in their quest and should not be passed on to us. Ownership of a pure bred dog is only for the wealthy?  I am not sure a backyard breeder is such a terrible thing but they would have you believe you are committing some sin by bu ying a dog from one. Is all this a giant "conspiracy" between the AKC and the breeders?