Right now, I also have a german shepherd, a golden retriever, a shih tzu, and a supposed biewer..The retrievers are great, they're puppies until the day they die, the shepherd is the most loving, intelligent dog I've ever had, the biewer is very sweet, loveable lap dog(not the brightest star in the sky) and the shih tzu is very intelligent. Has always learned new things with in about 10-15 minutes..

I have had labs all my life and when well trained they are not as hyper as you think. I currently have Luke who is over 100lbs and is a HUGE baby...loves to be loved on and loves the little ones.
We have Sophie who is a rescued German Shepard and she was so abused, it was horrible. We have had her for 3 years or so (I can't really remember) and we have worked w/ her...and she has become a wonderful dog...she is like the "mother" to them all. So, I really think German Shepards are good too.
We have Rusty (yellow lab) that we "rescued" from our neighbors...he was mistreated as well...and he isn't fixed like the other ones......and he is the hardest one of them all to train and "reteach". BUT, with time and love, he will get there (and getting fixed...that seems to help).

Growing up, we had a cocker spaniel and she was one of the best dogs we had growing up...I think she was the only dog we didn't rescue from the pound.

For a brief time, I had rescued a sickly Shih-tzu (my big heart thinking I could make him all better)....and he was the braviest and most loving little guy....even thru all of his suffering...I think they are a great breed.

I haven't personally known anyone w/ a Maltese...but I have known several w/ poodles....they are great dogs too........but I honestly think it is all in how they are raised and treated...I think that is one big factor as to how they will act.

Are you thinking of getting a new dog???

i have a rottweiler also and shes fine with my yorkies. i would not intentionally mix breed dogs it's senseless way to many unwanted mixed breeds in the world put down daily .

I had a Maltese when I was a bit younger and I had to say he was pretty wild. I had a very, very hard time training him. I also had a Shih tzu and she was so stubborn, so I had a hard time training them. They were both sweet loyal dogs, just harder on the training. I miss them a lot, but I know someone could provide them a better home them me. My friend has a Maltese/poodle mix and he is super smart! I'm still not a fan of mixes, but I have to say there are a lot of cute mixes out there. Since I got my Yorkies, I would never go back, though I have considered getting another breed. I love all dogs all the same.

I have Oliver, a shih tzu-poodle mix. He's very sweet and loving. He stays near me, always comes when called and loves to play. He has some dominance issue's, but I believe that may be my fault. He is a sweet boy and I'm lucky to have him.

Ollie is perfect and that all there is to it :p :p :p :p

I have a cocker spaniel. Even tho she is the best dog...literally...I don't know if I would ever get another one. I love her dearly, but she about drove me off the edge for the first couple of years :) now she is 6 years old and extremely well trained...but she still has her tendencies to push my buttons :D

she is VERY affectionate, very loving...eager to please...very smart. doesn't bark, loves to play with her toys, and lives to cuddle. she really is a wonderful dog.

I wouldn't take a million bucks for her. she taught me a LOT about training dogs :D Even tho she was very difficult to tolerate for the first 2 years, she has really turned out to be a gem. I really can't imagine not having her. :) oh..and she is great with Maggie. In fact, maggie has her "whipped" LOL

mixed breeds
 

I've had many mixed breeds, german shephards, a poodle mixed with peke (the smartest and most easily trained of any dog I've had) and now yorkies for 20 years. The yorkies are definately the hardest to housebreak and train. Luckliy mine have been healthy so far but mutts are usually very healthy too. Even with all their problems though Yorkies are the best.

morkie personality
 

Hi. I have a three year old maltese and a 7month old morkie. My parents have had three maltese dogas also. I really love my maltese but my morkie has a much better personality. He is so sweet and loving!!! Just a thought....

I have 2 purebred Yorkies, a Yorkie/Poo and a mini-dachshund. I have always had small dogs. The Yorkie/poo has a higher pitched bark. And he hears everything! But he is also my youngest. Very much still a puppy. He is almost 9 months old. He plays very well with my female yorkie who is almost 16 months old. Rocky(my other Yorkie, pictured) is 5 years old. He is much quieter. Then I have Candy, who is a mini-dachshund. She is 9 years old. I think the others keep her young. Years ago I rescued a long haired Chuauhua, she was abused. She was a purebred, and was one of the best dogs I have ever had. She was not only a beautiful dog, but very good natured, quiet, and very loving, to me. Now I am into my Yorkies, and my mini-dachshund. Hope this helps. Darlene :animal-pa :animal-pa :animal-pa

Our newest little rescue is a shih tzu/yorkie.."shorkie" and her personality is AWESOME!!! She acts like my yorkies but has a calmer nature...maybe its the shih tzu side of her..she doesnt get the zoomies..and she is completely housebroken which is WONDERFUL..and her bark is different too...its a roooo roooooooo sound and its really quiet..I love it and affectionately have nicknamed her "Roo" because of it...so mixes can bring out some nice qualities of each breed!! :D

Dawn

I have Skye Terriers & Cairns along with the Yorkies. I've shown & bred the Skyes & Cairns for over 30 years.

The Skyes are very reserved, extremely faithful to us but wary of strangers.If we get visitors, the yorkies & Cairns are all over them for a fuss, but the Skyes will sit at a distance weighing up whether they'll deign to say hello or not. :)
I don't agree entirely with Yorkiekist though, all mine have lived very amicably with the Yorkies, the cats that we have & even the geese, ducks & poultry.

i belong to the Skye Terrier Club & we sometimes have weekend meet ups, to which I take my yorkies as well, & they've never been bothered by any of the other Skyes there either.

But I can't keep them in squeaky toys! I have to hide the Yorkies toys from them as they chew up everything apart from the strongest black Kongs!
I can't really say mine are couch potatoes, they're always on the go. They get a really long walk every day & will still run like idiots, playing chase with one another round the garden & fields we have. :D

I' ve had 2 shih-tzu's. One for 12 yrs. I still miss him today. And 1 from a kill shelter for 6 months. We tried everything we could with him, but we couldn't even get him to trust us. He attacked my niece and my grandson very bad. They both will have scars for life. So he had to go. But my friends brother is the head of animal control so he took him. He did find a nice couple to take him with no kids. Now I have a yorkie. And I love him to pieces. And my grandson is his best friend.

Lenora, I feel the exact same way about my Cali!! :p