At dog sporting events, you’ll likely see Border Collies, Poodles, and Golden Retrievers. When you see a little white dog in the ring, you might do a double take. Enter “Hayden” the Maltese and his owner Rubina Pak, who are proving that every dog can do dog sports.
“There are not many Maltese competing in performance/companion events,” she says. “It’s nice to show people what a non-traditional performance breed can do.”
Hayden has brought new experiences into Pak’s world. From dog sports to providing comfort to being on TV, Maltese changed her life. But there was a time she never thought she’d own a dog.
From Fear to Friendship
After being bitten by a dog when she was 5 years old, Pak was scared and wary of dogs. That is until she was 19 and her aunt got a Maltese puppy. At first, Pak was “scared to death” of him, but he was so sweet and loveable that any fear she initially had dissipated. She thought one day she’d get a Maltese of her own when the timing was right.
Then, in 2007, when Pak was in her 30s, her dad was diagnosed with lung cancer. She was devastated, the grief was overwhelming, and her cousin suggested the two of them get lunch to help console her. Lo and behold, there would be an 8-month-old Maltese there.
“All of a sudden I was happy, and giddy, and playing with this puppy,” says Pak. “For those few minutes I played with her, that emotion, that grief was gone.”
Diving Into the World of Maltese
Two months later she got “Parker,” her first Maltese, who came into Pak’s life right when she needed him. Pak’s father passed two years later, but during that time Parker was able to bring so much joy, comfort, and laughter.
“I think Maltese were meant to be in my life,” Pak reflects. “It was like the universe put them there when I needed them most. There’s something magical about them and they provide comfort and healing.”
Parker lived for 15 years and passed away in 2022, and Pak got Hayden six months later. It was a bit sooner than Pak expected as her friend, who is a Maltese breeder, had just had a litter—and the rest is history. But the two have been inseparable ever since. Hayden was named after the Hayden Planetarium in New York City.
Toying With Dog Sports
Pak first got interested in dog sports with Parker. “As a puppy, Parker had lots of energy that needed an outlet,” she says. “I discovered Agility classes and then that led to Obedience and Rally.” While Parker earned titles in all three sports, Hayden is Pak’s first RACH-titled dog.
Hayden first began Rally in August 2023 when Hayden was just 9 months old after finishing beginner obedience classes earlier that June. With that being his only official training, they attempted first Rally run to determine if he could enter his first Rally trial.
Their lofty goal? To qualify for the AKC Rally National Championship (RNC). But Pak never expected Hayden to do as well as he has. At the 2025 RACH Invitational, he placed 4th in the Toy breed — their first time competing in the event.
“So, we debuted in Rally the following month [after he started classes] and he got his Rally Novice title before he turned one-year-old, and he qualified for the Rally National Championship while still a puppy,” Pak says. “I was proud of him.”
Hayden officially received his RACH title in April 2025, and the pair was ready to head to the RACH Invitational on December 11 and 12 that same year.
The Journey to RACH
The 2025 RACH Invitational was Hayden’s and Pak’s second time competing on the major stage for Rally…technically. The two were set to compete at the 2024 Rally National Championship in Wilmington, Ohio. Unfortunately, Hayden didn’t want to compete: he didn’t approve of the flooring. Pak says there’s something about the texture of certain turfs that he’ll refuse to walk on.
“We came, we entered the ring, we left the ring,” jokes Pak. “He was young and still a green dog back then. So, I guess you can say the 2025 RACH Invitational was our first big stage rally event that he actually competed in.”
The last time the pair competed in Rally was in June 2025, and they were unable to enter any additional Rally shows leading up to the RACH Invitational, so it was a bit of crunch time to prepare for the competition. About a month before the big show, they practiced rally exercises to the best of their ability.
“So, we basically got tossed in a tournament hoping for the best and having a sense of humor,” says Pak.
Ideally, Pak wanted to finish all three courses to get the breed medallion for top dog and, most importantly, have fun. But they ended up getting a little more than that.
“We got the medallion and as an added bonus and surprise, we placed 4th in the toy breed category and got a nice ribbon,” she says. “We crated with friends, I ran into some familiar faces and met new people. We definitely enjoyed the entire experience.”
Competing Beyond AKC Rally
While Hayden has been shown in Conformation, including big stages like the 2023 National Dog Show in Philadelphia, where he was seen on TV for groups, and did his final show at the 2025 Westminster Dog Show, their focus is now solely on dog sports. Though, Pak does admit Hayden clearly loved hearing the audience clapping as they entered the ring.
Another side quest? Filming an Amazon Prime Day commercial with Megan Thee Stallion in 2024. It was a long day traveling to New York City from Maryland, but Pak says it was completely worth it. She even got a photo of Megan and Hayden. “She’s a dog lover,” says Pak.
Representing the Little Guys
As far as training with a toy breed, Pak doesn’t try to push him too far. “I’m aware that the Maltese isn’t a traditional breed to do sports,” Pak says. “So, I don’t train them like other breeds that can just keep going and going. Our training sessions are short, and we take breaks whenever I see signs that Hayden is tiring.”
Hayden is a double champion in Conformation and Rally; the pair is focused on obtaining Hayden’s Utility Dog (UD) in Obedience and working towards Obedience Trail Champion (OTCH). If he received his OTCH, Hayden would be the second Maltese to do so.
Pak would also like to continue to compete with Hayden in Rally in hopes of being invited to RACH again for 2026.
“We are hoping to get invited every year to represent the Maltese breed,” she says.