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Maltese
Toy Dog Group

Background and Description

An aristocrat among dogs, the Maltese dog has a decidedly regal look about him and has always enjoyed being a pampered companion dog.

This breed has ancient origins and was once a great favorite of the wealthy and elite of the Roman Empire. Depictions of similar small dogs have been seen in Greek and Roman art from that time period, offering evidence of its popularity.

As a long time resident of the island of Malta, it is believed to have first arrived there with Phoenicians who came as immigrants or traders. This delightful dog is said to have been a frequent companion to sailors on long voyages, though it is hard to image how its white coat would hold up under those conditions! That being said, they are known to have a liking for jumping into puddles.

At one time this breed has also been known as a Maltese "Terrier" and a "Lion dog", the latter of which is still heard quite often today. The breed's development is said to include very small spaniels and poodles, and it is assigned to the Toy Dog Group of pedigreed dogs.

The hallmark of the breed is without a doubt its attractiveness and luxurious coat of pure white hair that is silky in texture. It is not uncommon to see this sweet dog with its hair pulled up in ribbons, drawing attention to its large expressive eyes. It typically has quite a long life span - often in excess of 15 years.

Appearance:

Height 9-10 inches, Weight: 4-6 pounds
Color: Solid white is the standard, though lemon color on the ears is acceptable.

Coat and Care:

With its beautiful long white coat, this breed does deserve a daily brushing and frequent bathing to keep it free of mats and in good condition. Some owners who don't plan to show their dogs, often have the coat clipped shorter. The shedding of the coat is very minimal if it is well-maintained! This feature may be a plus for allergy sufferers.

Personality and Traits:

Extroverted with a fun attitude is one way to describe the Maltese. Despite his small size, this toy dog is not frail or delicate.

By nature, he is often described as gentle, very sweet, affectionate and born to be a lap dog! Although he enjoys being coddled and pampered, he is still quite an active and playful little doggie.

As for training, he is very intelligent and likes to please his owner. He can be easily trained if you lather on the praise and make it fun.

Another plus that owner enjoy, is that this breed is very clean by nature and doesn't like to soil his space. House training can be a little more challenging because they are a bit more fussy about the weather, so you may have to compromise occasionally by using training pads.

Activity Level:

Exercise needs are moderate because the Maltese are very playful and pretty active indoors most of the time. In the interest of good health, a regular short walk is still a good idea.

Space Needs:

Space is not an issue for this sweet little dog. He will adjust to almost any living conditions providing he can run about and gets lots of attention.

Children:

The Maltese does better in a family with no small children, though he will do well with young adults who are considerate of pets. Just his small size alone would put him in jeopardy around little people and he has been known to run and hide from them to avoid confrontations.

Elderly:

This breed makes a really nice companion for the elderly or more sedentary family. He can do well without a lot of exercise because he keeps himself pretty busy around the house.