Origin
The Maltese was developed in Italy. It is said to have miniature spaniel and poodle blood. The Maltese was first recognised as a breed in Malta, where they received their name. They were once known as "Ye ancient dogge of Malta,". The breed was owned by royalty all over the world. Women carried them around in their sleeves and slept with them in their beds. They were first brought to England by Crusaders returning home from the Mediterranean.
Description
The Maltese is a small, hardy dog with silky hair. The body is compact, fine-boned, but sturdy and slightly longer than it is tall with a level top line. The chest is deep. The skull is slightly rounded on the top with a moderate stop. The medium length muzzle tapers, but not to a point. The pendant, low-set ears are set close to the head and heavily feathered. The black eyes are large, round and set moderately apart with dark rims. The nose is black with open nostrils. The dog has a silky, single layer coat that is white or light ivory. When kept long and groomed like a show dog, it hangs flat, long over the sides of the body almost to the ground about22cm hanging on each side of a center part line and is not wavy, curly or kinky.
| Size | Toy |
| Colour | Maltese Terriers are White in colour |
| Coat Length | Long |
| Weight/Height Range | The average height of dogs is 21 - 25cms and bitches are between 20 - 23cms and the weigh between 3Kg and 4kg |
| Ailments | Maltese Terriers can be prone to sunburn along the hair parting; skin, eye issues, respiratory, and slipped stifle. Some may be prone to Hypothyroidism and gastrointestinal issues and they are also prone to teeth problems. |
Feeding & Ownership
Maltese cost very little to feed as they are not big eaters, preferring to pick regularly rather than sit down to a set meal.
| Food Cost | Up to $5 |
| Other Expenses | After the normal costs for caring for you puppy, remember that there may be professional grooming expenditure every six weeks. |
Personality
The Maltese is spirited, lively and playful. Gentle, loving, trusting and devoted to its family. Do not over-pamper or overprotect these little dogs as they are likely to develop small dog syndrome. Which is a human induced behaviour they can display behaviours such as acting timid, demanding, willfulness and obsessive barking, however puppies should be well-socialised let them meet different people and animals in a positive environment, this way they will be exposure to a variety of situations
| Intelligence | Training these dogs is relatively easy because they like to be with their family and will adapt. They are very sensitive for harsh words and should never be trained with a hard approach. |
| Energy | Medium |
| Suitability for Children | Medium |
| Tendency to Bark | High |
| Overall Exercise Requirement | Maltese need a daily walk. They will also enjoy a good run and play in a safe open area off lead, such as a large fenced in yard. |
| Suitability as a Guard Dog | Medium |
| Ease of Transportation | High |
| Level of Aggression | Medium High |
| Other Animal Compatibility | Low |
Grooming
Grooming requirements for this breed are substantial, including daily brushing and combing and regular washing. There is a special lotion to remove the ugly "tear" stains. Hairs can grow in the corner of the eyes which cause irritation. Clean the ears, and pull out hair growing inside the ear canal. The eyes should be checked regularly and cleaned if necessary. The hair on the top of the head is often tied up in a topknot to keep it away from the eyes. Some pet owners opt to clip the hair short for easier and less time consuming grooming.
| Grooming Requirements | Every Day |
| Amount of Hair Shed | Little |
Discover Other Dog Breeds
Welsh Corgi (Cardigan)