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Maltese Dog
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A Maltese is a small breed of dog in the toy group. The Maltese does not shed and is covered with long, silky white hair. The Maltese breed of today is descended from dogs associated by name with the Adriatic island of Mljet, the Sicilian town of Melita, and the Mediterranean island of Malta. It is one of the oldest dog breeds.
Appearance
Characteristics include slightly rounded skulls, with a one-finger-wide dome and a black nose that is two finger widths long.
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A Maltese is a small breed of dog in the toy group. The Maltese does not shed and is covered with long, silky white hair. The Maltese breed of today is descended from dogs associated by name with the Adriatic island of Mljet, the Sicilian town of Melita, and the Mediterranean island of Malta. It is one of the oldest dog breeds.
Description
Appearance
Characteristics include slightly rounded skulls, with a one-finger-wide dome and a black nose that is two finger widths long. The body is compact with the length equaling the height. The drop ears with long hair and very dark eyes, surrounded by darker skin pigmentation (called a "halo"), gives Maltese their expressive look. Their noses can fade and become pink or light brown in color without exposure to sun light. This is often referred to as a "winter nose" and many times will become black again with increased exposure to the sun.
Coat and color
The coat is long and silky and lacks an undercoat. The color is pure white and although cream or light lemon ears are permissible, they are not desirable.
Size
Adult Maltese range from roughly 3 to 7 lb (1.4 to 3.0 kg), though breed standards, as a whole, call for weights between 4 and 7 lb (1.8 to 3. kg). There are variations depending on which standard is being used; many, like the American Kennel Club, call for a weight that is ideally less than 7 lb with between 4 and 6 lb preferred.
Temperament
For all their diminutive size, Maltese seem to be without fear. In fact, many Maltese seem indifferent to creatures and objects larger than themselves but can also be quite aggressive for their small size, which makes them very easy to socialize with other dogs, and even cats. They love time with owners. This is because they were bred to be companion dogs and thrive on love and attention. They are extremely lively and playful, and even as a Maltese ages, his or her energy level and playful demeanor remains fairly constant and does not diminish much.
Maltese are very good with children and infants. Maltese do not require much physical exercise, although they should be walked daily to reduce problem behavior. They enjoy running and are more inclined to play games of chase, rather than play with toys. Some Maltese can occasionally be snappy with smaller children and should be supervised when playing, although socializing them at a young age will reduce this habit. The Maltese is very active within a house, and, preferring enclosed spaces, does very well with small yards. For this reason the breed also does well with apartments and townhouses, and is a prized pet of urban dwellers.
The Australia-wide research project done in conjunction with the RSPCA showed that the Maltese is Australia's most unsatisfactory dog because of their aggressive nature it is the most dumped purebred dog in Australia. Even if the Maltese is the the Australian state of New South Wales most common purebred dog. The following reasons were given: dog bites, dog attacks other dogs and animals, dog does not get on with kids and dog not trusted.
History
As an aristocrat of the canine world, this ancient breed has been known by a variety of names throughout the centuries. Originally called the "Melitaie Dog" he has also been known as "Ye Ancient Dogge of Malta", the "Roman Ladies' Dog," the "Majestic Creature", the "Comforter Dog," the "Spaniel Gentle," the "Bichon," the "Shock Dog," the "Maltese Lion Dog" and the "Maltese Terrier." Sometime within the past century, he has come to simply be known as the "Maltese." The breed's history can be traced back many centuries. Some have placed its origin at two or three thousand years ago and Darwin placed the origin of the breed at 6000 BC.
Italians sometimes called them botoli, because, though small, they were ferocious and bad-tempered, botolo being an old Italian word meaning a quarrelsome little cur, or a worthless, degenerate little dog.
The Maltese is thought to have been descended from a Spitz type dog found among the Swiss Lake dwellers and bred down to obtain its small size. Although there is also some evidence that the breed originated in Asia and is related to the Tibetan Terrier, the exact origin is unknown .
The oldest record of existence of this dog breed was found on one Greek amphorae found in Etruscan town of Volci. Archaeological explorations determined that it is a work by the artists from the Athenian school from 500 b. C. For Kinology the most important fact is that above the drawing there is a title Mealtaie, which were latter called Melitae and after that Meledae.
First written document on the existance of this breed of dog was given by the Greek author Callimachus. He described the Canis melitaeus 230 b. C. as the small dog originated from the Isle Melitaeus and placed that island in front of the Adriatic coast, near Dalmatia.
Pliny the Elder references the description gave by Callimachus in his Naturalis Historia.
Maltese are generally associated with the island of Malta in the Mediterranean Sea. During the first century, Publius, the Roman governor of Malta, had a Maltese named Issa; the Roman poet Martial wrote verses specifically dedicated to Publius' Maltese.
Aldrovandus quotes pretty freely from the other writers, especially as to the origin of this little dog, Blondus ascribing it to Spain and Gessner to Lyons.
The dogs probably made their way to Europe through the Middle East with the migration of nomadic tribes. Some writers believe these proto-Maltese were used for rodent control and pig herding before the appearance of the breed gained paramount importance.
Care
Maltese have no undercoat, and have little to no shedding if cared for properly. Like their relatives Poodles and Bichon Frisé, they are considered to be largely hypoallergenic and many people who are allergic to dogs may not be allergic to the Maltese (See list of Hypoallergenic dog breeds). They make very good friends with different breeds especially the lhasa apso. Daily cleaning is required to prevent the risk of tear-staining.
Regular grooming is also required, to prevent the coats of non-shedding dogs from matting. Many owners will keep their Maltese clipped in a "puppy cut," a 1 - 2" all over trim that makes the dog resemble a puppy. Some owners, especially those who show Maltese in the sport of conformation, prefer to wrap the long fur to keep it from matting and breaking off, and then to show the dog with the hair unwrapped combed out to its full length.
Dark staining in the hair around the eyes ("") can be a problem in this breed, and is mostly a function of how much the individual dog's eyes water and the size of the tear ducts. Tear stain can be readily removed if a fine-toothed metal comb, moistened with lukewarm water, is carefully drawn through the snout hair just below the eyes. This maintenance activity must be performed every two or three days, as a layer of sticky goo is quick to redevelop. If the face is kept dry and cleaned daily, the staining can be minimized. Many veterinarians recommend avoiding foods treated with food coloring and serving distilled water to reduce tear staining. Also, giving the dog bottled water may help.
Barking
Many toy breeds and small dogs are known to yap, scream or bite ankles. While Maltese dogs are not given to excessive barking, they will generally sound the alarm at noises in the night. In fact, legend has it that the ancient Romans would use the Maltese as alarm dogs, and raised them with Rottweilers, or a proto-Rottweiler breed. Intruders would first be confronted with the diminutive Maltese, only to be later confronted with their more formidable companions.
An Australia-wide research project (but not Tasmania) in conjunction with RSPCA found owners likely to dump their Maltese terriers, citing their tendency to bark constantly.
Crossbred Maltese dogs
A crossbreed is a dog with two purebred parents of different breeds. Dogs traditionally were crossed in this manner in hopes of creating a puppy with desirable qualities from each parent. For pet dogs, crosses may be done to enhance the marketability of puppies, and are often given cute portmanteau names. Maltese are often deliberately crossed with Shih Tzus and Poodles to produce small, fluffy lap dogs. Maltese-Poodle crosses are called Maltepoos. Maltese crossed with Pugs are also seeing an increase in popularity. Maltese with Shih Tzus are called Mal-Shihs, Shihtese, or Mitzus. This results in a dog which is a small, friendly and intelligent animal with a unique low (or no) shedding coat.
Maltese crosses, like other crossbred dogs, are not eligible for registration by kennel clubs as they are not a breed of dog. Each kennel club has specific requirements for the registration of new breeds of dog, usually requiring careful record keeping for many generations, and the development of a breed club. At times, a crossbred dog will result in a new breed, as in the case in the 1950s when a Maltese and Lhasa Apso were accidentally bred. Descendants of that breeding are now a purebred breed of dog, the Kyi-Leo.
Maltese mixed-breed dogs
Mixed breed dogs are those of generally unknown ancestry, or complex ancestry. In the popular 1974 film Benji, the part of the dog Benji's heroic love interest, Tiffany, was played by a mixed breed female of primarily Maltese ancestry. She also appeared, with her mixed-breed puppies, in the film's 1977 sequel, For the Love of Benji.
See also
External links
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- Clubs, Associations, Resources and Societies
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