Maltese Dog Breed

A Maltese is a small breed of white dog belonging to the toy group and poodle. The Maltese does not shed and is covered from head to foot with a mantle of long, silky, white hair. Their hair is compared to carpet. An ancient breed long associated with the island of Malta, it has retained its distinct appearance for millennia. They are very lovable and often get along well with other dogs.

Appearance

Maltese Appearance

Build:	Tiny, compact, slightly longer than tall
Weight:	4-10 lbs. standards
Height:	7-9 inches (21-25cm.)
Coat:	Luxurious silky white, shiny, thick, heavy hair about 8½ inches (22cm.) long hanging straight to the ground on each side of a center part line, single, with no undercoat, and should not be wavy, curly or kinky. These dogs shed so much hair off of their coat. Note, however, that in most cases tear staining affects the white sheen of the coat around the eyes.
Color:	Pure white (light ivory acceptable-off white)
Head:	Slightly rounded
Teeth:	Even, edge-to-edge bite, or a scissors bite
Eyes:	Dark, round, large, deep, with dark rims
Ears:	Long, pendant usually perfectly groomed.
Tail:	Long-haired plume carried gracefully over the back can also be docked. (very fluffy)
Limbs:	Fine-boned (very graceful and flexible)
Feet:	Small and round (very fluffy)
Life span:	Median 15-20 years

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 that is called a "halo", gives Maltese their expressive look. Their noses can fade and become pink or light brown in color. 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. Some individuals may have curly or woolly hair, but this is outside the standard. The Maltese while growing may get curly hair.

Size

Adult Maltese range from roughly 3 to 12 lb (1.4 to 5.5 kg), though breed standards, as a whole, call for weights between 4 and 10 lb (1.8 to 4.7 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

The Maltese can be a handful for owners unprepared to deal with their energy. Maltese are also notoriously difficult to housebreak and often need to be box or paper trained rather than trained to "go out". If consistent, these dogs can be housebroken. However, be prepared to take the dog out around 11 times per day for around two weeks straight. This also may require to get up at around 4:30am to begin the first outing of the dog. Maltese should not be around aggression as they will relate to it and show aggression towards you.

For all their diminutive size, Maltese also seem to be without fear. In fact, many Maltese seem relatively indifferent to creatures/objects larger than themselves, which makes them very easy to socialize with other dogs, and even cats. They are always happy, cheerful, smart and does not like to get into trouble. They tend to get very lonely if the master is not with them and taken care of and it doesn't like being left out. They are extremely lively and playful, and even as a Maltese ages, his/her energy level and playful demeanor remain 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. Maltese can be snappy with littler children and should always be supervised when playing. Socializing at a young age will reduce this habit. They can be very demanding and, true to their nature as "lap dogs", love to cuddle and often seek this sort of attention. The Maltese is very active in the 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. They are incredibly friendly dogs to people they know. With strangers they will make a high pitched bark but will quiet down if the person means no harm.

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). Daily cleaning is fully required as Maltese would then get tear-staining.

Regular grooming is 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 hair 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 ("tear staining") 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 too.

Barking

Many toy breeds and small dogs are known to yap or 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 Rottweiler’s, or a proto-Rottweiler breed. Intruders would first be confronted with the diminutive Maltese, only to be later confronted with their more formidable companions.

Because of the Maltese's bark, they often can be the catalyst in poor neighborly relations. There are electrical anti-bark devices available on the market. As with any form of punishment/discouragement, it is important to administer it only when the animal is barking, to ensure that it associates the pain with the bad deed. However, there are other ways of training your pet that are less harsh and more humane, such as positive dog training.

Health

The Maltese is generally a healthy breed with few inherent problems. The most significant issue for Maltese is their dental health. Maltese have notoriously bad teeth and it is not uncommon for animals to begin losing teeth at the age of 8 or 9.

There is also an inclination toward heart ailments, which usually surface around the 10th year. These might include a prolapse valve syndrome, or an enlarged ventricle. These conditions can be life threatening, but are manageable through medication.

Other problems may be a luxating patella, or "floating kneecap", portosystemic liver shunt, and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA).

Maltese are also prone to sunburn along where their hair parts, and, in general, have rather delicate skin.

Some dogs of this kind get the chills very easily, and are prone to shaking or shivering for no apparent medical reason. Maltese are also often uncomfortable in hot, as well as damp, weather.

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.

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. Maltese are generally associated with the island of Malta in the Mediterranean Sea. 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 before the appearance of the breed gained paramount importance. The Isle of Malta (or Melitae as it was then known) was a geographic center of early trade, and explorers undoubtedly found ancestors of the tiny, white dogs left there as barter for necessities and supplies. The dogs were favored by the wealthy and royalty alike and were bred over time to specifically be a companion animal. Some royals that purportedly owned Maltese were Mary Queen of Scots, Queen Elizabeth I, Queen Victoria, Josephine Bonaparte and Marie Antoinette. Some famous people that have owned Maltese dogs are Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Sinatra, Halle Berry, Mia Farrow, Liberace, Lee Remmick, Heather Locklear,Kristin Chenoweth and Torrie Wilson. In fact, the Maltese were so favored by the Roman emperors, they choose to breed them to be pure white - something they considered a 'sacred color'. Before then, there were other light colors that Maltese come in - still seen again at the puppy stage, normally.

Maltese Dog Breed

Appearance

Maltese Appearance

Coat and Color

Size

Temperament

Care

Barking

Health

History