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A Maltese is a small dog breed that originates from Malta, and it is the oldest of all miniature dogs in the West. The dog has been found depicted as far back as the 10th century BC. In recent years, the dog's popularity has been growing significantly all over the world, including in the UK.
The Maltese is a very small dog with long white fur, which has an ivory tint. They are typically between 20 and 25 cm tall and weigh between 3 to 4 kg. The males are slightly larger than the females.
The breed is considered to be from Malta, which is a southern European island state in the Mediterranean, approximately 90 km south of Sicily in Italy. The breed has existed for more than 28 centuries and was then considered an extremely distinguished dog breed that only the very finest people could afford. There are stories that the breed was then sold for staggering sums. An example of this is a Maltese that, in the 16th century, was sold for 1,500 pounds, which was a very high amount at the time. Many great famous writers, scientists and artists have throughout history either had Maltese themselves or described them in their works. The ancient Greeks even built burial chambers for their Maltese, and Maltese have also been found in Egyptian tombs, which may be a sign that the breed was worshiped at the time. The breed is also depicted on many paintings and churches from the Renaissance in France, Spain and Italy, so it must be assumed that the breed was already quite widespread at that time. The first Maltese was seen in the United States at a dog show in Westminsters, a city in the state of Colorado. Here the Maltese was referred to as a "Maltese lion dog". Later, in 1888, the dog was admitted and officially recognized in The American Kennel Club.
It is believed that the ancestors of the Maltese were used to fight rats and other pests in port cities around the world, as well as on the cargo holds of ships. Therefore, the Maltese still has a good portion of hunting desire left in it from that time. However, the Maltese has since been bred more as a companion dog than as a working dog, which is also what characterizes it best today. The Maltese is generally a happy, easy, loving and affectionate dog that can adapt to most environments and lifestyles. It is a calm and intelligent dog that attaches a lot to its owner. Due to the Maltese's history as a companion dog, it is a dog that wants to have close contact with its owner, which it likes to follow everywhere.
Despite its size and history as a companion dog, it is actually also quite a lively dog, which can be very energetic and playful. It can also easily learn tricks and commands if you, as the owner, set aside time to teach it. The Maltese is well suited as a family dog, but may still tend to get a little annoyed if children are very loud and violent around it. It is therefore important to teach your children how to behave towards the dog in terms of behavior. The breed does not have a great need for very long walks or activation, and is also well suited to be kept in an apartment. One just has to be aware that the Maltese is a very alert breed, which may bark a little if there should be unknown sounds.
Due to its long, fine fur, the Maltese is a breed that requires a lot of fur care. It must be brushed every day and should receive a bath regularly to prevent tangling of the coat. It would be a good idea to buy special dog ​​food that is specially developed for this particular breed. The Maltese can be a slightly picky dog, but it is important that it gets all the nutrients it needs to stay healthy and well.
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