History

The Maltese owes its origin back to the Egyptian times. The modern Maltese breed which originated in Malta and was bred in Italy, is a cross-breed of the miniature spaniel and poodle.

Appearance

A dog which belongs to the toy group, the Maltese is covered from head to foot with a beautiful, luxurious coat of long, soft, silky white hair eight to nine inches long. If the Maltese is tall, the body of the dog will often be extremely compact. The long neck of the Maltese reflects a sort of royal elegance. The dog has loosely hanging long ears, its tail draped over the back and abundantly covered with hair. The Maltese has large, round, dark eyes that exude a gentle, alert and intelligent expression and their nose is black.

Color

White. Light tan or lemon on the ears is accepted, but not desired.

Personality

A dog with a highly active, lovable and intelligent temperament, the Maltese is a sporty dog that likes to play with its owner and is easily trainable. They love outdoor activities and are companionable with other animals. However, they are not especially good in their behavior with little children. A hardy and energetic dog, the Maltese always craves for human company.

Health Concerns

The life expectancy of Maltese is between 15 and 18 years. The most common health problems that affect the Maltese are sunburns along the hair parting, skin, respiratory, eye and tooth problems, and slipped stifle.

Recognized By

CKC, FCI, AKC, UKC, ANKC, NKC, NZKC, APRI, ACR