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Maltese have lived luxurious lives for more than two thousand years. They are probably descended from spaniel type dogs. They
originated in Malta, an island near Italy in the Mediterranean Sea.
The Maltese becomes attached to the whole family and enjoys the company of well-behaved visitors, as well as other animals.
He's got a lot of sparkle in his personality. He likes to be treated like the adorable baby of the family, but will happily
respect common sense rules.
The Maltese is a solid white cloud of silk. His fine coat should be treated like human hair, brushed every day and washed
regularly. The length should be trimmed so it won't drag on the ground. He has round, dark eyes and a plume of a tail that
curves over his back.
Excerpts from the Standard
General Appearance: A gentle, eager, affectionate toy dog covered with long, silky white hair.
Size, Proportion, and Substance: Weight is usually under 7 pounds; between 4 and 6 pounds preferred.
Fun Facts
In the days when women wore long, full dresses with huge sleeves, they often tucked a tiny dog friend somewhere in the
folds of their clothing. Sleeves were a favorite place to carry them, and Maltese were one of the most popular sleeve dogs,
from the time of Queen Elizabeth I onward. In 1607, Maltese dogs were said to be the size of ferrets, another popular pet
then and now.
he Maltese is a toy dog covered from head to foot with a mantle of long, silky, white hair. He is gentle-mannered and
affectionate, eager and sprightly in action, and, despite his size, possessed of the vigor needed for the satisfactory companion.
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