Maltese

 

The Maltese is a small breed of dog in the toy group, known for its silky white hair, though many owners of pet Maltese give them a short “puppy cut” for ease of grooming. The Maltese breed is descended from dogs originating in the Central Mediterranean Area. The breed name and origins are generally understood to derive from the Mediterranean island of Malta; however, the name is sometimes described with reference to the Adriatic island of Méléda, or a defunct Sicilian town called Melita.

Appearance

Characteristics include slightly rounded skulls, with a finger-wide dome and black nose that is two finger-widths long. The body is compact with the length equalling the height. The drop ears with long hair and very dark eyes, surrounded by darker skin pigmentation (called a “halo”Wink, gives Maltese their expressive look. Their noses can fade and become pink or light brown in colour without exposure to sunlight. This is often referred to as a “winter nose” and many times will become black again with increased exposure to the sun.

Coat and colour

The coat is long and silky and lacks an undercoat. The colour is pure white; although cream or light lemon ears are permissible, they are not regarded as desirable. Also, a pale ivory tinge is permitted. In some standards, traces of pale orange shades are tolerated, but considered an imperfection.

Size

Adult Maltese range from roughly 3 to 7 lb (1.4 to 3.2 kg), though breed standards, as a whole, call for weights between 4 and 7 lb (1.8 and 3.2 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

Maltese are bred to be cuddly 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 demeanour remain fairly constant. Some Maltese may occasionally be snappish with smaller children and should be supervised when playing, although socialising 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 fares well in apartments and townhouses, and is a prized pet of urban dwellers. Maltese have a bad reputation as yappers.

An Australia-wide (not including Tasmania) research project carried out in conjunction with RSPCA found owners likely to dump their Maltese terriers, citing the tendency of Maltese to bark constantly. This breed is Australia’s most dumped dog.

CARING FOR YOUR DOG NEWSLETTER – Delivered Directly To Your Inbox – Starting Immediately – SIGN UP FOR FREE TODAY

—————————————————————————————————————–