Despite what some people think, the Maltese is not called that because it is originally from the island of Malta, although both names do share a common origin. The word "Malat" , of Semitic origin, was a word commonly used to refer to ports or maritime shelters, so its root can be found in the names of various maritime places, such as Meleda Island, the Melita city or the island of Malta itself. The association of this breed with coastal locations is due to its use in port warehouses and ship holds throughout the Central Mediterranean to hunt rats, as its small size facilitated this work.
The origins of the Maltese are diffuse, but undoubtedly ancient. Representations of dogs very similar to the Maltese have been found in Egyptian statuettes and vases, where they seemed to be called Melitae , and later Aristotle would mention Melitaei Catelli , Canes Melitenses in Latin, in one of his writings.
From the seventeenth to the nineteenth century there was a strong selective breeding, in an attempt to reduce the size of the Maltese , which would give serious problems to the conservation of the breed, to the point that it was necessary to cross them with poodles and spaniels to prevent their disappearance. The official recognition of the breed as we know it would take place in 1954 at Interlaken and in 1964 by the American Kennel Club, although it had recognized the breed since 1888.
The Maltese is a lively and friendly dog, highly recommended as a companion animal that requires daily brushing and grooming. It is important to pay special attention to your eye area to prevent you from developing eye-related problems.
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Maltese
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