Maltese| Other names: | Bichoy Maltaise, Couton, mini |
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| FCI Dog Group | Group 9 Companion and Toy Dogs. Section 1 Bichons and related Breeds. Without working trial |
Of small size, longish body. Covered by a very long white coat, very elegant with a proud and distinguished head carriage.
Your Pet’s Age
HEIGHT
Male: 21–25 cm Female: 20–23 cm
WEIGHT
Male: 3–4 kg Female: 3–4 kg
FEEDING
From 90 to 120 g daily
TEMPERAMENT FOR KIDS
Good
COLOURS
Pure white, a pale ivory tinge is permitted. Traces of pale orange shades are tolerated but not desirable and constitute an imperfection.
RELATIONSHIP OTHER DOGS
Good
LIFE SPAN
12-15 years
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APTITUDES
Companion
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TEMPERAMENT
Lively, affectionate, very calm and very intelligent.
ORIGIN
Central Mediterranean Area
The name Maltese does not signify that the breed originates from the island of Malta, because the adjective « Maltese » comes from the Semitic word « màlat » which means refuge or harbour; this Semitic root comes up again in a whole series of names of maritime places; i.e. in the name Adriatic island of Méléda, the Sicilian town of Melita and also in that of the island Malta. The ancestors of this little dog lived in the ports and maritime cities of central Mediterranean, where they hunted mice and rats that were found in profusion in the harbours’ warehouses and in the hold of ships. In a list of dogs existing at the time of Aristotle (384–322 B.C.) is mentioned a breed of little dogs to which is attributed the Latin name « canes melitenses ». That dog was known in Ancient Rome: favourite companion of the matrons, and praised by Strabon, Latin poet of the first century A.D. Representations of the Maltese by numerous Renaissance painters show this little dog in the salons of the period at the side of beautiful ladies of the time.
Deafness, hypoglycemia, collapsing trachea, pyloric stenosis, luxating patella, eye issues, and liver shunt..
