Home Page Health Small Dog Breeds MalteseThe Maltese Has Been Around For CenturiesThe Maltese was once known as "Ye ancient dogge of Malta," for that is where they were first recognized and how
they received their name. The breed has been an aristocrat of the canine world, even in biblical times and was a
favorite of royalty and nobility for over 28 centuries. Most of the small dog breeds, especially the Toy
group, have been bred down from larger sizes but the first Maltese were the same size as the dogs we see
today. Don't let this picture fool you! The Maltese is a very small dog, standing just seven to ten inches tall at the shoulder and weighing between four and twelve pounds. However, the American Kennel Club has a breed standard that requires the Maltese to weigh between four and seven pounds, so larger dogs would not qualify for showing. He is still as popular as he always was, being 22nd out of 157 breeds, measured by the statistics of registrations to the American Kennel Club, during the year 2010. A serious question arises! Does this breed stay popular? Some alarming statistics have emerged from Australia and Korea. In both these countries, the Maltese is the most abandoned breed, out of all the dogs in the country. It is speculated that this is because he is a persistent yapper and owners just can't put up with the constant irritation. Strangely, this does not appear to be the case in any other country. Before you consider getting a Maltese as a companion, ask yourself this. Are you capable of training a Maltese to bark only when it is appropriate, that is, as a warning, when someone approaches? If the answer is No, can you and your neighbors, tolerate constant barking for years to come? Grooming The Maltese
If you own a Maltese, then you have two choices when it comes to grooming. If you are intending to show him, then you can see from the picture on the left, that there will be a lot of work involved. If, on the other hand, you want him as a friendly, lively, affectionate companion, you may want to opt for a "puppy cut" which is much less trouble. The Maltese virtually does not shed, so you will have no problem with loose dog hairs in your home. This an excellent breed for people who are allergic to dog hair. The coat keeps growing, so it needs to be clipped every few months, either to floor level, for a show dog or shorter for a more casual, manageable length. It also needs to be brushed frequently, to avoid matting and tangling
Exercising and Training The MalteseBecause he is such a small dog, the Maltese can get much of his exercise by romping and playing within the home. He does appreciate a daily walk, which should be on a leash, because this little dog has no fear and may confront other, much bigger dogs. He is not particularly intelligent, being ranked 59th out of 79 breed groups, and "with fair working/obedience intelligence and understanding of new commands", as measured and researched by Dr Stanley Coren, in "The Intelligence of Dogs". He is not easy to train and will respond best to a gentle, patient approach. Bear in mind the necessity to be able to restrain his persistent barking, unless you and your neighbors are deaf! The Maltese is not easy to housetrain. The Maltese TemperamentThe Maltese is a very gentle, playful little dog, which is very energetic and craves human company. He suffers from separation anxiety and will become distressed if left alone for long periods. He is very gentle and playful with small children but very young children must understand how delicate and fragile he is, as he may become snappish if he gets handled roughly. He is a very good watchdog, because he is always ready to bark at any strange sounds (or for no reason at all). Need To Learn More?
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