Dog
Group:
Toy 
Maltese Champions
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Pronunciation:
mawl-teez
Breed Description:
The Maltese breed of dog is a toy sized breed that should be sturdy and compact. It should not be too delicate but there should be a fine boned appearance to the body, which is slightly longer than tall. The head should be slightly rounded and the pendulous ears should hang on the sides. The long tail of the Maltese should curl over the back.
The coat of the Maltese should be silky to the touch and should be long and straight. There should be no wave to the coat and the hair should reach the floor. There should be feathering on the tail, ears and chest. The Maltese is only found in white, although it can range in shade from ivory to bright white, and the eyes and nose should be black.
Temperament:
The Maltese breed of dog is known for being a very affectionate and happy dog that is often described as a little clown. This is a playful little breed and they often become the treasured family member in the house. They are usually very intelligent and they match this with a courageous spirit that leads them to being very bold. They usually get along with everyone but they are not recommended for homes with small children since they can be snappish and can be easily hurt by children. The breed is exceptional with other pets and dogs.
Height:
The average height for a Maltese is between 8 to 10 inches
Weight:
The average weight for a Maltese is between 6 to 9 pounds.
Health Problems:
The Maltese breed of dog is considered to be a healthy breed, however, they can suffer from some serious diseases including white shaker disease. Other health problems that can affect the Maltese are Collapsed Trachea, Reverse Sneezing, Portosystemic Liver Shunt, Hypoglycemia, Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Patellar Luxation.
Living Conditions:
The Maltese breed of dog is versatile when it comes to living conditions and they can live in both apartments and homes with yards. They should not live outdoors and do best when they are inside with their family as a companion dog.
Exercise:
The Maltese breed of dog is an active breed that requires between 20 to 30 minutes of exercise each day. Generally, two good walks will meet their needs but it is also important to give them an opportunity for off leash exercise as well. In addition, the small size of the Maltese makes it very easy to exercise them inside, simply with a good game of fetch down a hallway.
Life Expectancy:
14 to 16 years
Grooming:
The Maltese breed of dog is a difficult breed of dog to groom and you should be prepared for a fair amount of work if you are keeping the dog in its full coat. If you are, you will need to brush the dog on a daily basis to remove the mats and dirt from the coat. They hair around the ears, and feet will need to be trimmed regularly to prevent matting and the same may need to be done around the dog's anus. The hair over the dog's eyes will need to be held back in a topknot and the face will need to be washed every day to keep the coat white. The Maltese should be bathed on a weekly basis. Many owners opt to clip the coat to limit the amount of work done every week and if you do, you should clip it every month or two.
Origin:
The Maltese breed of dog is a mystery when it comes to their origins. It is believed that the breed originated on the Isle of Malta but there has been other evidence that the breed may have come from Italy or even Asia. Despite not knowing where the breed came from, we do know that it is an old breed that was mentioned as far back as 2000 years ago. We also know that the breed was loved wherever it went and could be found in Greece and even Egypt.
The breed was fairly unknown until the 1400's, when the breed was brought to England by French aristocrats. The breed became a favorite of many nobles in England including Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria. However, many in England tried to make the breed smaller and this almost led to the breed being wiped out. Eventually the practice of breeding them smaller was stopped and the Maltese was once again revitalized. The breed was imported into the United States in the mid-19th century and was recognized by the AKC in the 1870's. Comments
The standards for all the breeds accepted to the AKC are used here for breed information, and those not part of the AKC are resourced from FCI standard information, where it is written and coded into the club rules for those breeds.
