Mary Allen
The loyal look, the plush coat, and the lovable nature make the Maltese a great companion dog. Here you can find out what distinguishes the companion dog and what makes it so unique.
History of the Maltese
The Maltese is one of the oldest dog breeds and has been a popular companion dog for centuries. Its exact origin is not clear. According to tradition, Phoenician sailors discovered the first similar dogs in 1500 BC on the island of Malta. However, the name cannot be traced back to the island of Malta, but rather to the Semitic word “Màlat”.
The word means refuge or port, suggesting that the breed’s ancestors lived in the ports and coastal towns of the central Mediterranean. The dogs were primarily used to fight rats and mice. In the first century AD, the Roman governor of Malta, Publius, had his Maltese dog, Issa, portrayed and immortalized in a poem:
“Issa is cockier than Catella’s sparrow. Issa is purer than a seagull’s kiss. Issa is lovelier than a damsel. Issa is more expensive than Indian jewels.”
During the Renaissance in the 15th and 16th centuries, dogs finally advanced to society dogs for the aristocratic circles. The small white dogs were particularly popular with the ladies. British Queen Victoria and French queens Marie Antoinette and Joséphine Bonaparte are also admirers of the breed. The Maltese are also one of the first dogs to be presented publicly at shows.
They were first shown in Great Britain in 1862, and in the USA a short time later, in 1877. Internationally, the breed now belongs to FCI group 9, the company and companion dogs, section 1.1, the “Bichons and related breeds”. To this day, the small companion dog is a popular breed of dog around the world.
Essence and Character
The Maltese are a happy and affectionate family dog that likes to go on discovery tours. The enterprising dog is always ready to play and a great companion in everyday life. The fluffy dogs can also easily play with children under supervision. With their cuddly nature, they need a lot of attention and cuddles to be happy. They prefer to follow their owner everywhere, which is not a problem due to their size and friendly nature. They are shy and reserved towards strangers.
The small, spirited dogs are confident and show no fear of much larger dogs. Well socialized, they get along with other conspecifics, cats, or small animals without any problems. The intelligent fur noses have a rather weak hunting instinct but can easily follow scent tracks. This is due to their curiosity. They want to be taken seriously as a dog and are dissatisfied if they don’t have something to do. Still, the friendly and lively dogs are well-suited for beginners.
The Appearance of the Maltese
The black beady eyes and the cute snub nose surrounded by bright white fur will melt the hearts of dog lovers. Despite its small size of 20 to 25 centimeters and weight of up to 4 kilograms, the Maltese is a real eye-catcher. The small dog with an elongated body looks very elegant and proudly carries its head up. The long and soft coat is usually pure white, but can also be colored ivory. If the fur is left to grow long, it almost reaches the ground when parted on the back.
The dog breed is easily confused with other dog breeds by laypeople. Although they are all descended from one type of dog, many variants of the bichon have evolved over the centuries. In particular, many laypeople confuse it with the Coton de Tuléar, which is also white. However, the Malti is smaller than this one and has a smooth coat. It is also easy to confuse with the curly bichon frisé from Tenerife, the Italian Bolognese, or the multicolored Havanese.
Education of the Puppy
The aggressive and naughty behavior of some representatives of the breed can usually be traced back to a lack of training due to its image as a lap dog. With a non-violent and loving upbringing, the Maltese develop into a great partners in everyday life.
You don’t need any special knowledge or experience to train the willing dog. If it is your first dog, you should get help from a dog school. Don’t be fooled by the cute puppy look and clearly show the dog what it can and can’t do. If you give in once, you have to struggle with bad habits for the rest of your dog’s life. What the dog is allowed to do as a puppy, he keeps in adulthood.
The small dogs are usually friendly and want to please their owner. Early socialization and getting used to strangers and animals are very important so that you can master everyday life together and without any problems.