Good Points
- Adaptable about exercise
- Extremely good with children
- Healthy
- Long-lived
- Sensitive
- Sweet-natured
Take heed
- Needs fastidious daily grooming
The Maltese Terrier is a good-tempered dog that makes the ideal family pet. It is reliable with children, adaptable about exercise, and usually healthy, and it generally remains playful throughout its long life.
Size
Not over 25cm (10 in) from ground to top of shoulder.
Exercise
Can manage a long walk or be content with a stroll in the park.
Grooming
Most important. Use a bristle brush every day from puppyhood and use baby powder on legs and underside to keep the animal clean between baths. Obtain advice from the breeder about show preparation; this breed may not be the ideal choice for new show aspirants.
Feeding
Recommended would be 1/3 can (376g, 13.3oz size) of a branded meaty product, with biscuit added in equal part by volume; or 1-1½ cups of a dry food, complete diet, mixed in the proportion of 1 cup of feed to ½ cup of hot or cold water. Such a diet is, of course, offered purely as a guide. The owner may occasionally substitute lightly cooked minced beef, mixed with biscuit. Water must be available to all breeds at all times.
Origin and History
The Maltese Terrier is described as the oldest of European toy breeds. However, there is some controversy as to whether it originated in Malta, although the breed has certainly existed there for centuries. The Maltese Terrier also found its way to China and the Philippines, probably due to enterprising Maltese traders.
Like the Papillon, the Maltese has been depicted by many famous artists, including Goya, Rubens, and the famous animal painter Sir Edwin Landseer, who in 1930 produced a portrait entitled The Lion Dog from Malta - the last of his race, which shows their rarity on the island at that time. The breed first became established in the United Kingdom during the reign of Henry VIII and was a popular pet among elegant ladies. It had a class of its own for the first time in Birmingham, England, in 1864, since then it has gained popularity in both the United Kingdom and the United States.
