The Maltese Dog Breed Profile

The Maltese is lovely, intelligent and playful as well as being cute cuddly – all characteristics that make a great pet! This breed originates from Italy and it is thought that it was first introduced in England by Crusaders returning from the Mediterranean. They were exceptionally popular with women who would carry them in the sleeves of their dresses! Not only a wonderful pet, this breed is also one of the most sought after show dogs.

A member of the American Kennel Club Toy Group, the Maltese was admitted to the AKC in 1888. They stand eight to 10 inches tall and weigh between 6 1/2 and 9 pounds. They can be long-lived if cared for properly and may have a life span of 15 years.

Though small, the mall tease Is fairly hearty and is well-known for his beautiful long white, silky coat. this breed has a single code of thick shiny hair which is very heavy and drapes down to the floor being over 8 inches long. The ears and tail are also thickly covered with hair and the tail drapes over the dogs back. The eyes are rather large, rounded and dark. This is a small dog but sturdy. Acceptable colors for the Maltese include white and light ivory.

The Maltese makes it great bad as it is gentle and loving as well as playful and lively. Devoted to their owners, these dogs are very intelligent and quite adept at learning tricks. Though small, they can be rather bold and will let you know if there are any suspicious noises about. They typically get along quite well with other animals, however some can be snappish and they may be difficult to house train.

with the Maltese Sea to need to watch out for a few health problems the strangest of which is that they can get sunburned a long the part down the middle. Other problems could include skin problems, eye problems, respiratory problems, tooth problems and slipped stifle.

The Maltese is active indoors but can do fine in an apartment as long as you take them for regular walks. This dog will be playful well into its older years so it kind of creates its own exercise and a yard is not necessary.

This breed does require a bit of grooming and should be brushed daily as well as have his eyes cleaned daily. Since the hair does fall into the eyes, some owners will tie the hair on the top of the head in a ponytail to make cleaning the eyes easier. To avoid staining of the hair, you should clean your Maltese around the mouth after each meal. You also need to clean the ears regularly and remove hair growing inside. They can be bathed or dry shampooed as often as you wish. The good thing is that despite their mass of hair they do not shed much.

Get more info and advice on the maltese dog or a full list of dog breeds at this Dog Behaviour website.