Characteristics And Curiosities About Maltese
Small, elegant and intelligent are the three adjectives that best describe Maltese. This adorable long-haired white dog is particularly suitable as a companion animal, but is also ideal as a guard dog.
Do you want to learn more about Maltese?
The curious history of the Maltese
While its name may be misleading, this breed is not native to the island of Malta. The word “Maltese” is of Semitic origin and means port or refuge. In fact, the ancestors of this dog lived in the port areas of the central Mediterranean, where they were used to counteract the presence of rodents.
In any case, its origins are uncertain. It is thought that it was the Phoenicians who brought them from Egypt. There are also hints of the existence of Maltese-like animals in ancient Greece and ancient Rome.
Maltese also appears in the paintings of many Renaissance painters. He is represented in the salons as an escort of the ladies. However, it was only recognized as a breed by the International Cynological Federation (FCI) in 1954 and with the patronage of Italy.
Physical description of the Maltese
The slender and elongated body, the head with a proud bearing and the long, drooping and hairy ears are some of the main physical characteristics of the Maltese. But they can also be highlighted:
- Height: between 21 and 25 centimeters for males and between 20 and 23 for females.
- Weight: between 3 and 4 kg.
- Hair: shiny, silky and dense. It consists of a single soft white layer that falls heavily to the ground. On the belly the hair is longer.
- Muzzle: long and thin, which becomes more refined towards the nose.
- Eyes: Round and dark, ocher in color, with black outlines. The expression is alert and attentive.
- Nose: black, with open and round dimples.
- Tail: very hairy. It curves over the back and tapers towards the tip.
- Legs: Short, with round feet, narrow toes and dark nails.
A dog with a great personality
The Maltese is a cheerful, affectionate, sociable and easy to educate dog. In fact, he quickly learns tricks and pirouettes.
But if you don’t set clear rules or get him used to socializing in a timely manner, he can become overly nervous. He doesn’t like being left alone and loves having lots of toys to bite into.
Although ideal as a companion dog, it is better suited to adults than children, especially if they are too young to understand how to treat an animal.
This is because, given its small size, children usually tend to touch it too much and even hurt it. In addition, this cute and playful animal can’t stand its fur being pulled.
Although he generally gets along well with other pets, he may sometimes feel threatened by animals that are larger than him.
How to take care of the Maltese
With a life expectancy of between 12 and 15 years, the Maltese is a rather healthy dog. However, it may have some knee and patella problems, so you should avoid being overweight.
Another detail to take into consideration is that he is usually allergic to some human foods, so it is very important to provide him with adequate nutrition. Also, even if he doesn’t need to do too much physical activity to stay healthy, he loves running and moving, playing and walking with his owner.
The long, smooth coat of the Maltese requires periodic brushing with special tools to avoid knots and skin problems. Excess hair can also cause eye irritation and even conjunctivitis. For this reason, it would be ideal to keep the face free of hair with a tail.
While it is best to leave the coat long and cut only the tips, some prefer a bolder cut, which gives them a typical puppy look. On the other hand, it is recommended to bathe him every six to eight weeks.
Among the daily care required by the breed there is also cleaning the eyes, the lacrimal and the muzzle. This prevents brown spots from appearing around these areas.
