Maltese cute puppies running
The Maltese
is a small breed of dog in the Toy Group. It descends from dogs originating in
the Central Mediterranean Area. The breed name and origins are generally
understood to derive from the Mediterranean island nation of Malta; however,
the name is sometimes described with reference to the distinct Adriatic island
of Mljet, or a defunct Maltese town called Melita.
The Maltese
had been recognized as a FCI breed under the patronage of Italy in 1954, at the
annual meeting in Interlaken, Switzerland. The current FCI standard is dated
November 27, 1989, and the latest translation from Italian to English is dated
April 6, 1998. The American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1888, its
latest standard being from March 10, 1964.
Characteristics
include slightly rounded skulls, with a finger-wide dome, a black button nose
and chocolate brown eyes. The body is compact with the length equaling the
height. The drop ears with (sometimes) long hair , and surrounded by darker
skin pigmentation (called a "halo"), gives Maltese their expressive
look. Lacking exposure to sunlight, their noses can fade and become pink or
light brown in color. This is often referred to as a "winter nose"
and many times will become black again with increased exposure to the sun.
The coat is long
and silky and lacks an undercoat. Also, a pale ivory tinge is permitted. In
some standards, traces of pale orange shades are tolerated. Also, the Maltese
has hair, not fur. It sheds less, and is a better choice for people with dog
allergies. The Maltese has lemon or brown markings along with the white hair.
Some people prefer to have the coat short. The most common cut for the Maltese
is called the "puppy cut," which involves trimming or shaving the
entire body to one short length (typically less than an inch long)
Adult Maltese
range from roughly 5 to 12 lb (2.3 to 5.4 kg), though breed standards, as a
whole, call for weights between 5-8 lbs. There are variations depending on
which standard is being used. Many, like the American Kennel Club, call for a weight
that is ideally less than 7 lbs. They stand normally 7-12 inches.
Maltese are
bred to be cuddly companion dogs, and thrive on love and attention. They are
extremely lively and playful, and even as a Maltese ages, his energy level and
playful demeanor remain fairly constant. Some Maltese may occasionally be
snappish with smaller children and should be supervised when playing, although
socializing them at a young age will reduce this habit. They also adore humans,
and prefer to stay near them. The Maltese is very active within a house, and,
preferring enclosed spaces, does very well with small yards. For this reason,
the breed also fares well in apartments and townhouses, and is a prized pet of
urban dwellers. Some Maltese may suffer from separation anxiety.
An Australia-wide (not including Tasmania) research project carried out
in conjunction with RSPCA found owners likely to dump their Maltese, citing the
tendency of Maltese to bark constantly. This breed is Australia's most dumped
dog. In addition, figures released in 2010 by the Korean National Veterinary
Research and Quarantine Service show that some 1,208 Maltese were abandoned
between January and August 2010, making it the most abandoned breed in Seoul,
Korea.
