The Maltese is an elegant white dog of small size , with a lively look and an affectionate disposition, which seems to have long, straight hair. He was Giuseppe Verdi’s dog , his company also in the theater.

Origins
Morphology
Psychology and character
Care of the Maltese

Origins of the Maltese

The origins of the Maltese dog are not well known , but there are evidences of a very similar breed and presumably attributable to these specimens in very ancient times.

Pliny the Elder described his appearance and intelligence , he was a presence in the homes of Roman nobles. From the Mediterranean basin the Maltese also arrived at the English court, from King Henry VIII, much appreciated by the noblewomen of the time.

The Maltese name has nothing to do with Malta, it derives from Melitensis , whose root means “port”, “refuge”, indicated by Aristotle to designate mouse hunting dogs that lived in ports .

Morphology of the Maltese

The Maltese is a small dog that can weigh around 4 kg and a height of 25 cm at the withers. Its structure highlights an elongated trunk, proportionally longer than its height.

The head is large , carried very proudly, the triangular ears are hanging down. The coat of the Maltese is uniform, with long, dense and smooth silky hair , the color is pure white, the standard also tolerates an ivory white. The rapid gait accompanied by the natural movement of the hair gives it a particular elegance.

Psychology of the Maltese

The Maltese is the ideal companion dog, joyful, affectionate . Its sociability makes it one of the best choices to live with the family, in contact with children and also with other animals. Although he is a playful dog, he is a lazy dog , which easily adapts to home life and its comforts. The character of the Maltese is strong-willed and courageous , although enclosed in a tiny size, gifted with great intelligence, he learns easily and learns all the habits of the family. Its speed of learning makes it a dog suitable for agility dog . It is an excellent watchdog , capable of signaling with intensity if something is outside the norm.

Care of the Maltese

The Maltese’s coat requires constant care to prevent it from becoming knotted. There are those who prefer to keep it long for exhibitions, while others also for practicality carry out the shearing even 3 times a year.

The Maltese’s constitution is very robust and its life expectancy is around 12 years. It is not subject to particular pathologies. It is important to take care of their nutrition also by virtue of the lifestyle they lead.