This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 122.200.166.113 (talk) at 06:32, 10 April 2009 (→History: fix up references - it doesn't prove out on preview - guess I'll have to save it and see :(). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 06:32, 10 April 2009 by 122.200.166.113 (talk) (→History: fix up references - it doesn't prove out on preview - guess I'll have to save it and see :()(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) Dog breed| Maltese | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Maltese with a well-groomed coat | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other names | Bichon Maltaise | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Origin | Central Mediterranean region | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Dog (domestic dog) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A Maltese is a small breed of white dog. One of the oldest known breeds in the world, it is commonly shown with long hair sweeping to the floor; however most pets are given short "puppy cuts" of about 2.5cm (1 inch) for ease of grooming. In this type of animal, the hair is not referred to as fur which is based entirely on length since otherwise hair and fur are the same thing.
It is a "high-maintenance" dog.
Appearance
The Maltese is a dog belonging to the toy group that is covered from head to foot with silky white hair which can grow very long if left untended. For conformation dog shows the hair is required to be trimmed to floor-length.
They do not have an undercoat, and the hair does not normally shed. Some individuals may have curly or woolly hair, but this is outside the standard.
The color is pure white and although cream or light lemon ears are permissible, they are not desirable.
Adult Maltese range from roughly 3 to 10 lb (1.4 to 4.5 kg), though breed standards, as a whole, call for weights between 4 and 8 lb (1.8 to 3.7 kg). There are variations depending on which standard is being used; many, like the American Kennel Club, call for a weight that is ideally between 4 and 6 lb (1.8 to 2.7 kg), and no more than 7 lb (3.2 kg).
Characteristics include slightly rounded skulls, with a one (1) finger width dome, and a black nose that is two (2) finger width long. The body is compact with the length equaling the height.
The drop ears with long hair and very dark eyes, surrounded by darker skin pigmentation that is called a "halo" gives Malteses their expressive look.
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.
Temperament
Maltese can be very energetic and are known for their occasional wild outbursts of physical activity, running around in circles chasing their tail, and bolting at top speed with amazing agility; given this, they still do well for apartment dwellers. They are relatively easy to train and enjoy a playful game of fetch. These intelligent dogs learn quickly, and pick up new tricks and behaviours easily. Since they were bred specifically for companionship, they do not do well being left alone for long hours.
For all their diminutive size, Maltese seem to be without fear. In fact, many Maltese seem relatively indifferent to creatures/objects larger than themselves (unless of course it is the owner). They are among the gentlest mannered of all little dogs, yet they are lively and playful as well as vigorous. Because of their small size, Maltese dogs are not a good choice for families with small children because they can be easily injured.
The breed has a reputation for being good-natured, but may be intolerant of small children or other dogs. They can be protective of their owner and will bark or may bite if animals or people infringe on their territory or are perceived as a threat.
Aggression
In 2004 Burke's Backyard carried out an Australia-wide research project with the RSPCA to compare dog surrender rates in 2003. The Maltese came out pretty badly, especially in the matter of aggression.
However, the report fails to address the reasons for Malteses (and all small dogs) developing aggressive behaviour. This can be simply due to poor discipline as puppies, unchecked teasing, simple abuse (children giving it a hard time out of love and affection) or even forgetting to check the dog/foot closeness. An excellent treatment of canine agression is Forms of Aggression.
Care
Maltese have hair, not fur and have little to no shedding if cared for properly. Like their relatives Poodles and Bichon Frisé, they are considered to be largely hypoallergenic and many people who are allergic to dogs may not be allergic to the Maltese (See list of Hypoallergenic dog breeds).
Regular grooming, at least once a week, is required to prevent their coats from matting. Many owners will keep their Maltese clipped in a "puppy cut," a 2.5-5cm (1-2inch) all over trim that makes the dog resemble a puppy. Some owners, especially those who show their Malteses prefer to wrap the long hair to keep it from matting and breaking off.
Hair around the flews and lower lips should also be trimmed regularly to prevent it resting inside the mouth and contributing to poor dental hygiene.
Dark staining in the hair around the eyes ("tear staining") can be a problem in this breed, and is mostly a function of how much the individual dog's eyes water and the size of the tear ducts. If left unattended, this develops quickly to unsightly sticky black "boogers" which can affect the dog's health. If the face is kept dry and cleaned daily, the staining can be minimized. Many veterinarians recommend avoiding foods treated with food coloring and serving distilled water to reduce tear staining.
Health
The Maltese is generally a healthy breed with few inherent problems. The average life span is 12-15 years.
Reputable breeders check all their puppies for problems like luxating patella, portosystemic liver shunt, and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA). Dogs with these and other faults are not permitted to breed, and in some cases will not even be shown.
History
As an aristocrat of the canine world, this ancient breed has been known by a variety of names throughout the centuries. Originally called the Melitaie Dog, he has also been known as Ye Ancient Dogge of Malta, the Roman Ladies' Dog, the Comforter Dog, the Spaniel Gentle, the Bichon, the Shock Dog, the Maltese Lion Dog and the Maltese Terrier. The breed's history can be traced back many centuries. Some have placed its origin at two or three thousand years ago and Darwin himself placed the origin of the breed at 6000 BC. Sometime within the past century, he has come to simply be known as the Maltese even though that island has no known traces of the breed.
The adjective "Maltese" comes from the Semitic word "malat" which means refuge or harbour (from L. Melite, perhaps from Phoenician melita, lit. "place of refuge," from malat "he escaped"); this Semitic root appears in maritime place-names, e.g: the Adriatic island of Méléda. "Melitae" is the Latin name of Malta.
The Maltese is thought to have been descended from a Spitz type dog found among the Swiss Lake dwellers and bred down to obtain its small size. Although there is also some evidence that the breed originated in Asia and is related to the Tibetan Terrier, the exact origin is unknown. There is some speculation that it may be related to the Shih Tzu and Lhasa Apso. Nevertheless, the Maltese is neither a Terrier nor a Spaniel.
The dogs probably made their way to Europe through the Middle East with the migration of nomadic tribes. Some writers believe these proto-Maltese were used for rodent control . The Isle of Malta (or Melitae as it was then known) was a geographic center of early trade, and the little rodent-killers would no doubt have been left there as barter for necessities and supplies before the cuteness factor was locked in.
At this stage the dogs were parti-coloured rather than pure white, and larger than modern standards, around 5.5 - 6.5Kg (12lbs).
The dogs were favored by the wealthy and royalty alike and were bred over time to specifically be a companion animal. Among others were Publius, Roman governor of Malta and father of Saint Publius, Mary Queen of Scots, Queen Elizabeth I, Queen Victoria, Josephine Bonaparte and Marie Antoinette.
Martial, born in A.D. 38 in Spain, wrote an epigram about Publius' dog:
- "Issa is more playful than the sparrow of Catullus. Issa is more pure than the kiss of a dove. Issa is more loving than any maiden. Issa is dearer than Indian gems. The little dog Issa is the pet of Publius. If she complains, you will think she speaks. She feels both the sorrow and the gladness of her master. She lies reclined upon his neck, and sleeps, so that not a respiration is heard from her. And, however pressed, she has never sullied the coverlet with a single spot; but rouses her master with a gentle touch of her foot, and begs to be set down from the bed and relieved. Such modesty resides in this chaste little animal; she knows not the pleasures of love; nor do we find a mate worthy of so tender a damsel. That her last hour may not carry her off wholly, Publius has her limned in a picture, in which you will see an Issa so like, that not even herself is so like herself. In a word, place Issa and the picture side by side, and you will imagine either both real, or both painted."
Around the 17th and 18th centuries some (mostly English) breeders decided to "improve" the breed, by making it smaller still. Linnaeus held that the dog should be about the size of a squirrel. As a result, the breed nearly disappeared. Many small dogs, for example Poodles and miniature Spaniels were added to the gene pool in order to save it. In the early 19th century there were as many as nine different breeds of Maltese dog.
Parti-colour and solid colour dogs were accepted in the show ring from 1902 until as late as 1950, at least in Victoria, Australia. However, white Malteses were required to be pure white. Coloured Malteses could be obtained from the south of France.
During the Renaissance, Ludovico Ariosto in a few lines of his literary masterpiece, Orlando Furioso, describes a dog that can surely only be a Maltese.
- "The tiniest dog Nature has ever produced --
- Her coat of long hair, whiter than ermine,
- Her movements exquisitely graceful and
- Matchless elegance of appearance."
- (Vol.II Canto 43)
References
- "winter nose"
- Dog Dumpage factsheets at Burke's Backyard done in conjunction with the RSPCA, Australia, 2004
- ^ The Maltese Club of Finland
- Etymology Online
- A Pets Blog - The Rich Maltese History
- Foxstone Maltese - Maltese Breed History
- Anna's Heavenly Maltese - History and Origin of the Maltese Dog
- Martial, Epigrams. Book 1. Bohn's Classical Library (1897) CIX. ON A PET DOG AND THE PAINTER.
- Maltese Kennel Club of NSW AUSTRALIA
External links
- Clubs, Associations, and Societies