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Known for its snow-white hair, Maltese is a famous small breed of toy dog. It is a popular dog for apartment household because they are very active indoors and will do okay without a yard.

The exact origin of Maltese dog breed is unclear. Someone said that they are descended from a Spitz type dog found among the Swiss Lake dwellers and bred down to obtain its small size. But there is also some evidence that the breed originated in Asia and is related to the Tibetan Terrier. The first written document on the existence of this breed of dog was given by the Greek writer Callimachus, around 350 BC. Around the 17th and 18th centuries some breeders decided to “improve” the Maltese breed, by making it smaller still. Linnaeus wrote in 1792 that these dogs were about the size of a squirrel.The breed nearly disappeared and was crossbred with other small dogs such as Poodles and miniature Spaniels. 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 1913 in England,and as late as 1950 in Victoria, Australia. However, white Malteses were required to be pure white. Coloured Malteses could be obtained from the south of France.

Maltese has slightly rounded skulls, with a one-finger-wide dome and a black nose that is two finger widths 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. Their noses can fade and become pink or light brown in color without exposure to sunlight. They have an elegant mantle of long, silky hair. The coat is straight, lacks an undercoat, and is pure bright white in color. They are non-shedding. Their luxurious cloak of white is the hallmark of the Maltese.

The Maltese is spirited, lively and playful. Gentle, loving, trusting and devoted to its master. Highly intelligent. Good at learning tricks. Bold and quick to sound the alarm in case of suspicious noises.They are bred to be cuddly companion dogs. They thrive on love and attention. They are extremely lively and playful, and even as a Maltese ages, his or her energy level and playful demeanor remains fairly constant and does not diminish much.They most often will establish a close bond with one person. They do not do well when left alone for extended periods of time. They may be over-protective of their owner, family, and territory, and bark or bite if they perceive a threat. They are a fearless, vigorous, and agile breed. The Maltese commit themselves fully to their owner and families.

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