About The Maltese Dog
The Maltese dog is a beautiful, silky white, intelligent tiny little bundle of extreme love! Consequently, they have been known throughout history as the dog of royals. They are not only regal in appearance, but deeply loyal and affectionate!
We love our Maltese because it feels so good to have an animal adore you the way they do. They love cuddles. Cuddles make them happy. They cannot get enough cuddles. Did I mention that they love cuddles? So we not only love their cuddles, but they are funny and fun and keep up smiling with their silliness all the time!
Temperament
The Maltese dog temperament is highly social, abundantly affectionate, and extremely loyal! The Maltese dog is never happier than sitting regally on a lap! They cannot get enough cuddles and often bond deeply with one person. They are happiest with their person, so your Maltese can become very stressed out when they are left alone for extended periods of time. You can use crate-training to help them handle times away from you without traumatizing them.
Their loving temperament makes them an excellent choice as a family pet. But be sure to take caution with small children because Maltese are extra small dogs and can be hurt easily.
Size
The Maltese dog weighs under 7 pounds and measures only 7-9 inches tall. Because of this, they are extra-small dogs. But don’t let that tiny little body fool you. They have a big personality and can be very stubborn and even protective of their person. Actually, they are known to be great watch dogs.
Maltese are ideal for many different lifestyles because of their tiny size. As such, they can comfortably live in a normal or large house, a duplex or condo, or even a tiny apartment! Additionally, they can be trained to use the bathroom outside or in a litter box or other potty-system inside. They are easy travel companions and train well as emotional service dogs. As such, you can carry them to many locations. Maltese can be crate-trained to give them their own safe place, but their crates are so tiny that they hardly take up any space in your home.
Training
Maltese dogs train quite easily because they are super intelligent! If you keep your training consistent and fun, they easily pick up on basic commands. As such, Maltese are one of the breeds that usually work out perfectly for first-time owners who do not have a lot of experience with dogs.
Shedding & Grooming
The Maltese dog usually has soft, silky, white hair. And some of them may have a little off-white coloring on their ears.
Are Maltese hypoallergenic? Many people are sensitive to dog hair, but Maltese shed very little. This means some sensitive people do just fine with this breed in their house. The Maltese dog has earned the reputation as a hypoallergenic dog. Technically-speaking, however, they have hair and dander so they can still cause reactions in some people. Therefore, if you are sensitive to dogs, you should spend some time with a Maltese to test it for yourself! Don’t adopt a Maltese until you are sure you won’t react to them!
Maltese dogs need regular brushing, washing, and grooming. As a result, this will help keep them clean and healthy. With a properly trained and socialized puppy, even these chores can be fun. After all, it’s just another activity they get to do with you! We have one little dog who loves it so much, she will beg and pester for her turn whenever any other dog is getting their turn. She spends a lot of energy trying to convince us to do her hair instead of the other dogs! It is so funny!
LifeSpan
On average, a maltese will live 14-16 years. This gives you a decade and a half of love! However, a poor diet and toxic substances can cause many conditions that shorten a dog’s life. So you are sometimes able to extend life span of Maltese dogs if you provide holistic puppy healthcare. Because our Maltese bring us so much joy, of course we want to give them every chance to live a long, healthy life!
Health
Overall Maltese dogs are a pretty healthy as a breed. Their level of inbreeding is significantly lower than many other breeds. As a result they have a lower risk for many genetic diseases because they have a wider gene pool. Maltese health issues that do arise are often common small-breed health problems. You decrease their chances of developing these problems when you follow an holistic healthcare approach.
History
The Maltese dog breed is a very ancient breed. Its exact origins cannot be absolutely established. Pictures of tiny dogs in Mesopotamian drawings are believed to be their ancestors. As a result, some people believe that the breed originated about 5000 years ago. However, most people believe that the breed is closer to 3000 years old. The Maltese dog was named for the the Isle of Malta where it was popularized! Maltese dogs were popular in many cultures throughout the millennia, including the Greeks, Romans, Chinese, Brits, etc.
Therefore, it is no surprise this regal breed became a favorite among the royal families. Indeed many famous people in history have kept Maltese. Some of these are: Aristotle, Roman Emperor Claudius, Roman Governor of Malta Publius (who supposedly offered a Maltese to Apostle Paul), Mary Queen of Scotts, Queen Elizabeth I, Queen Victoria, Josephine Bonaparte, and Marie Antoinette.
Likewise many famous people today have owned Malese as well. Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Sinatra, Mia Farrow, Liberace, Eva Longoria, Lee Remick, Lindsay Lohan, Kristin Chenoweth, Halle Berry, Star Jones, and Anna Nicole Smith are a few examples.
Even through all the millennia, the Maltese continue to be a very popular, highly-sought-after breed the world over!
Other Information
For more information on this amazing dog breed, please visit The Maltese Dog Breed: Characteristics, Care & Photos | BeChewy.
