Maltese Terrier

The Maltese Terrier is a good­tempered dog that makes the ideal family pet. It is reliable with children, adaptable about exercise and usually healthy, and it generally remains playful throughout its long life.

Origin and history

The Maltese Terrier is described as the oldest of European toy breeds. Howeve_ there is some controversy as to whether it originated in Malta, although the breed has certainly existed there for centuries. The Maltese Terrier also found its way to China and the Philippines, probably due to enterprising Maltese traders.

Like the Papillon, the Maltese has been depicted by many artists, including Goya, Rubens, and the famous animal painter Sir Edwin

Landseer, who in 1930 produced a portrait entitled 'The Lion Dog from Malta - the last of his race', which shows the breed's rarity on the island at that time. The breed first became established in the United Kingdom during the reign of Henry VIII and was a popular pet among elegant ladies. It had a class of its own for the first time in Birmingham, England, in 1864; since then it has gained immense popularity in both the United Kingdom and the United States.

Maltese Terrier Puppies

Good points

• Adaptable about exercise . Extremely good with children . Healthy
• Long-lived
• Sensitive
• Sweet-natured

Take heed

• Needs fastidious grooming

Maltese Terrier Information

General appearance
Should be smart, lively and alert. The action must be free, without extended weaving.

Colour
Pure white, but slight lemon markings should not penalize.

Head and skull
From stop to centre of skull (centre between forepart of ears) and stop to tip of nose should be equally balanced. Stop should be defined. Nose should be pure black.

Tail
Should be well arched over the back, and feathered.

Feet
Should be round, and the pads of the feet should be black.

Maltese Terrier Feeding & Grooming

Grooming

Use a bristle brush frequently from puppyhood and use baby powder on legs and underside to keep the

animal clean between baths. Obtain advice from the breeder about show preparation; this breed may not be ideal for new show aspirants.

Feeding

Recommended would be 5-70z (142-198g) of a branded, meaty product, with biscuit added in equal part by volume, or 3/4 to 1 cup of a dry food, complete diet, mixed in the proportion of 1 cup of feed to V2 cup of hot or cold water. Such a diet is, of course, offered purely as a guide. The owner may occasionally substitute lightly cooked minced beef, mixed with biscuit. Water must be available to all breeds at all times.

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