Maltese
A Mediterranean lap dog for well over two thousand years, and white for all of them. There is no undercoat, so the hair hangs straight and sheds very little.
Photo by SheltieBoy, CC BY 2.0
Overview
The Maltese has been a companion dog around the Mediterranean for over two thousand years, described by Greek and Roman writers and appearing on pottery from the fifth century BC. It has never had any job other than company.
The coat is single and hair like rather than double and fur like, which is why it does not shed and why it grows continuously and needs cutting.
Temperament
Affectionate, lively and bold for its size. Maltese are devoted to their people, playful well into old age, and they are among the more confident toy breeds.
They bark at things, they can be difficult to house train, and they are prone to separation anxiety. They are also easily spoiled into reactive small dogs, and a Maltese treated like a dog behaves like one. They are not suited to very young children, being genuinely fragile at under seven pounds.
Care and grooming
The long single coat needs combing every day and regular bathing, and it grows continuously. Many owners keep it in a short puppy clip, which removes most of the work.
Tear staining on the white coat is constant and cosmetic. Patellar luxation, collapsing trachea, portosystemic shunt and severe dental disease all occur. Daily tooth brushing matters here as much as in any breed.
Living and exercise
Twenty to thirty minutes a day plus indoor play. They suit flats.
A harness rather than a collar, because of the trachea. Twelve to fifteen years is normal and they stay active for most of it.
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