Maltese
Temperament:
Maltese is an ancient breed of dogs. Their traces can be traced back four thousand years to the empire of the ancient Egyptian pharaohs. Often smiled at today as lapdogs, there is much more to these little bundles of energy than their cute exterior might initially suggest. Maltese are sincere and very dignified little dogs, yet uncomplicated and lovable to handle.
Characteristics
Maltese are very easily attached to the long silky and pure white coat to recognize. The dark-rimmed eyes and the black button nose give him his typical appearance. Cream or grayish color types are rare. Yellow tints occur, but are not desired by the breed standard. If the coat is not trimmed, it grows smooth to the ground.
With 20 to 25 cm shoulder height, the Maltese belongs to the dwarf dog breeds. The breeding standard stipulates that the body length must exceed the height at the withers. The weight is 4 to 5 kg.
Nevertheless, the Maltese is not a pure lap dog. He is active, loves exercise and many small walks. Due to his affable nature and the handy size he is a ideal companion for the elderly. Once a day, the Maltese would like to really exercise. Suitable for this Long walks with the opportunity for free running, dog play groups, or extended playtime at home.
Maltese dogs are considered to be distinctly smart, eager to learn and affectionate. Dog sports like Agility exercises, Dogdancing or Tracking is possible with him. The hunting instinct in the open field is moderate. Maltese loves to playfully pick out small tracks and to chase them. You can please him with hidden toys or treats.
Maltese are also suitable as apartment dogs for the city and for individuals. He has a centuries-old past as a social dog and builds very close bonds. He should not be left to their own devices for too long. Boredom and loneliness can make a Maltese aggressive. If you have little time for your dog, a second caregiver is a good solution. Dog sitters are suitable for this or you share your dog with a loving person of your choice.
Maltese have a very high life expectancy. The average age is 18 years, and in some cases they even reach an age of more than 20 years.
Coat care:
Shedding:
Energy level:
Trainability:
Children suitable:
The right food
As with all small dog breeds, feeding to meet their needs is a big issue. Conventional dry dog food may not always be the right fit for the little ones. Often the kibbles are too big and the Maltese cannot chew them with his tender teeth. Chewable or reward food is also available in mini versions in well-stocked specialty stores.
Always take a good look at the ingredients before choosing a food. Veterinarians advise to use foods that are Sufficient quality protein contain. Ideal are feeds with much muscle meat. You should stay away from food that consists mainly of animal meal and fat. It is also not necessary to completely avoid grain. The dog is quite capable of digesting carbohydrates. Here, too, you should pay attention to the Pay attention to the source of the herbal ingredients.
On the wet food shelf you will always find small bowls and paté specially adapted to the needs of small dogs. The package sizes are adapted and the chunks or pieces of meat in the food are not too large and easy to bite. Pay attention with the wet food absolutely to the Sugar content. Sometimes this is disguised as dextrose, sucrose, glucose syrup or grape sweetener. If sugar types are increasingly among the first three to four ingredients, this is too much. Sugar not only harms the teeth, it provides the dog with the wrong energy and makes him fat.
Neutered or older Maltese are particularly prone to rapid weight gain. Check the rations again and again and adjust them if necessary. When changing foods, keep a close eye on your dog's weight. Often the same amount of food can differ significantly in how it affects your dog.
Maltese care
Due to the long coat, the Maltese is somewhat more elaborate in the coat care. However, brushing and grooming should not be a chore, but fun for both of you. If you do not want to have your dog with floor-length fur, you must Trim regularly Or take to a dog groomer.
Comb your Maltese's coat well on a regular basis. Through the Coat care dirt, plant parts or other foreign bodies are removed. These foreign bodies quickly cause tangles when the coat is worn for a long time. Under the armpits and at other points of movement, long hair also tends to mat. Remedy can be in such places a Coat care spray bring. These care products make the hair easy to comb and impregnate it against pollution.
The best coat care is also a healthy and balanced diet. You can quickly see from your dog's coat whether it is supplied with sufficient vitamins and vital substances. If it is nice and silky and falls loose, then everything is fine. A deficiency shows itself in bacon or dull and matted fur.
The Facial and head hair also requires your special attention in the Maltese dog. Head and facial hair can fall into the eyes and irritate them. Maltese dogs have a general tendency to Tear flow. You should remove these regularly, because the remains of the tear fluid leave unsightly red-brown stains in the fur.
You can get help with facial hair care at the dog salon. You can also be shown how to do your dog's hair yourself. To tame the facial hair are suitable beautiful Hair clips.
Suitable accessories
For your Maltese you need accessories in small sizes. Normally, all common products for small dogs should also fit your Maltese. You can certainly take your Maltese directly to almost any store for a fitting. If you order accessories on the Internet, you should pay attention to convenient exchange and return modalities.
Instead of a collar Maltese also take a fancy tablewareThe harness can be adjusted to fit the dog's neck. Always make sure that the chest part of the harness is also adjustable in width. At the vet or on trips, the slightly tighter buckled harness is safer.
For the care of your dog you should get suitable Brushes, combs or also a soft Care glove to put on. Occasionally, Maltese may need to have their claws trimmed. You can do this yourself. Special Safety scissors are available at affordable prices in the accessories store.
Origin & History
The breed name leads to the assumption that the dogs come from the Mediterranean island of Malta. This is not necessarily so. Rather, the name "Maltese" is derived from the Semitic word "malat" for harbor or refuge ab. The ancestors of the Maltese lived in the port and coastal towns around the central Mediterranean. Certainly also in Malta but not exclusively. Their Task in the port facilities lay in the Detecting rats and mice. They kept camps clean and spread along shipping and trade routes.
To this day, travel is in the Maltese's blood. Taking him on longer vacation trips is no problem. The dog prefers to accompany his master and mistress, instead of having to do without his human in a kennel.
In the 4th century BC, the Greek naturalist Aristotle described the "canes malitenses".
Probably the history of the Maltese goes back much further. In the tomb of the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses II (1301 to 1225 BC) there were dog statues made of natural stone very similar to the Maltese.
Much later, in the ancient Rome the small white dogs appeared as popular companions of noble ladies of society on. The famous Roman poet Strabon sang about the pride of animals and the beauty of their owners.
His status as Dog of the fine circles was to further consolidate the Maltese over the centuries. Renowned works of art of the Renaissance depict Maltese at the side of fine lords and ladies. Today, they are widespread throughout the world and in a variety of breeding lines.
