Maltese: the description of the breed of dogs, the nature and content

Ladies of past centuries carried dogs with them, not only because they were very beautiful, but also to show their worth, because such a pet was worth a fortune. Today, girls can often be seen with dogs of various breeds, but it is the Maltese lap dog or Maltese that the ordinary girl can turn into a sophisticated lady. It is also a great gift for your darling, able to break through the dam with stocks of simply endless emotion. Although today these dogs are not the most expensive breed, yet it is clearly not the cheapest dog.

Maltese or Dwarf Bichon is rightly considered one of the most ancient breeds of dogs. Images of four-legged species of this variety are found even in ancient Greek sources, and today scientists have come to the conclusion that even in those times these cute dogs were the favorites of the Hellenic nobility.

Legend has it that for the first time to breed fluffy beauties began on the island of Malta, where the modern name came from - “Maltese” from Italian can be translated as “Maltean” or “Maltese”. Be that as it may, modern science claims that the Maltese lap-dog does not owe its origin to either Malta, or Bologna, or to any other places in Europe. The most common versions say that for the first time such a dog was bred in ancient China, although there is a more exotic theory of origin related to the Philippines. In any case, East or Southeast Asia is considered the birthplace of the animal, and already from there the breeders could get to Malta with numerous transplants, which became a springboard for conquering Europe.

There is another, relatively unpopular theory about where the Maltese came from. According to her, there are sources claiming that at the turn of our era on the island of Meleda, dogs were distinguished by unusual beauty near to modern Croatia. Malta at that time was called the same or very similar, and in the XVI century with the growing popularity of this breed in the neighboring for both regions of Italy, the names were simply confused. It is assumed that the small size of toy poodles and spaniels could have a direct bearing on the appearance of a new breed.

In antiquity, a small dog was valued not only for its pretty appearance, but also for its practicality. - at first it could be used for effective control of rodents that plagued Europe. Over time, representatives of the breed thanks to the work of breeders noticeably prettier and turned into a typical companion - in fact, a beautiful toy for wealthy people. Already in the Renaissance, many prominent artists of those times portrayed Maltese lapdogs on their masterpieces. So, you can see this little dog in the paintings of such renowned masters of painting as Rubens, Goya or Landseer.

When purchasing expensive breeds of dogs, one must first take an interest in the characteristics of the variety of interest. This requirement is due to two significant reasons: firstly, only this way you can decide what you really want, secondly, this is the only way to clearly understand whether the seller is not trying to deceive the trustful buyer by selling him something cheaper.Considering that even such dogs are not so rarely bought from the hands, the second argument should seem especially convincing for potential owners of the little dog, therefore we will try to get acquainted with all the peculiarities of the Maltese lapdogs.

If we talk about the positive aspects of the representatives of this breed in short, it turns out that the Maltese - one of the most cute dogs on a global scale, and it equally concerns both the appearance and the peculiarities of behavior. Maltese - doggy non-conflict, they agree to be friends with small children, and with other pets. It is easy to feed such a baby, because he eats very little, with diligent grooming he does not have a molt, and his pet has a very quiet temper - he barks extremely rarely.

In this case, it is probably impossible to find such a pet, which would not have even experienced any flaws. For example, the beauty of a Maltese requires sacrifices in the form of regularly bringing the ward's hair in order, since in neglected form the little dog will not look beautiful at all or at its own cost. Another important point is the emotionality of the dog: he has a tendency to be offended by manifestations of aggression on the part of his beloved master, his frustration is clearly visible and sometimes even results in tears, because of what you can after a fair punishment also feel guilty about yourself. Finally, it is categorically contraindicated for the representatives of this breed to eat everything, it is strictly forbidden to give food from the human table, since the digestive system is rather weak and often simply does not accept unfamiliar products.

By acquiring a creature with such a nice appearance, the future owners certainly expect that his character will be appropriate. Of course, this is true, otherwise a cute dog has hardly been associated with beautiful ladies for centuries. In short, the Maltese habits can be described as follows: this dog is very aristocratic and restrained, she is kind and loves the master's caress. Interestingly, such a small creature has one more useful characteristic of any “normal” dog - it is ready to go into a fight of any scale, just to protect its owner.

Representatives of the breed have a lively character - they cannot be called completely uncontrollable, but they love to frolic very much, especially if there is enough space for this and juicy green grass under the paws. At the same time, the dog loves a company of people - he is happy to communicate not only with the owner, but also with strangers, provided that the owner himself provides them with some signs of attention. The dog feels when the owner is not in the best frame of mind, and does everything possible so that he does not remain alone, but in such a situation does not demonstrate excessive cheerfulness.

Such a pet is very suitable for those people who are rarely in long journeys and are ready to devote a lot of time to a dog. The fact is that you attach great to such a child, and most importantly, he also becomes attached in return. Maltese is bored when there is no host nearby, and although there is no need for constant presence, it is better not to be left alone for long.

As already mentioned, the Maltese are not against dating, but the candidate must comply with the principle requirement - he should not be threatened either by the four-legged one or by his owners.Otherwise, the cute and friendly creature will turn on the mode of aggression, and although this is not a pit bull that would make the insolent to regret their mistake, the Maltese will not allow the potential enemy to come to him.

Maltese lapdogs are normally compatible with children - the little dog is not aggressive and normally treats the majority of children's pranks, realizing that they are not made from evil. A cute little lump of life gladly makes contact with children, however, you need to have a preliminary detailed preventive conversation with the kids. Its meaning will be that animals should not be tortured, and in the case of Maltese, this statement is especially relevant due to the tiny size of the pet - even by inaccuracy, it can cause serious injuries.

If you can, in principle, identify yourself as a pet lover, the question arises of how the lapdog gets on with them. As a rule, there are no problems with this - at least from the Maltese itself. Representatives of the breed do not believe that they have something to share with any other dogs - in the absence of aggression against him, the Maltey never provoke a quarrel first. The aristocracy in relation to this dog to other representatives of the fauna concerns almost any pets - even with cats, problems should not arise.

To count on the fact that the tiny handsome will be also a trained circus animal, it is not worth much - the Maltese lapdogs are not among the most easily trained dogs. The reason is largely connected with the small size of the little dog - it is obvious that the level of its mental development is somewhat lagging behind the average dog.

According to the generally accepted classification of dog breeds, the Malteses belong to group 9, which includes companions and room and decorative dogs, and in it belongs to section 1, dedicated to lapdogs and similar dogs. The standard assumes that the weight of an adult individual ranges from 3 to 4 kilograms, regardless of gender, although the dogs are still slightly taller - 21-25 centimeters at the withers versus 20-23 centimeters for the bitches. Such pets live most often from 13 to 16 years.

Best of all this mini-lapdog can be described by the phrase "white and fluffy." Pet's coat is distinguished by high density and considerable length; it embraces the animal, as it were, and forms a kind of “mantle”.

The head of the dog looks rather large, its width is about half the height of the entire dog at the withers. She rests on an elongated straight neck, which gives the pet a special aristocracy in appearance. The eyes on the face are located in front, they have a rounded shape and are distinguished by a clever expression. The color of the iris is close to dark chocolate. The head is complemented by triangular ears, hanging down along the head, and a large black nose.

In determining the purebred Maltese, special attention should be paid to the shade of wool - according to the standard, it should be white and no other, the only relatively acceptable exception is the color, which is usually called ivory. For such dogs, a reddish or any other colored color is possible, but such a characteristic will be considered a disadvantage, and such an individual is no longer suitable for breeding.

There are no such strict requirements to the length of the wool, in connection with which there are even two types of Maltese bichon - American and English. The first option is different in that his wool does not grow too long, due to which the proportions change somewhat.So, the head of this dog seems somewhat smaller than that of its English counterpart.

If you have never had the experience of choosing Maltese lapdogs before, making a mistake will be easy. In this situation, it is often advised to ask for help from a third-party expert, but in our conditions, we understand that it is possible here to deceive or promote certain nurseries and breeders not by objective estimates, but by connections. For this reason, you should have at least minimal knowledge of how to choose the right baby.

First of all, the best age for weaning a puppy from a mother is two months. - At this time, the Maltese is already becoming relatively independent, but he can still easily get used to the new owner. At the same time, such a young individual is still covered with baby hair, which is difficult to assess from the point of view of health or breed. All that can be said is that the cover should not be inherent in excessive fluffiness or dullness, there should not be well visible curls, too, but slight undulation is allowed.

Clean and pleasant smell - artificial criteria, but even if it is not, take the pet is no longer worth it. Bald patches on the coat, redness or skin rash, traces of secretions around the eyes or ears, lethargy and passivity - all these are signs of a sick baby dog, which will have to be treated by the owner. Be sure to check the bite - it must be scissor-like. Excessive timidity or aggression may indicate that the animal was hurt, it will affect his psyche for a lifetime. The proportions of body parts should now be the same as in an adult dog.

Decide for what purposes you need an animal - whether it will be your home joy or you plan to ride with him at exhibitions. Pets of the so-called pet-class are also suitable for home breeding - they have some peculiarities that will not allow them to go to the exhibition, so they are cheaper. In this case, a non-expert will not even notice the difference, because the reason may be insignificant - say, the weight is less than the standard. If you buy a dog for exhibitions, do not forget that her condition depends on the correct care, therefore the owner’s task is not limited to buying the best puppy.

Deciding on what and how to feed a Maltese dog, many owners make so many stupid mistakes that recommendations about choosing a diet should be started from the opposite - briefly going over the points of what is definitely not necessary.

• Do not overfeed. Maltese is a doggy so small that absolutely anyone can give it too much food, because it’s hard to believe that a lively and so active creature, even a very small one, lacks the little food that he eats. Do not forget that a significant part of the visual volume of the dog's body is its fluffy hair, which means that it is even smaller than it seems. The pet will not give up any excess food, if you offer one, and this is exactly the problem - with regular overeating, the Maltese eats easily and gets fat, which results in problems not only with digestion, but also with vessels and joints. They love this breed for its activity and playfulness, but you risk growing a lazy and painful mattress.
• Do not share with your favorite food. This rule applies not only to Maltese lapdogs, and even not only dogs - it is relevant for almost all types of domestic animals. The fact that the person seems to be useful and is perceived by his body without any significant consequences, can cause very noticeable harm to the little dog.The most common abuse in this regard is to treat maltese with sweets - they are completely useless in his diet. Again, all these extra snacks in the case of a tiny pet, which should eat very little, once again contribute to obesity and health problems.
• Do not focus only on your tastes. - Pay attention to the reaction of the Maltese. In order for an adult to always remain cheerful and cheerful, it is necessary that nothing overshadows its existence, and food first. The peculiarity of this breed is that they are quite picky in terms of food choices - some prefer to eat only dry food, others like a diet based on natural products, others still need to change the menu periodically. A particular dog may not like the kind of meat or canned food that everyone like the Maltese Bologon likes. In most cases, the most sensible tactic for the host will be to choose exactly what the furry baby likes, however, it is necessary to insist on the inclusion of useful components in the diet.

If it is decided to feed the animal mainly with dry food, give preference to those that belong to the premium class and are designed specifically for dogs of small breeds. Natural nutrition of an adult individual revolves around such essential ingredients as boiled chicken or beef, cottage cheese and low-fat kefir. For a variety and greater benefit of the diet, it is possible to periodically include such extra dishes as fish, finely chopped green varieties of apples, chicken eggs and boiled buckwheat or rice.

Having any mistakes when compiling a daily menu will quickly become apparent. - if the food is chosen incorrectly, the Maltese wool will quickly lose its original appearance. Symptoms such as fading and brittle hair, as well as dandruff, directly indicate that the diet of the animal is not balanced.

If you chose Maltese lap-dog as a pet, get ready to devote a lot of your time to caring for it. Anyway, now your life will revolve around a tiny Maltese.

First you need to clarify that the content of dogs of this breed is possible in the apartment and only in it. There are two main reasons for this: firstly, a small pet is not a serious opponent even for a daring street cat, and secondly, in the conditions of the street a pet will have problems with wool. The fact is that the latter is deprived of undercoat and therefore practically does not warm its owner, and even on the street a beautiful doggie will quickly turn into a dirty and unpleasant tatty. The owners of private houses sometimes let out their wards for a short walk in the garden, but then you have to watch him or in any other way have one hundred percent certainty that the animal will not run away and will not meet with a serious opponent.

Buying a Maltese lapdog, you need to immediately think about buying a number of necessary accessories.

• Sleeper and "dining". These accessories are absolutely necessary for any pet who lives at home. The baby should know where to sleep - for this, buy a cozy cottage or a special cot, although you can independently construct a soft and warm place from an old blanket.

• Toys Maltese love to play with squeakers, especially those interesting to them at puppy age. The owner has to decide what he wants - to please the pet as much as possible or to listen to the squeak all the time.

• Collar with tag. Maltese today is often used as a companion - they take it with them for walks and shopping, and although you can’t call it a full-fledged dog walk, it is also a walk. In the process, a young pet may run away or be lost, so the tags indicate their own contacts on the tag, so that the finder has the opportunity to return the fugitive.

• Grooming accessories. Wool hair requires constant and careful care, so the owner will inevitably need combs (both thick and more rare) and a hairbrush. Separately, you should purchase a clipper.

• Tray and a set of disposable diapers. A young Maltese is considered a model of a cute appearance and the same external habits, so until the moment when he is not accustomed to the toilet, he is often dressed in special “clothes” that help the child not to be associated with non-culture.

Except for rather troublesome procedures with wool, otherwise it’s no more difficult to care for a Maltese than most dogs of other breeds. The set of person’s responsibilities is as follows.

• Inspect the eyes and ears - daily. Periodically, dirt is removed there with a cotton pad so that it does not become the breeding ground for pathogenic microorganisms. Tearing, reddened or irritated eyes are a clear reason to seek veterinary care.

• Cut nails - every two to three weeks. Many owners of Maltese lapdogs not only dress, but also shoe their pets. For claws, this is not very good, since they generally cease to wear off in a natural way, which means that the procedure will have to be carried out more often.

• Take preventive measures against fleas, ticks and worms - once every 4-6 months. This procedure is important both for the everyday health of the Maltese, and for a successful full-fledged mating or grafting - they must be guzzled before them.

• Inoculate as needed. The baby is vaccinated for the first time at a puppy age - already in two months. The procedure is repeated after just a month, then the vaccination is already done at the age of one. Adult pet needs annual vaccination.

• Combing wool - daily. This is the most difficult and time-consuming duty to avoid, which will not work if the owners want the Maltese dog to remain a truly elite dog.

• Bathing - no more than once a week. The color of the coat of this breed is such that it is clearly visible any pollution, however, water treatments on a daily basis will be overkill - instead, it is wiser to use a combination of clothes, shoes and towels with a comb. When bathing a dog, remember that ordinary shampoos are not very good - because of their use, the shade of wool turns yellow. It is best to use special bleaching shampoos for dogs of long-haired breeds.

• Cut - at will. If you plan to take part in various exhibitions with your pet, remember that there the rules themselves do not imply any haircuts. The maximum that is allowed is the minimum trimming of the hair at the tips, on the paws and around the eyes.At home, lapdogs are often briefly sheared for the summer, to solve the heat problem and once again reduce the likelihood of a pet getting dirty, and for the winter the Maltese, on the contrary, grows so as not to freeze.

If you expect that it will turn out to make a full-fledged service dog from a Maltese, then you are a big optimist, because training of representatives of this breed is difficult. In this case, the minimum education in any case is necessary for the beast, and it is advised to begin immediately, as it will be bought. By two or three months, the puppy is already able to respond to its own name and execute simple commands.

The memory of a cute dog is not too goodtherefore, it is important not only to be patient, but also to ensure that the rules are strictly followed and without exception. What is forbidden to the child once, should always be forbidden and by all households, who allow slack - he will be guilty in the bad upbringing of a four-legged child.

Do not require circus tricks from your pet, but learn basic commands without fail. These are usually the six teams: “no”, “fu”, “near”, “place”, “me” and “sit”. For some reason, it is widely believed that the training of dogs of small breeds is not needed, this is largely due to the fact that they do not respond well to it, but training is, of course, necessary for them. The owner is interested in this not only because he needs a raised dog, but also because of the safety of the animal, because the voice command performed during the walk can prevent the animal from escaping, getting hit by a car or eating something completely unnecessary. Therefore, it is advisable to train the little dog so diligently, so that it carries out all orders unquestioningly and instantly.

Although Maltese is often credited with the ability to get along well with other people and animals, such a property cannot be inherent in them a priori - if a child has never seen himself similar, his reaction to them at the first meeting may be the most unpredictable. The same applies to any other meetings - for a home-puppy can be a real discovery that, in addition to the owners, there are other people. For this reason, young Malteses, already trained in the main teams, are beginning to walk in places where many people and other dogs are a process of socialization, that is, involvement in society.

Those buyers who give birth to Maltese in order to become breeders in the future should pay special attention to females - there are traditionally more males, therefore the demand for them is less. The first estrus of females begins at approximately 6–12 months, but nobody sends them so soon for mating — the young organism of the bitch simply does not stretch the pregnancy, and the babies will be born weak and unwell. For this reason, with reproduction, they usually wait until the third heat.

During the heat, the bitch shows an increased interest in males on the street, so it is worth monitoring her if you do not need a progeny yet. According to the rules of the Russian Cynological Federation, the first mating for the female is allowed not earlier than the age of 1 year and 3 months.

Remember that pregnancy and childbirth deplete the body of the animal, so you cannot use every heat as a reason for pregnancy. With the regularity of leakage every six months, it is considered to be the mating every other time, as an exception, only every third estrus can be skipped, but this is only if both pregnancy and childbirth take place without the slightest complication.If the petting happens only once a year, then the time between two such periods is enough for the dog to recover - respectively, you can use every opportunity.

The average duration of pregnancy for representatives of this breed is 63 days from the time of mating. Maltiki in the process of childbirth sometimes need help from the person, so you need to either prepare for this morally and theoretically, or carefully monitor the signs of the early birth of babies and look for opportunities to invite a more experienced person. The simplest way to determine the approach of a miracle is the changed behavior of the dog - she feels that she will have cubs soon, and begins to build a nest for them.

Be prepared for the fact that childbirth in the Bologna are of significant duration - they can easily be delayed for 6-12 hours. In fact, the beginning of the process is the moment when the bitch begins to show a clear concern and increased attention to her own crotch. Puppies are born one at a time with an interval of about 15–30 minutes.

If there is any suspicion that the process is abnormal, you should immediately call the veterinarian or take the dog to the clinic. Childbirth in Maltese lapdogs are usually not accompanied by complications, but the owner must be prepared for unforeseen situations, so you should stock up with at least a specialist's phone number.

Overwhelmingly, the owners leave extremely positive reviews about their Malteses, which is not too surprising - it’s not for nothing that such a little dog costs a lot of money. It is noted that the dog of this breed is active and playful, but at the same time it is affectionate and friendly to all whom he knows well. A curious comment was left by a woman who, a couple of years after the institution of the dog, had a child - she was afraid that the pet would be jealous of the owners for the new object of adoration, but the fears were unjustified.

They also write that even those who do not believe in the possibility of training their pet do not have to give up. The example is given to clever individuals of the Maltese lapdogs, who quickly learned to use the tray, and some even knew how to dance on their hind legs, that in the performance of such a beautiful creature it looks simply fascinating. At the same time, really intelligent dogs are a little more endowed with feelings and their own psyche, so they are advised to pay more attention to them. This is justified from a logical point of view, because with a good memory the beast remembers absolutely everything.

For more on the Maltese Breed dog, see the following video.