The Maltese is a toy dog covered from head to foot with a mantle of long, silky, white hair. It is a gentle-mannered breed that is affectionate, eager, and sprightly in action. They excel not only as companion pets, but also as therapy dogs and competitors in dog sports such as agility, obedience, rally, and tracking. They get along well with humans but don’t like to be handled roughly. They are natural watchdogs and remain vigilantly alert of their surroundings.

Malteses love getting exercise and taking walks with their humans. Because they crave the affection of humans, they are easy to train and learn quickly. Their human-like hair barely sheds, so they are hypoallergenic. This is great news for those looking for a companion pet but suffer from animal allergies. The glossy coat of the Maltese is long and requires regular grooming to avoid tangling. However, many opt to keep their fur short for ease. Attention should be paid to their facial area as tearing can cause their white hair to become stained red.

Maltese history is shrouded in mystery but it is known that this breed is ancient and supposedly comes from the island of Malta where they were bred for companionship.