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Quick History of the
Maltese
Maltese have always simplified elegance and beauty
and can be traced back many centuries.
Many believe that the Maltese originated on the isle of Malta in the
Mediterranean Sea. It is argued that the
Maltese actually originated in Asia. Dogs resembling the Maltese have been found
in writings and ancient drawings from as early as 5000-2000 B.C. The isle of Malta was a center of early trade
and explorers found ancestors of the Maltese left there as barter for
necessities and supplies.
References to the Maltese are made in early
European writings and were favorites of the Greeks and Romans. Ancient Europeans long believed that the
Maltese came from one of the islands off the coast of Sicily. Known then as Melita, geographers eventually
agreed to the name Malta. The Maltese is
one of few breeds to have retained its name from its known origin.
Maltese were favorites in the time of Queen
Elizabeth I but were imported into Britain during the reign of Henry VIII. Many Maltese in the U.S. can be traced back
to English imports and were first seen in the United States around the late
1800s. Maltese lines in the U.S. today
resulted from the importation of the breed from Great Britain, France, Canada,
Germany and Italy. Members of the breed
participated in early versions of the Westminister Kennel Club shows in the
1870s. Maltese first appeared in
registrations in 1888, when "Snips" and "Topsy" appeared in the studbooks.
In 1906, the first club for Maltese, the Maltese
Terrier Club of America was organized.
By 1917 the club was known as the National Maltese Club, which later
became the Maltese Dog Club of America.
In 1961, the Maltese Dog Club of America merged with the Maltese Fanciers
of America. These two organizations
formed the American Maltese Association.
One of the first tasks of the AMA was to ratify and submit to the
American Kennel Club a new standard for the Maltese. This standard was approved by the AKC in
1964 and is the standard still in use today.
As of recent the breed ranks in the top 15 of all
breeds with more than 12,000 Maltese registered annually.
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Breed Standard
General Appearance
The Maltese is a toy dog covered from head to foot
with a mantle of long, silky, white hair. He is gentle-mannered and
affectionate, eager and sprightly in action, and, despite his size, possessed of
the vigor needed for the satisfactory companion.
Head
Of medium
length and in proportion to the size of the dog. The skull is slightly
rounded on top, the stop moderate. The drop ears are rather low set and
heavily feathered with long hair that hangs close to the head. Eyes are
set not too far apart; they are very dark and round, their black rims enhancing
the gentle yet alert expression. The muzzle is of medium length, fine and
tapered but not snipy.The nose is black. The teeth meet in an
even, edge-to-edge bite, or in a scissors bite.
Neck
Sufficient
length of neck is desirable as promoting a high carriage of the head.
Body
Compact, the height from the withers to the ground equaling the
length from the withers to the root of the tail. Shoulder blades are sloping,
the elbows well knit and held close to the body. The back is level in topline,
the ribs well sprung. The chest is fairly deep, the loins taut, strong, and just
slightly tucked up underneath.
Tail
A long-haired
plume carried gracefully over the back, its tip lying to the side over the
quarter.
Legs and Feet
Legs are fine-boned and nicely feathered. Forelegs
are straight, their pastern joints well knit and devoid of appreciable bend.
Hind legs are strong and moderately angulated at stifles and hocks. The feet are
small and round, with toe pads black. Scraggly hairs on the feet may be trimmed
to give a neater appearance.
Coat and
Color
The coat is single, that is,
without undercoat. It hangs long, flat, and silky over the sides of the body
almost, if not quite, to the ground. The long head-hair may be tied up in a
topknot or it may be left hanging. Any suggestion of kinkiness, curliness, or
woolly texture is objectionable. Color, pure white. Light tan or lemon on the
ears is permissible, but not desirable.
Size
Weight
under 7 pounds, with from 4 to 6 pounds preferred. Overall quality is to be
favored over size.
Gait
The Maltese
moves with a jaunty, smooth, flowing gait. Viewed from the side, he gives an
impression of rapid movement, size considered. In the stride, the forelegs reach
straight and free from the shoulders, with elbows close. Hind legs to move in a
straight line. Cowhocks or any suggestion of hind leg toeing in or out are
faults.
Temperament
For all his diminutive size, the Maltese seems to
be without fear. His trust and affectionate responsiveness are very appealing.
He is among the gentlest mannered of all little dogs, yet he is lively and
playful as well as vigorous.
Approved March 10,
1964 ©American Kennel Club
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