Maltese

The Big Story of a Little Dog

Suprisingly, Maltese dogs didn't actually come from the Island of Malta. While no one knows for sure, most historians believe the Maltese descended from a Spitz-like dog in Southern Europe.

Want to learn more about this fascinating, 8000 year old, little white dog? Then keep reading...

Where did the Maltese dog get his name?

These small dogs were often traded from the Island of Malta in the Mediterranean Sea to all

other parts of the world. Since the Greeks & Romans believed the Maltese actually

originated from the Island of Malta, they named this small dog breed the Maltese.

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What cultures were Maltese popular with?

Numerous pictorial representations of the Maltese occur in Greek ceramic art, such as the vases

found at Vulci (about 500 B.C.), and the dog is mentioned in the writings of many Greek and

Roman philosophers, and other ancient poets and historians, including: Aristotle, Timon,

Callimachus, Aelian, Artimidorus, Epaminodus, Martial, Strabo, Pliny the Elder and Saint Clement

of Alexandria.
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Which famous aristocats owned a Maltese?

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Which ancient culture worshiped the Maltese dog?

Hard acheological evidence places the Maltese in a prominent place in Egyptian culture around 300 to

600 B.C. where they were virtually worshipped as members of the royal families. The earliest known

representations of Maltese dogs on artifacts found at Fayum, Egypt (600-300 B.C.), suggest that the

Maltese was one of the dogs worshipped by the ancient Egyptians.

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What ancient dogs are related to the Maltese?

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What characteristics was the Maltese dog bred for?

They were prized by the upper class, aristocrats, statespersons and royalty. The Maltese was even believed to

possess medicinal powers of healing--the ailing would place the dog on their stomach or chest for comfort. Because

of this practice, and the dogs warm, affectionate nature and small size, which made it easy to hold in ones arms or

lap, the Maltese became known as the "Comforter.
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What other names was the Maltese called throughout history?

"Melitae Dog"

"Ye Ancient Dogge of Malta"

"The Roman Ladies' Dog"

"Comforter"

"Spaniel Gentle"

"Bichon"

"The Shock Dog"

"Maltese Lion Dog"

"The Maltese Terrier"

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How was the Maltese depicted in ancient art?

During the Renaissance, the poet Ludovico Ariosto in a few lines of his literary masterpiece,

Orlando Furioso, describes a dog which is probably a Maltese.

"The tiniest dog Nature has ever produced --

Her coat of long hair, whiter than ermine,

Her movements exquisitely graceful and Matchless elegance of appearance."

(Vol.II Canto 43) 3

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All English writers upon dogs, new and old, agree in one thing, and that is, that in centuries long past Malta furnished Toy dogs for the "dainty dames and mincing mistresses" of both Greece and Rome. There also appears to be a general agreement that the Island of Malta is identical with the Melita ascribed by ancient writers as the home of these pet dogs; and, further, that we originally obtained the breed from that place, although some of them recognise the fact that no proof of the supposition exists. Dr. Johannes Caius says (writing, be it remarked, of the Toy Spaniel of his time): "They are called Meliti, of the Island of Malta, whence they were brought hither."
Strabo, who was one of the earliest writers to refer specially to these Toys, does not give Malta as the native place of the breed, but, on the contrary, writes as follows : "There is a town in Sicily called Melita, whence are exported many beautiful dogs, called Canes Melitei. They were the peculiar favourites of the women; but now [a.d. 25] there is less account made of these animals, which are not bigger than common ferrets or weasels; yet they are not small in their understanding nor unstable in their love." Strabo must have been wanting in the organ of comparativeness, or the weasels of his time were of Brobdingnagian proportions compared with ours; but the point is, if Melita, in Sicily, was the birthplace of the so-called Maltese dog, why ascribe its origin to the Island of Malta?
As stated, practically every English writer seems to have taken it for granted that the dog we call Maltese originally came from Malta; but not one offers the slightest proof in support of the assumption. It would be needless to go through the works of these writers seriatim. "Stonehenge," in his earliest work on the dog, describes the breed as nearly extinct, but, although "scarce, still to be obtained in Malta." He, however, in the same work gives an engraving of a dog, as a Maltese, imported from Manilla. In "The Dogs of the British Islands," still hankering after Malta as their birthplace, he confesses his inability "to trace any records of the dog, after many inquiries made amongst residents in Malta."
Whether the dog once known as a Maltese Terrier be a descendant, more or less pure, from the breed Strabo wrote of, it is now impossible to say; but there is one thing of more practical value, and that is, that the present-day fanciers of the breed should know the sort of dog referred to by that name; and in the minds of breeders, judges, critics, and fanciers, there should be a clearness of meaning as to the points making up the dog.
In the 1872 edition of his "Dogs of the British Islands," "Stonehenge" discards the Manilla dog, and gives his readers an engraving of Mandeville's Fido, then at the zenith of his fame, stating the dog's height to be 11 in. at shoulder with a weight of 6 ½lb., whilst from tip to tip of ears the dog is said to have measured 21in. - that is, across the head and two ears. In this edition we are told that the coat "should be long, and fall in ringlets, the longer the better." In the 1878 edition it is said: "There is a slight wave, but no absolute curl."
"The eyes" says "Stonehenge," "should not show the weeping corner incidental to some Toy Spaniels." Inquiry among exhibitors would have shown him that "weeping" is one of the most tiresome things exhibitors of Maltese have to contend against. The watery discharge stains the white hair a dirty red.
"The ears," we are told, "are long," which is not the case; the skin, or flap, of the ear is short, but the hair upon it is long. Further, "the roof of the mouth is black." As proof of quality or purity of breed, we might as well consider the colour of his liver. Finally, "Stonehenge" objects to this dog being called a Terrier, because "it has none of the properties of the Terrier tribe," and that "it approaches very closely to the Spaniel." Rather strange this from the same pen that wrote: "This beautiful little dog is a Skye Terrier in miniature." However, the Kennel Club has decided that the variety shall now be called Maltese, a dictum that must be accepted by the Fancy.
By what system of selection these dogs have been brought to their present form it is not possible to say, although it is not difficult to imagine several ways of arriving at the end which has been attained.
In the writer's experience, Maltese are remarkable for cleanliness in their habits and freedom from doggy taint and smell, but of course they require washing and brushing. The less combing they have the better, as it is apt to break the coat and pull out the hair. If a comb be used, it should be a horn one with coarse teeth, known to the saddlers as mane combs. These might be applied to the hindquarters and tail. In the opinion of many, the use of soap is apt to detract from the desired glossiness of the coat, and that it should be seldom, if ever, applied. What is recommended instead is to beat up a couple of eggs in water with the chill taken off, adding thereto a tinge of washing blue, and to wash them in this, rinsing out the coat afterwards with lukewarm water, and thoroughly drying the dog before a fire. It is claimed for this treatment that it adds to rather than detracts from the lustre of the coat, and avoids any chance of affecting the eyes, which in this variety are naturally susceptible to irritation.
The coat, particularly when at all long, should be gone over every day with a hair brush having moderately long bristles, parting the hair from between the eyes, the head, and the back, down to the root of the tail, and brushing it down the sides as straight as possible; then the legs and tail should be dealt with. Any matting or tangle should be carefully avoided.
The writer's wife spent much of her early life in Malta, and always had some of these little dogs as pets, and her experience is that they are devotedly attached to their owners, bright, lively companions, very keen as house dogs, and possessed of much intelligence. As one who has kept Terriers for a lifetime, and had much to do with most known varieties, the writer does not hesitate to class Maltese amongst the Terriers. One he has at the present time is a determined opponent of all cats, even those of his household; these, however, have become so used to dogs of many kinds that they are not afraid of any, and treat her attacks with calm indifference, merely giving her a sound box on the ear when her attentions are too troublesome. Among the earliest and most successful of exhibitors of this variety was Mr. R. Mandeville, who for a considerable time held undisputed sway. The last time his celebrated Fido competed was at the Crystal Palace Show, 1878, when the judge placed him second to Lady Giffard's Hugh, and before Lord Clyde, a decision which it is stated Mr. Mandeville expressly endorsed. Hugh and Lord Clyde were brothers, being out of Madge, who was by Mandeville's Fido; and their sire, Prince, was by his Old Fido; indeed, most of the MalteseTerriers of any note then shown were, more or less purely, of Mandeville's strain.

Breeders of this variety have been until lately few in number. Mr. J. Jacobs, Maltese Cottage, Headington Quarry, Oxon, has been for nearly half a century one of the principal breeders. On the show-bench the late Lady Giffard's exquisite little pets, Hugh, Lord Clyde, Rob Roy, Pixie, Mopsey III., Blanche, etc. - each more charming than the other - usually proved invincible wherever they were shown, and nearly all of them claimed Mr. Jacobs as breeder.

Amongst the most successful breeders and exhibitors of later years have been the late Mrs. Bligh Monck, Mrs. Palmer, Mrs.

Milner, Mrs. Langton (with Vee-Vee and others), Miss Harvey, Mrs. Bear, Mrs. Graves, Mrs. McCarthy (with Champion Prince Lilywhite II. Major-General Baden-Powell, and many others), Mrs. Stallibrass (with Santa Klaus, Lady Brass, Queenie Stallie, Sir George White, and several more), and Mrs. R. H. Horlock. All these have shown keen interest in the breed, and its position is certainly more hopeful than it has been for many years.

One of the illustrations to this article is Champion Prince Lilywhite II. (Fig. 117), the property of Mrs. McCarthy, who has been for some years a zealous supporter of the variety, and exhibits at most of the shows in and near London. This dog carries a heavy coat of good colour and texture, and has a good head, ears, eyes, nose, and tail - in fact, is altogether a typical specimen. Still, he would be better if he were a little shorter in back, but at the present time he can beat a great many more than can beat him.The other illustration (Fig. 118) is of Sir George White, belonging to Mrs. Stallibrass. He has not been seen a great deal in the show-rings, but has much in his favour, as he is very pure in colour and correct in character of coat, with good eyes, nose, a well-carried tail, and a short back, added to which he is very active and showy. He has sometimes been shown out of coat, and this makes him appear slightly leggy and to have high carriage of ears, but doubtless when in full coat both these points would be considerably improved.

Diminutiveness in the Maltese, so long as it is not obtained at the expense of typical qualities, is much valued; and it is probably due to this fact that the delicacy incidental to puppyhood may be directly attributable. The maximum weight allowed is 81b. The Maltese is not a variety adapted to a town life, on account of the great liability of the coat to soil; nor is it a variety that has hitherto been kept with any great chance of success on the show-bench or of profit by the novice. Though it does not require the amount of care bestowed upon its toilet as does the Yorkshire Terrier, yet it runs even that variety very close. Beyond the fact that purity of colour is shown from the first, there are not manifested any of those earlier indications of promise found in many other Toys as young puppies and that are useful as aids to the purchaser when making a selection from the nest. Interesting and beautiful though the Maltese undoubtedly is when in show form, it is not a variety that can be recommended on the score of general utility.Recently a Club for furthering the interests of this beautiful variety has been formed and taken up warmly by many of the most experienced breeders and exhibitors, so that the prospects of the Maltese are brighter than probably they have ever been. Mrs. Palmer, who has long been known as an exhibitor of Maltese, is the Hon. Secretary, and anxious to do all she can to extend the operation of the Club.

During 1902 for the first time, at any rate in this country, classes were provided for "Other than White," and many persons were surprised to see how many entries came forward. We have so long associated Maltese with pure white only, that it will take some time, as it did in the cases of Poodles and Pomeranians, for the public to appreciate any other shades. Light brown, fawn, and even black - though as yet the last named has not been shown here - have already been produced; while many whites with more or less spots and markings have appeared in the classes for "Other than White." It is not unlikely, as these increase in number and variety, and something like order in classification is evolved, that the Maltese classes will be of much more importance in the schedules of the future than they have hitherto been.

It is well within the memory of living exhibitors when there was but one class and colour associated with the Pomeranians, now one of the most popular breeds of Toy dogs, and with a very extensive range of classes for colour, size, and sex. The same, too, may be said of the Poodles, which began with one class for Whites, and now are divided into Corded, Curly, and Toys, with any number of sub-divisions for colour, size, and sex.

Probably old Maltese fanciers will still keep to the orthodox White, but the writer can testify from ocular demonstration that very beautiful and typical specimens can be, and are being, produced in the ranks of "Other than White." Though owning to a preference for the self-colours, he sees no reason why there should not be a future for those with markings, where the other points of excellence are preserved.

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Pictures and Posters with Maltese

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from: http://chestofbooks.com/,
http://www.maltesemaniac.com/