OFFICIAL STANDARD FOR THE MALTESE
General Appearance--The Maltese is a toy dog covered from head to foot with a mantle of long, silky, white hair. He is a 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 wooly 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. Over-all 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.
THE HISTORY OF THE MALTESE
Nicholas Cutillo, in The Complete Maltese, writes:
"There is little doubt that the Maltese is one of the oldest of dog breeds. Darwin himself placed the origin of the breed at 6000 B.C. An aristocrat of the canine world, the Maltese has been known by a variety of names through the centuries. Originally called the Melitaie Dog, he has also been known as Ye Ancient Dogge of Malta, the Roman Ladies' Dog, the Comforter, the Spaniel Gentle, the Bichon, the Shock Dog, the Maltese Lion Dog and the Maltese Terrier. Finally, approximately within the past century, he has come to be known as, simply the Maltese.
Melitaie Dog, the name by which he was known to the Greeks and Romans, was derived from the Island of Melitaie, the ancient name for the Island of Malta. Malta is one of the most ancient sites of civilization. Settled by the Phoenicians at about 1500 B.C. Malta incorporated several other Mediterranean peoples who had inhabited the island as far back as 3500 B.C. Civilization on the island grew and prospered. There are numerous historical accounts of the magnificently opulent Maltese civilization. It was within this celebrated society of the ancient world that the tiny Maltese dog was prized and nurtured by its citizens. A leader in the crafts and arts, both domestic and military, in that era, Malta became one of the most important ancient centers of trade. It was from here that these highly prized dogs found their way throughout the world. "
In the 2nd edition of The Maltese Dog, a history of the breed, by Virginia T. Leitch, and revised by Dennis Carno, the history of the Maltese dog is best summed up:
"1. The Melitaie dog of ancient Greece and Rome was of the Spitz race, descended from the Marsh, or Turf Dog of the Swiss Lake Dwellers.
2. The Melitaie dog was not indigenous to the Island of Malta but was exported through Malta from Italy to other countries of the then known world.
3. Melitaie dogs were introduced into China as early as the first century B.C. through trade routes in exchange for silks of China which were in great demand in Greece and Rome, as well as through means of gifts through diplomatic missions.
4. The Fu Lin dogs of the Eastern Roman, or Byzantine Empire were Melitaie dogs and were distributed through the Byzantine capital to other countries in the Near East, including Turkey and China until the fall of Constantinople in A.D. 1453.
5. The Melitaie dog continued to exist in Europe during the period of the great invasions from the 4th to the 11th centuries A.D., although there is no authentic evidence thereof, and that it was interbred with other races of dogs introduced into Europe from the East by the invader, including dogs similar to those developed in China.
6. The Melitaie or Fu Lin dog was interbred with the Tibetan terrier in China and that the Chinese and Tibetan Lion Dogs which evolved found their way into Europe during the period of the great invasions, since the Lion Dog was quite common in Europe as early as the 13th century.
7. Maltese dogs from China, Japan and the Philippines were introduced into Europe during the 16th century through trading operations of the English, Dutch, Portugese and Spaniards.
8. Maltese dogs, originally, were of colours other than white and that the all white dog has been favored and developed only during the last century.
9. The Maltese race, prior to the middle of the 19th century, was not a pure race, having been interbred with other similar types, but in the last 100 years has been kept pure by the exercise of proper controls, although there is definite evidence of some admixture of poodle, havaneser and bolognesi blood in Maltese registered as pure-bred with the Kennel Clubs and in several countries, a dog without a known pedigree, but resembling a Maltese can be registered upon certification of a Judge of the breed, or similar responsible authority, that the dog has all the attributes of a pure-bred Maltese."
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