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Maltese

 

The Maltese has been a companion animal to humans far back in time. This dog can be a feisty character like its terrier ancestors, and are quite protective of their masters. They love to be petted and preened.AVERAGE LITTER SIZE:3 puppies

Country of origin: 
Italy
Size: 
4 to 7 lbs
Grooming: 

The coat of a Maltese skirts the ground when they move and gives them an appearance of floating on air. The hair is straight, silky and should lay flat and although long, it should not impede the dog's movement. This breed requires regular brushing to keep it mat free. Maltese come in one color?white.

Common ailments: 

Knees, Eye problems

Temperament: 

These dogs are highly protective of their masters. They are very agile and intelligent and can be taught to do many tricks. The Maltese is not considered to be suitable for children since they are quite fragile.

Trivia: 
At the time of the Apostle Paul, Publius, the Roman governor of Malta, had a Maltese named Issa of which he was very fond; in this connection, the poet Marcus Valerius Martialis (Martial) made this attachment famous in one of his celebrated epigrams.ÿ <a href="http://www.akc.org/" target="_blank">(Credit: AKC.org)</a>
Information supplied by: 

The Pet Professor.ÿÿ Note: As we are interested in providing the best possible information within our site; we encourage dog clubs, authors or breeders to submit information for this breed. Currently we are looking for a profile for this breed that will cover general information, description, costs associated with raising this breed, life expectancy, history, grooming, trivia and average litter size. If you have information on this breed, please email us atÿcommunity@petstyle.comÿ