Maltese Bichon
The Maltese Bichon is a small or medium-sized breed of dog
that emerged in the central Mediterranean, with Italy taking over the
patronage. The breed name and origin are generally associated with the
Mediterranean island of Malta, however the name is sometimes described with
reference to the island of Mljet or Meleda (Latin: Melita).
History
The origin of the breed is unclear. Phoenician merchants
brought the ancestors of this breed from Egypt probably more than 2000 years
ago, being spread in the Mediterranean. In the tomb of Pharaoh Ramses II
(1301-1225 BC) stone statuettes have been found that resembled today's Maltese.
There are images in glasses of the period between 500 a. C. They are very
similar to Maltese, next to the image of the dog the word Melitae is read. From
the current perspective, the relationship is not evident since that could have
been later. L. Beckmann has also traced ancestors to those of the Dwarf Spitz.
Again, the name by which the International Cynological
Federation (FCI) describes it in the standard indicates that it does not come
from the Island of Malta. Since the word is a Semitic derivation of the word
"mà lat", which means "refuge" or "port" and is
the root of many place names. The FCI describes the origin of the word as follows:
Its name does not mean that it originates from the island of
Malta, because the adjective "Maltese" comes from the Semitic word
"mà lat" which means refuge or port; This Semitic root is found in a
variety of maritime place names, such as the Adriatic island name Meleda in the
Sicilian city of Melita, and also on the island of Malta. The ancestors of this
little dog lived in the ports and coastal cities of Central Asia, where they
hunted the mice and rats found in port warehouses and in the holds of ships
where they spread widely. In the list of dogs existing in the time of Aristotle
(384-322 B.C.) a breed of small dogs is mentioned, to which the Latin name
«Melitense dogs» is attributed. That dog was known in ancient Rome and was a
favorite companion to matrons, he was praised by Strabo, a first-century Latin
poet.
After
Callimachus, Pliny the Elder, Stephen of Byzantium, and Constantine VII, the
breed was named after the island Mljet (in ancient times Melita or Melitaea).
Aristotle was the first to mention his name Melitaei Catelli, when the dog is
compared to a mustelid, around 370 a.
Around the 17th
and 18th centuries, some breeders decided to "improve" the breed,
making it even smaller. These dogs were the size of a squirrel, Linnaeus wrote
in 1792. The breed almost disappeared and was bred with other small dogs such
as poodles and miniature Spaniels. In the 19th century, there were as many as
nine different Maltese dog breeds.
Malteses of solid
color and parti colors were accepted in England from 1902 to 1913, and at a
later date, such as 1950, in Victoria, Australia, however later it was
instituted that the Maltese had to be white.
The Maltese was
recognized as an official breed by the FCI under the patronage of Italy in
1954, at the annual meeting in Interlaken, Switzerland. The current standard
was approved on November 27, 1989, and the last translation from Italian to
English is April 6, 1998. The American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1888
and its latest standard is March 10, 1964.
Temperament and
function
The Maltese is
recommended as a companion animal, as they are adequately socialized and
educated, but they are usually lively, intelligent, affectionate and friendly,
with the eternal appearance of small cubs. It is a protective dog of the house,
which allows it to be used as an alarm dog, —like the Chihuahua or the
Yorkshire Terrier. These little dogs adapt to homes where there are older
children and teenagers. They do not present problems with children, as long as
the dog is respected and educated. It is advisable to give him something to
entertain himself with, such as a rubber bone or toys in general. Of which they
are very fond.
Being small they
do not require much exercise so a daily walk will be enough to cover their
needs, this makes them good candidates for older people. Taking them for a walk
would also serve to make them sociable — an important aspect of dog education.
It must be trained to be obedient and, like most dogs, will respond better to
stable and consistent positive reinforcement training. This breed of dog can
help with canine therapy and could also help foster a sense of responsibility
and order in children if they are put in charge of their basic care — like
brushing, taking them for walks, and caring for fresh water. It is preferable
that the feeding is carried out by an adult. With proper socialization, they
will avoid being nervous dogs or being restless with other dogs or pets.
They can be
trained to do tricks or stand on their hind legs for several minutes. Their playful
nature will make them respond well to this type of training. Although perfectly
suited to apartment living due to their small size and domestic character, they
love to stroll outdoors. Being a delicate breed, especially when they are
puppies, they require extra care.
It is advisable
to feed them with a good quality feed or with BARF, and although, like all
dogs, they like human food very much, but it is not recommended to give it to
them, since dogs lack some enzymes necessary to catalyze certain substances
present in processed foods, such as chocolate. Sometimes they can suffer from
allergies. In adult specimens, food portions must be kept under surveillance to
avoid being overweight.
At the
intelligence level, the Maltese ranked 59th in Stanley Coren's classification
on the intelligence of dogs.
Special cares
Daily care
includes brushing the cloak with a suitable comb. Daily grooming should also
include cleaning the eyes, tear ducts, and around the muzzle — all to prevent
your white hair from turning brownish brown in those areas. The risk of dark
spots around the eyes can be a problem in this breed, and it occurs mainly
depending on the amount of water that the dog's eyes produce individually,
along with the size of the tear ducts.
The Maltese Bichon
is a long-haired dog, and requires a series of special care to keep its coat in
a healthy state and thus avoid skin problems and hair knots. Many owners find
that a weekly bath is enough to keep the coat clean, but it is best not to wash
a dog as often (once every month and a half should be enough). They need to
visit the dog groomer about once every month and a half. Regular brushing is
also necessary to prevent hair from tangling. Many owners will keep their
Maltese with the "puppy" cut as it keeps the coat short and makes the
dog look like a puppy. Some owners, especially those who participate in dog
shows, will keep the Maltese with long hair. Some dogs need to be dried with
the electric dryer in order to avoid knots. Maltese also have their hair packaged
so that it does not break (packaging consists of oiling the fur and then
packing small strips of paper or plastic, securing them with an elastic band).
As the Maltese
have only one layer of fur, they fight little or almost nothing if they are
properly cared for. Like their relatives, the Poodle and the Bichon Frize, they
are largely considered a hypoallergenic breed, but this could be somewhat
misleading, as the necessary maintenance required to keep the Maltese's white
mantle healthy helps to eliminate the free hair. Frequent trimming, brushing
and bathing necessary to keep Maltese hair in good condition not only removes
or removes dead hair and dandruff, but also controls another powerful allergen:
canine saliva.
Physical
characteristics
They weigh between
3 and 4 kilograms. They have a compact body and the height for the male is
21–25 cm, and for the female it is 20–23 cm. The American line, under which the
so-called Maltese Toy are found, are smaller, weighing between 1.2 and 2.8
kilograms.
They have a long
silky coat of pure white or ivory, in which some minor and very light yellow or
light brown spots are allowed. It is very fine, soft and silky, of a
considerable length (almost reaching the ground), without curlers but tending
to knot, it hangs on the sides from a line that goes from the nose to the tail.
They have no inner mantle.
They have a
medium-sized head with a small forehead, a round skull. The nose is black. and
her large, oval, dark brown eyes with attentive and very dark black eyelids.
Its snout is moderately long, fine, tapers until it reaches the nose. The ears
are long, droopy and hairy, with a low implant, hanging very close to the head,
as if leaning, in the part of the muzzle it remains brown when it is older.
They have short,
straight legs. Its tail is elegant and covered with abundant hair, and it
appears curved on its back.
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