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 ...
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