Dog Training and Dog Care advice from UK Professionals

Maltese Dog Breed Profile

The Maltese breed kept company with the Pharaoh, Rameses II.

K9Obedience Breed Profile

Origin: Malta

Breed Purpose: Companion Dog.

Kennel Club Dog Group: Toy

Height: Bitch 20-23cm., Dog 21-25cm.

Weight: Both 2-3.5kg.

Lifespan: 15-17 years

Exercise Needs: The Maltese dog loves a walk in the park and is very playful indoors. An easy dog to exercise.

Feeding Needs: Care should be taken not to overfeed this little dog. Feeding them treats cakes or biscuits makes them fussy eaters and leads to obesity. They do need plenty of clean water to prevent dehydration.

Common Ailments: Can be prone to eye problems and patellar luxation.

Physical Description: The Maltese is a lively little dog with a proud stance. The skull and the muzzle are evenly balanced with a distinct stop. The eyes are oval and dark brown in colour. The muzzle is broad and the nose is black. The body is short and cobby with a level back. The front legs are short and straight and the hind legs are short with good angulation. The tail is feathered and is carried arched over the back. The Maltese has a dense, thick, abundant and heavy coat. The colour is pure white, sometimes with yellow markings.

Maltese K9 Obedience Dog Breed Summary:

The Maltese makes quite an impression due to its sheer beauty and dainty size. The Maltese becomes very attached to its family and hates to be left in kennels or anywhere else away from their home as they do become very distressed.

They adore children and love playing games with them but toddlers should be taught to be careful with this small creature as injuries are easy to inflict.

These dogs are kind and comical but they can also be quite temperamental. They need firm training and dog obedience classes are often useful with this.

Unfortunately, owners often treat the Maltese like fragile porcelain when in fact they are sturdy little dogs. Often the Maltese is dressed up with bows in their hair and perfume behind the ears.

It is acceptable to tie up the hair or ideally trim it to keep it out of the eyes but owners should not lose sight of the fact that this is not a toy, this is still 95% wolf, albeit in a lavish coat!

The Maltese is perfect pet for anyone that can give him a secure, calm environment. They suit families, a lively elderly person or single people, whether in house or apartment, town or country.