The Maltese Dog

A small breed of dog, with beautiful silky white hair that often comes down to the floor. Most pet owners keep the dog groomed with a puppy cut, which really makes them look cute.

Its name implies that it originated on the island of Malta, but where it originated from is still unknown. This is an ancient breed, going back to Greece around 500 B.C. Aristotle mentioned this breed in 370 B.C. when he referred to its Melitaei Catelli. It wasn’t officially called Maltese until the Kennel Club settled on the name in the 19th century.

Maltese are small, generally ranging between 4 to 7 pounds. In spite of their small size, they are gentle, fearless, brave and lively. They love to be with their masters/mistresses and want a lot of hugging and handling. They are very playful (watch out for your slippers. They love slippers, sneakers, shoes etc.), and want a lot of attention. Be prepared to be licked a lot.

They may bark as they are very protective of their home and family. They hear a noise and they are up and ready to defend their home.

Appearance
They have a slightly rounded head, with a black nose. They have a compact body with the length equaling the height. Their eyes are round and black. They have drop ears with long hair. They have an alert and intelligent expression.

Coat and Color
Maltese only come in white. There are some slight variations in the color, with some creme or lemon color appearing, but the basic color is white. They have a single coat of long silky hair, with no undercoat, so they do not shed. They should be brushed daily and groomed often to keep their hair from matting.

Size
They range in size from 3 to 7 pounds (1.4 to 3.2 kg). The American Kennel club prefers the weight to be between 4 to 6 pounds.

The Most Intelligent Poodle

The Poodle is commonly acknowledged to be the most wisely intelligent of all members of the canine race. There is a general belief that he is a fop, whose time is largely occupied in personal embellishment, and that he requires a great deal of individual attention in the matter of his toilet. It may be true that to keep him in exhibition order and perfect cleanliness his owner has need to devote more consideration to him than is necessary in the case of many breeds; but in other respects he gives very little trouble, and all who are attached to him are consistent in their opinion that there is no dog so intensely interesting and responsive as a companion. His qualities of mind and his acute powers of reasoning are indeed so great that there is something almost human in his attractiveness and his devotion. His aptitude in learning is never denied, and many are the stories told of his marvellous talent and versatility.

Not merely as a showman’s dog has he distinguished himself. He is something more than a mountebank of the booths, trained to walk the tight rope and stand on his head. He is an adept at performing tricks, but it is his alertness of brain that places him apart from other animals.

The profuse and long coat of this dog has the peculiarity that if not kept constantly brushed out it twists up into little cords which increase in length as the new hair grows and clings about it. The unshed old hair and the new growth entwined together thus become distinct rope-like cords. Eventually, if these cords are not cut short, or accidentally torn off, they drag along the ground, and so prevent the poor animal from moving with any degree of comfort or freedom.

Corded Poodles are very showy, and from the remarkable appearance of the coat, attract a great deal of public attention when exhibited at shows; but they have lost popularity among most fanciers, and have become few in number owing to the obvious fact that it is impossible to make pets of them or keep them in the house. The reason of this is that the coat must, from time to time, be oiled in order to keep the cords supple and prevent them from snapping, and, of course, as their coats cannot be brushed, the only way of keeping the dog clean is to wash him, which with a corded Poodle is a lengthy and laborious process. Further, the coat takes hours to dry, and unless the newly washed dog be kept in a warm room he is very liable to catch cold. The result is, that the coats of corded Poodles are almost invariably dirty, and somewhat smelly.

Poodle’s General appearance
—————————

Head: Long, straight, and fine, the skull not broad, with a slight peak at the back.

Muzzle: Long (but not snipy) and strong not full in cheek; teeth white, strong, and level; gums black, lips black and not showing lippiness.

Eyes: Almond shaped, very dark, full of fire and intelligence.

Nose: Black and sharp.

Ears: The leather long and wide, low set on, hanging close to the face.

Neck: Well proportioned and strong, to admit of the head being carried high and with dignity.

Feet: Rather small, and of good shape, the toes well arched, pads thick and hard.

Legs: Fore-legs set straight from shoulder, with plenty of bone and muscle.

Hind-legs: Very muscular and well bent, with the hocks well let down.

Tail: Set on rather high, well carried, never curled or carried over back.

Coat: Very profuse, and of good hard texture; if corded, hanging in tight, even cords; if non-corded, very thick and strong, of even length, the curls close and thick, without knots or cords.

——————————————————-
Click Here For The Real Skinny On How To Train Your Dog