A Maltese is a small breed of white dog that does not shed.The Maltese is a dog belonging to the toy group that is covered from head to foot with a mantle of long, silky, white hair. Adult Maltese range from roughly 4 to 7 lbs, though some pets differ slighty from that. The coat is long and silky and lacks an undercoat. The colour is pure white and cream ears are permissible. Characteristics include slightly rounded skulls also, a black nose that is The drop ears with long hair and very dark eyes, some are surrounded by darker skin pigmentation that is called a "halo", gives Maltese their expressive look. The body is compact with the length equaling the height. Their noses can fade and become pink or light brown in colour. This is often referred to as a "winter nose" and many times will become black again with increased exposure to the sun.
Maltese have no undercoat, and have little to no shedding if cared for properly. Like their relative the Poodle and Bichon Frise, they are considered to be largely hypoallergenic and many people who are allergic to dogs may not be allergic to the Maltese. Regular grooming is required to prevent their coats from matting. Many owners will keep their Maltese clipped in a "puppy cut," a 1 - 2" all over trim that makes the dog resemble a puppy. Some owners, especially those who show Maltese in the sport of confirmation, prefer to wrap the long hair to keep it from matting and breaking off. Dark staining in the hair around the eyes ("tear staining") can be a problem in this breed, and is mostly a function of how much the individual dog's eyes water and the size of the tear ducts. If the face is kept dry and cleaned daily, the staining can be minimized. Many veterinarians recommend avoiding foods treated with food coloring and serving distilled water to reduce tear staining.
The Maltese is generally a healthy breed with few inherent problems.
|
