The Maltese is a small breed of dog in the toy group, known for its silky white hair, though many owners of pet Maltese give them a short "puppy cut" for ease of grooming. The Maltese breed is descended from dogs originating in the Central Mediterranean Area.
The breed name appears to refer to the Mediterranean island of Malta, however the origins of both the breed and its name are unclear. Various writings have also described the name as derivin...
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The Maltese is a small breed of dog in the toy group, known for its silky white hair, though many owners of pet Maltese give them a short "puppy cut" for ease of grooming. The Maltese breed is descended from dogs originating in the Central Mediterranean Area.
The breed name appears to refer to the Mediterranean island of Malta, however the origins of both the breed and its name are unclear. Various writings have also described the name as deriving from the Adriatic island of Méléda, and the Sicilian town of Melita. The Fédération Cynologique Internationale states that the name of the dog does not definitively signify that it originates from the island of Malta because the adjective "Maltese" comes from the Semitic word, màlat, a common root of the name of all three places.
This ancient breed has been known by a variety of names throughout the centuries. Originally called the "Canis Melitaeus" in Latin, it has also been known in English as the "ancient dog of Malta", the "Roman Ladies'...
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