A pet of the
noble ladies of ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome (who used to carry him
around in their sleeves!) the Maltese was a pampered lapdog. Riding around
in their carriages, sleeping on their beds, and being fed the choicest
morsels, he certainly led a charmed existence.
Although the
Maltese, with his glamorous white cloak of long silky hair, is usually
thought of in terms of plush cushions and luxurious surroundings, he is in
fact a fearless little fellow, filled with spunky determination. Despite
his lack of stature, he makes a splendid little watchdog.
Although he does
not take easily to strangers, he is very affectionate towards his owners.
He has a sweet, loving yet mischievous temperament, and is very much the
individualist. The fact that for so many centuries, the Maltese was
indulged as the household pet of the wealthy and cultured, may to some
extent explain his own refinement, cleanliness and fastidiousness.
His height is
approximately 23 to 25 cm and he weighs around 3 - 4.5 kg.
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