Country of Origin: Italy/Malta.

Coat: Long white hair and no undercoat.

Character: This dog is eager to learn, friendly, and sociable.

Temperament: This dog gets along well with children, other dogs, and any household pets.

Care: This dog requires quite a bit of grooming, from daily brushing and combing to applying special lotion to remove ugly tear stains. Dead hair should be brushed out, as the Maltese does not shed. Irritating hairs around the eyes need to be removed.

Training: Encouragement rather than harsh words should always be used when training this breed. They are very sensitive.

Activity: The exercise needs of this dog are uncomplicated. It will adapt itself to the activity level of your family.

Maltese Description : The tiny Maltese is known as "ye ancient dogge of Malta," which for more than 28 centuries has been an aristocrat of the canine world. The coat requires daily brushing to keep its elegant appearance. Despite his size the Maltese is without fear. The Maltese is a good choice for people who live in small apartments because of his size, but for the same reason it is not a good candidate for those with small children, unless the owner can provide constant supervision. He is among the gentlest mannered of all little dogs, yet he is lively and playful as well as vigorous.