Maltese

	The Maltese is spirited, lively and playful. Gentle, loving, trusting and devoted to its master. Highly intelligent. It is a classical companion dog; graceful and lovable.
Breed:	Maltese
Country of Origin:	Italy
AKC Group:	Toy
Function:	Companion
Life Span:	15 or more years
Appearance:	Small
Color:	White
Coat Type:	Thick
Grooming:	Daily combing and brushing of the long coat is important but be gentle, as the coat is very soft. Clean the eyes daily to prevent staining, and clean the beard after meals for the same reason. Bathe or dry shampoo regularly - making sure the animal is thoroughly dry and warm afterward. Clean the ears, and pull out hair growing inside the ear canal. The eyes should be checked regularly and cleaned if necessary. The hair on the top of the head is often tied up in a topknot to keep it away from the eyes. Some pet owners opt to clip the hair short for easier and less time-consuming grooming. The Maltese sheds little to no hair and is good for allergy sufferers.
Height:	8-10 inches
Weight:	6½-9 pounds
Activity Level:	High
Watch Dog:	No
Protection:	No
Intelligence:	Very high
Trainability:	Medium-high
Good With Children:	May be snappy
Good With Pets:	Ok
Good With Strangers:	No
Character:	Devoted
Home Environment:	Apartment ok
Best Owner:	Loving
Potential Problems:
Behavior:	May be snappish
Physical:	Prone to sunburn along the hair parting; skin, respiratory, eye and tooth problems, and slipped stifle. Some may be difficult to feed with weak, upset digestion. They may get the chills, and they experience discomfort in hot weather. Maltese should be kept out of damp areas. It is a good idea to paper-train this breed - to avoid going out in weather extremes.
Recommendations: