Plate 051 · Mediterranean
Maltese
马尔济斯犬
“A lapdog named after the 'Melitaean' lapdogs of antiquity.”
- Origin
- Malta · Italy
- Central Mediterranean
- Historical region — not an exact birthplace
- Associated with Malta for over two millennia, though some historians argue the name may refer to other Mediterranean locations. The FCI lists the central Mediterranean, under Italian patronage.
- The point is a reference position for a historical region; it is not an exact birthplace.
- Era
- Classical antiquity
- Today
- Companion · Toy breed
Under editorial review — sources listed below.
Historical context · Today
Context · c. 1782'Shock Dog' by Anne Seymour Damer (c. 1782) — 18th-century English slang for a Maltese-type lapdog.
This image depicts a related historical dog type, not necessarily the modern breed.
Anne Seymour Damer · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
NowSheltieBoy · CC BY · Wikimedia Commons
History
01 · Origin
Central Mediterranean
A toy breed named after a small white lapdog known in the ancient Mediterranean world.
02 · Historical role
What it was bred for
A lapdog of Greek and Roman elites, kept for companionship and as a status symbol.
03 · Breed development
How it changed
Small white dogs of this kind were kept for centuries, but the modern breed emerged in the Victorian era from crosses of existing varieties and cannot be traced by pedigree to the ancient dogs.
04 · Today
Companion · Toy breed
A gentle, playful toy companion.
Personality
- Gentle
- Playful
- Charming
- Fearless
- Affectionate
General breed tendencies, not guarantees — individual dogs vary with genetics, training and environment. Ratings: this atlas’s editorial summary on a 1–5 scale, for rough comparison between breeds here — not a measurement or a standardised assessment.
- Size
- Toy
- Lifespan
- 12–15 years
- Coat
- Long, silky, pure white single coat
Field note
Small white dogs linked to Malta are mentioned by classical writers, making this one of the oldest companion types in Europe.
Recognition & today
- AKC
- Toy Group
- Also recognized by
- FCI
- Popular in
- United States
AKC registrations: ranked 37 among breeds in 2025.
Sources2 references
- Maltese — breed information — American Kennel Club
https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/maltese/
Registry · accessed 2026-10-06 · Used for registry status, AKC group and breed standard reference only.
- Maltese dog (encyclopedia overview) — Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maltese_dog
Encyclopedia · accessed 2026-10-06 · Secondary overview; cross-check claims against primary breed-club sources.
Text is written by World Breeds from the references above; it does not reproduce registry descriptions. Location note: Associated with Malta for over two millennia, though some historians argue the name may refer to other Mediterranean locations. The FCI lists the central Mediterranean, under Italian patronage.
