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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.^[3] The Maltese breed is descended from dogs originating in the Central Mediterranean Area. The breed name and origins are commonly understood to derive from the Mediterranean island of Malta, however the name is sometimes described with reference to the Adriatic island of Méléda, or a defunct Sicilian town called Melita.

The Maltese had been recognized as a FCI breed under the patronage of Italy in 1954, at the annual meeting in Interlaken, Switzerland. The current FCI standard is dated November 27, 1989, and the latest translation from Italian to English is dated April 6, 1998. The American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1888, its latest standard being from March 10, 1964.

Characteristics include slightly rounded skulls, with a finger-wide dome and black nose that is two finger-widths long. The body is compact with the length equaling the height. The drop ears with long hair and very dark eyes, surrounded by darker skin pigmentation (called a “halo”), gives Maltese their expressive look. Their noses can fade and become pink or light brown in color without exposure to sunlight. This is often referred to as a “winter nose”^[29] and many times will become black again with increased exposure to the sun.

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