Maltese
History
As
an aristocrat of the canine world, this ancient breed
has been known by a variety of names throughout
the centuries.
Originally called the Melitaie Dog, he has also been known
as "Ye Ancient Dogge of Malta", the Roman Ladies'
Dog, the Comforter Dog, the Spaniel Gentle, the Bichon,
the Shock Dog, the Maltese Lion Dog and the Maltese Terrier.
Sometime within the past century, he has come to simply
be known as the Maltese. The breed's history can be traced
back many centuries. Some have placed its origin at two
or three thousand years ago and Darwin himself placed the
origin of the breed at 6000 BC.
The
Maltese is thought to have been descended from a Spitz
type dog found among the Swiss Lake dwellers
and bred down
to obtain its small size. Although there is also some evidence
that the breed originated in Asia and is related to the
Tibetan Terrier, the exact origin is unknown. Maltese
are generally associated with the island of Malta in the
Mediterranean Sea. The dogs probably made their way to
Europe through the Middle East with the migration of nomadic
tribes. Some writers believe these proto-Maltese were used
for rodent control before the cuteness
factor gained paramount importance. The Isle of Malta (or
Melitae as it was then known) was a geographic center of
early trade, and explorers undoubtedly found ancestors
of the tiny, white dogs left there as barter for necessities
and supplies. The dogs were favored by the wealthy and
royalty alike and were bred over time to specifically be
a companion animal. Some royals that purportedly owned
Maltese were Mary Queen of Scots, Queen Elizabeth I, Queen
Victoria, Josephine Bonaparte and Marie Antoinette. At
the time of the Apostle Paul, Publius, the Roman governor
of Malta, had a Maltese named Issa (Issa translates as
'Now" in the Maltese Language) of which he was very
fond.
During the 1940s Dr. Vincenzo Calvaresi was one of the
prominent members of the Maltese fancy in the US with his
Villa Malta breeding program producing over 100 champions.
Toni and Aennchen Antonelli (Aennchen's Maltese) in the
1950s were the main force in establishing the Maltese breed
in the US. One of the best know Maltese from their breeding
program was the lovely female Ch. Aennchen's Poona Dancer,
winner of 37 Best In Shows and owned by Larry Ward and
the late Frank Oberstar. The top winning Best In Show record
of 43 for Maltese was held for many years by Ch. Joanchenn's
Maya Dancer, owned by Mamie Gregory, until recently broken
in the 1990's. Marge Rozik continued the breed for years
until her death in 1999 and Debbie Martin continues the
Villa Malta line that made history.
In
the 1950s the Maltese and Lhasa Apso were accidentally
bred creating a type of dog that later became known as
the Kyi-Leo, a rare dog breed in the 1970s.
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