#1 The Maltese Puppy

Hello, this is my little dog and his name is Puppy so I have to write something about this breed. Maltese does come from its namesake, Malta. The Maltese is one of the oldest-known breeds of dogs, and is said to be over 2800 years old. The small dogs happily sat on the laps of the Ancient Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians.

Throughout history, Maltese dogs have been companions to royalty, rulers and monarchs. Even a Roman emperor, Claudius, kept one as a pet. Perhaps because of their long silky hair, steady companionship and fabled ability to restore health -- for which it is rumored that they earned the nickname "The Comforter" -- the Maltese's popularity continued rising in the upper classes. The Maltese hit British shores under the reign of King Henry VIII and were welcomed immediately. Mary, Queen of Scots and Queen Victoria each owned Maltese, and in France, Empress Josephine Bonaparte and Queen Marie Antoinette also kept them as pets. More recently, a different sort of King owned a Maltese -- Elvis Presley.

The dogs were specially bred by Roman emperors to have that white coat we know today. The color white was sacred to the Romans, who wanted their pets to exhibit an air of divinity.

A Maltese may be small, but he's not all fluff. These little dogs only weigh between 4 and 7 pounds (1.8 to 3.2 kilograms), but their sprightly prance, keen attention to their surroundings, affectionate personalities and devotion to their humans will make them a huge part of their owners' lives. A wonderful companion dog, Maltese can live in a variety of homes, including city apartments, since they don't require a lot of exercise. For over 28 centuries the Maltese has had an impassioned following around the globe, and that certainly still applies today.

Everyone loves to pamper these little white dogs—one look at their expressive eyes and button noses and it's easy to see why.