The Maltese is one of the oldest Toy breeds, dating back around 2,000 years. The ancient Greeks loved these cute canines so much they even built tombs for their beloved Malteses when they died and the breed is also mentioned in the writings of Aristotle. While their origin is not known for certain, they inherited their name from the Mediterranean island of Malta but some dog historians believe Malteses originate from Italy or even Asia.
Maltese dogs have been dubbed with many nicknames including “The Comforter”, a title they earned from the ancient Egyptians who believed that a Maltese could cure people of disease and would place a dog on the pillow of a sick person. Later, they became a favourite of royalty across Europe and were adored by French aristocrats.
Maltese dogs were brought to the UK during the reign of Henry VIII. The were favoured by notable historic royals including Queen Elizabeth I, Mary Queen of Scots and Queen Victoria, and featured in paintings by Goya and Sir Joshua Reynolds. More photo's of Maltese dogs here.