Where Do Maltese Dogs Come From? The Roman Ladies' Dog That Rules Korea ๐พ
Breedpedia Ep.07 โ the Maltese, from the sleeves of Roman ladies to Korea's number one lapdog, in under three minutes.
Quick answer: The Maltese is one of the oldest companion breeds on record. Ancient Greeks called it the "little dog of Melita," and it was painted on Greek pottery by the 4th century BC. It has only ever had one job: being a lapdog. Adults weigh 4โ7 lb (2โ3 kg), stand about 8โ10 in (20โ25 cm) tall, and live 12โ15 years. Famous for its silky white, low-shedding coat and bold personality, the Maltese is the most popular purebred dog in Korea and one of the most popular toy breeds in the world.
Where do Maltese dogs come from? ๐๏ธ
The Maltese is a Mediterranean breed with more than two thousand years of records. Greek pottery from the 4th and 5th centuries BC shows the small white "Melitaean dog," and the philosopher Aristotle described it as "small in body, yet perfectly proportioned." Phoenician traders probably carried it to the island of Malta, which gave the breed its name. For a while scholars argued whether "Melita" meant Malta or the Adriatic island of Mljet, but most now agree on Malta.
Here's a twist: the breed almost vanished from its own island. In 1536 a secretary of the Knights of Malta wrote that the classical authors had described Malta's little dogs, but that locals no longer knew the breed. The Maltese we know today was re-established in Victorian England in the 1800s. It got its own show class at Islington in 1862, appeared at the very first Westminster show in 1877 as the "Maltese Lion Dog," and was recognized by the AKC in 1888.
What were Maltese dogs bred for? ๐
Nothing but company. The Maltese never hunted, herded, or guarded. In ancient Rome it was called "the Roman ladies' dog," carried in the sleeves of noblewomen as a living status symbol. The AKC calls it "perhaps the world's first fad dog." The philosopher Diogenes even called himself "the dog of Malta," and the Roman poet Martial wrote a poem about a Maltese named Issa.
After the Renaissance, Europe gave the breed a new nickname: the "Comforter." The story goes that it warmed cold beds like a hot-water bottle and even drew fleas away from its owner. That part is legend, but the role is real. Today the "comforter" tradition lives on in therapy work. Riley, a Maltese at a children's advocacy center in Florida, has taken part in more than 400 therapy sessions since 2009.
Queens, legends, and a $12 million dog ๐
The Maltese has collected royal stories for centuries. Legend says Mary, Queen of Scots hid her Maltese under her skirts at her execution in 1587, and that Marie Antoinette's Maltese leapt from a bridge when she was taken to the guillotine. Napoleon is said to have picked the finest Maltese on Malta as a gift for Josephine. The AKC files all of these under "legend," so enjoy them as stories.
Two facts are well documented. In 1837 the painter Landseer titled his portrait of a Maltese "The Last of His Tribe," because the breed was thought to be nearly extinct. And in 2007, New York hotel billionaire Leona Helmsley left $12 million to her Maltese, Trouble, which a court later trimmed to a still-comfortable $2 million.
What is a Maltese like? Personality ๐
- Lively, calm, and affectionate. Those three words appear in almost every official description. The breed standard adds "loving and gentle, but also fearless and loyal."
- Fearless. For such a small dog, the Maltese has surprising jumping power and no fear of heights. Sofas, dining tables, and headboards are all fair game.
- Confident. The AKC jokes about the breed's "Napoleon complex." Two thousand years of being adored will do that to a dog.
- Opinionated. Maltese are smart but independent. Short, positive training sessions work best, and they stay playful well into old age.
- Apartment-friendly. A couple of short walks plus indoor play covers their exercise needs, which is a big reason they rule Korean apartments.
How big do Maltese get? Size and teacup Maltese ๐
The AKC standard calls for a weight of under 7 lb (3.2 kg), with 4โ6 lb (1.8โ2.7 kg) preferred, and a height of about 8โ10 in (20โ25 cm). The FCI standard, written for the breed's patron country Italy, allows 3โ4 kg. Korean Maltese are usually on the small side, around 2โ3 kg.
A teacup Maltese is a nickname for a dog at the very smallest end of the breed, often under 4 lb (1.8 kg) as an adult. No kennel club recognizes "teacup" as a size. A responsible breeder will tell you the puppy's current weight and both parents' adult weights instead of promising a label, and very small puppies need extra care in their first months. At Kim's Pups we share both for every puppy.
The Maltese coat: color, grooming, and the puppy cut โ๏ธ
The Maltese has a single-layer coat of long, silky white hair rather than fur. It sheds very little, which is why it is a popular choice for people with mild allergies, though no dog is truly hypoallergenic. The standard allows only white, with faint lemon or tan shading on the ears at most. Believe it or not, parti-colored Maltese were still shown in England as late as 1913 before pure white became the rule.
Show dogs wear a floor-length coat with a top-knot, the look that earned the breed its old "lion dog" nickname. Most pet owners choose a short puppy cut every 4โ6 weeks. Daily eye-wiping keeps tear stains off the white face, and daily brushing prevents mats if the coat is kept long.
Maltese lifespan and health ๐ฉบ
Maltese are a long-lived breed, usually 12โ15 years. Health topics to discuss with your vet and breeder include:
- Luxating patella: a slipping kneecap common in toy breeds. Keep your Maltese lean and use steps for the sofa.
- Dental care: small mouths crowd teeth, so brush regularly and schedule dental checks.
- Tear stains: cosmetic, and managed with daily wiping and clean water bowls.
- Low blood sugar in tiny puppies: feed small, frequent meals in the first months.
Why Korea loves the Maltese ๐ฐ๐ท
In Korea the Maltese is the number one purebred dog, with roughly 600,000 registered and first place in the KB Korea Pet Report in 2018, 2021, 2023 and 2025. It took over from the Yorkshire Terrier in the apartment boom of the 1990s and has led the "big three" of Maltese, Poodle, and Shih Tzu ever since. Korea even has a famous meme, "the Maltese never holds back," celebrating the breed's bold attitude. Fans joke that a sassy Maltese is "genuine" and an overly sweet one is a "fake."
Looking for a Maltese puppy? Browse our available Maltese puppies, or read how adoption and worldwide delivery work at Kim's Pups.
Maltese FAQ โ
Where do Maltese dogs come from?
From the Mediterranean, most likely the island of Malta. The breed appears on Greek pottery from the 4th century BC and was re-established in its modern form in 19th-century England.
What were Maltese bred for?
Companionship only. Roman noblewomen carried them in their sleeves, and Renaissance Europeans called them "comforters."
How big do Maltese get?
Adults usually weigh 4โ7 lb (2โ3 kg) and stand about 8โ10 in (20โ25 cm) tall. They reach adult size at around 9โ12 months.
What is a teacup Maltese?
A nickname for a Maltese at the smallest end of the breed, often under 4 lb (1.8 kg). It is not an official size recognized by any kennel club.
Do Maltese shed? Are they hypoallergenic?
They shed very little because their coat is hair, not fur, which makes them a common choice for people with mild allergies. No dog is completely hypoallergenic.
Are Maltese good family dogs?
Yes. They are affectionate, playful, and calm indoors. Because they are so small, young children need to handle them gently.
Do Maltese bark a lot?
They are alert and will announce visitors, but they are not constant barkers. Early socialization and a "quiet" cue help.
How long do Maltese live?
Usually 12โ15 years, and many live longer with good care.
Why is the Maltese so popular in Korea?
It is small, low-shedding, calm indoors, and suited to apartment life. It has been Korea's most registered purebred dog for over a decade.
Did a Maltese really inherit $12 million?
Yes. In 2007 Leona Helmsley left $12 million to her Maltese, Trouble. A court later reduced the amount to $2 million.
๐น๐ญ เธกเธญเธฅเธเธตเธช เนเธเนเธเธชเธธเธเธฑเธเธเธฑเธเธเธธเนเธญเธฐเนเธฃ เธกเธฒเธเธฒเธเนเธซเธ?
เธกเธญเธฅเธเธตเธช (Maltese) เนเธเนเธเธซเธเธถเนเธเนเธเธชเธธเธเธฑเธเนเธเธทเนเธญเธเนเธฅเนเธเธเธตเนเนเธเนเธฒเนเธเนเธเธตเนเธชเธธเธเนเธเนเธฅเธ เธกเธตเธเนเธเธเธณเนเธเธดเธเธเธฒเธเนเธเธเนเธกเธเธดเนเธเธญเธฃเนเนเธฃเนเธเธตเธขเธ เนเธเธขเนเธเธเธฒเธฐเนเธเธฒเธฐเธกเธญเธฅเธเธฒ เธเธฃเธฒเธเธเธเธเนเธเธฃเธทเนเธญเธเธเธฑเนเธเธเธดเธเนเธเธฒเธเธฃเธตเธเธเธฑเนเธเนเธเนเธจเธเธงเธฃเธฃเธฉเธเธตเน 4 เธเนเธญเธเธเธฃเธดเธชเธเธเธฒเธฅ เธชเธเธฃเธตเธชเธนเธเธจเธฑเธเธเธดเนเธเธฒเธงเนเธฃเธกเธฑเธเธเธเธกเธฑเธเนเธงเนเนเธเนเธเธเนเธชเธทเนเธญ เนเธฅเธฐเธเธฒเธงเธขเธธเนเธฃเธเธขเธธเธเนเธฃเธญเนเธเธเธญเธเธชเนเนเธฃเธตเธขเธเธกเธฑเธเธงเนเธฒ "เธชเธธเธเธฑเธเธเธฅเธญเธเธเธฃเธฐเนเธฅเธก" เธกเธญเธฅเธเธตเธชเนเธเนเธเนเธกเธงเธฑเธขเธซเธเธฑเธ 2โ3 เธเธดเนเธฅเธเธฃเธฑเธก เธชเธนเธเธเธฃเธฐเธกเธฒเธ 20โ25 เนเธเธเธเธดเนเธกเธเธฃ เธญเธฒเธขเธธเธเธฑเธข 12โ15 เธเธต เธกเธตเธเธเธชเธตเธเธฒเธงเธเธธเนเธกเนเธซเธกเธทเธญเธเนเธชเนเธเนเธซเธกเธเธตเนเธฃเนเธงเธเธเนเธญเธข เธเธดเธชเธฑเธขเธฃเนเธฒเนเธฃเธดเธ เธญเนเธญเธเนเธขเธ เนเธเนเธเธฅเนเธฒเธซเธฒเธเนเธฅเธฐเธกเธฑเนเธเนเธเนเธเธเธฑเธงเนเธญเธ เนเธเนเธเธฒเธซเธฅเธตเธกเธญเธฅเธเธตเธชเนเธเนเธเธชเธธเธเธฑเธเธเธฑเธเธเธธเนเนเธเนเธเธตเนเธเธดเธขเธกเนเธฅเธตเนเธขเธเธกเธฒเธเธเธตเนเธชเธธเธเธญเธฑเธเธเธฑเธเธซเธเธถเนเธ "เธเธตเธเธฑเธเธกเธญเธฅเธเธตเธช" เธเธทเธญเธกเธญเธฅเธเธตเธชเธเธตเนเธเธฑเธงเนเธฅเนเธเธกเธฒเธ เนเธกเนเนเธเนเธเธเธฒเธเธเธฒเธเธเธฒเธฃ
๐ฎ๐ฉ Maltese itu anjing seperti apa dan berasal dari mana?
Maltese adalah salah satu ras anjing pendamping tertua di dunia, berasal dari kawasan Mediterania, terutama pulau Malta. Anjing ini sudah digambar pada tembikar Yunani sejak abad ke-4 SM. Para bangsawan wanita Romawi membawanya di dalam lengan baju, dan orang Eropa zaman Renaisans menyebutnya "anjing penghibur". Maltese dewasa berbobot 2โ3 kg, tinggi sekitar 20โ25 cm, dan hidup 12โ15 tahun. Bulunya putih, halus seperti sutra, dan jarang rontok. Sifatnya ceria, lembut, tetapi berani dan percaya diri. Di Korea, Maltese adalah ras anjing murni nomor satu yang paling banyak dipelihara. "Teacup Maltese" hanyalah sebutan untuk Maltese yang sangat kecil, bukan ukuran resmi.
๐ญ๐ฐ ้ฆฌ็พๆฟๆฏ๏ผMaltese๏ผไฟๅฉๅ็จฎ๏ผ็ฑ้ๅบฆๅ๏ผ
้ฆฌ็พๆฟๆฏไฟไธ็ไธๆๅค่ๅ ไผดไพถ็ฌไนไธ๏ผๆบ่ชๅฐไธญๆตท๏ผๅฐคๅ ถไฟ้ฆฌ่ณไปๅณถใๆฉๅบๅ ฌๅ ๅๅไธ็ดๅ ๅธ่้ถๅจไธๅทฒ็ถๆไฝขๅ ็ซๅใๅค็พ ้ฆฌ่ฒดๅฉฆๅฐไฝขๆพๅบ่กซ่ขๅ ฅ้ขๅธถไฝ่ก๏ผๆ่ๅพฉ่ๆๆๅ ๆญๆดฒไบบๅซไฝขๅใๅฎๆ ฐ็ฌใใๆๅนด้ฆฌ็พๆฟๆฏ้ซ้ 2 ่ณ 3 ๅ ฌๆค๏ผ่บซ้ซ็ด 20 ่ณ 25 ๅ็ฑณ๏ผๅฃฝๅฝ 12 ่ณ 15 ๅนด๏ผไธ่บซ็ตฒ่ณช็ฝๆฏ่ไธ็ฉๆฏๅฐใๆงๆ ผๆดปๆฝใๆบซ้ฆด๏ผไฝๅๆๅฅฝๅๆขๅๆ่ชไฟกใๅบ้ๅ๏ผ้ฆฌ็พๆฟๆฏไฟๆๅคไบบ้คๅ ็ด็จฎ็ฌ็ฌฌไธๅใใ่ถๆฏ้ฆฌ็พๆฟๆฏใๅชไฟๆ็นๅฅ็ดฐ้ปๅ ้ฆฌ็พๆฟๆฏ๏ผไธฆๅไฟๅฎๆน่ชๅฏๅ ้ซๅใ
