Maltese dog: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

Line 34:

The '''Maltese''' is a small [[dog breed|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.<ref name="Hochberg">{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=woNoOD5xFO8C&pg=PA113&dq=maltese+%22puppy+cut%22&lr=&ei=aojoSY3mPJHIyASbtfDGCA|accessdate=2009-04-17|title=Dogs by Design: How to Find the Right Mixed Breed for You|last=Hochberg|first=Ilene|publisher=Sterling Publishing Company|year=2007|isbn=1402743548|location=New York and London|page=113}}</ref> The Maltese breed is descended from dogs originating in the [[Mediterranean Sea#Subdivisions|Central Mediterranean Area]].

The breed name appears to refer to the [[Mediterranean]] island of [[Malta]], however the origins of both the breed and its name are unclear. Various writings have also described the name as deriving from the [[Adriatic]] island of [[Mljet|Méléda]], and the [[Sicily|Sicilian]] town of [[Melita]] (which no longer exists).<ref name="Drury" /><ref name="Lee" /><ref name="Hyytinen">{{cite web|title=Maltese - A Lovely Little Toy Dog|last=Hyytinen|first=Iiris|url=http://www.toydogs.net/maltalaiset/maltesedog.html|accessdate=2009-04-14}}</ref> The [[Fédération Cynologique Internationale]] states that the name of the dog does not definitively signify that he originates from the island of Malta because the adjective "Maltese" comes from the Semitic word, ''màlat'', a common root of the name of all three places.<ref name="FCI">{{cite web|title=Maltese|work=FCI standard No. 65|last=Davis|first=Peggy (translator)|url=http://www.devrolijkeviervoeters.org/fci013.htm|date=1999-06-04|accessdate=2009-04-14}}</ref>

== History ==