Maltalier Dog Breed

Below are details and specs for the Maltalier dog breed.

The Maltalier comes from two toy breeds and as such will also be a small dog that, when mature, will be about 8-12 inches high and weigh 9-17 pounds.

Maltaliers are very good family pets that tend to get along fine with children. With other pets, they may show signs of being territorial, and with strangers they may be shy or aloof or even bark a lot if they have not been trained and socialized early and properly.

Keeping your Maltalier healthy, happy and clean will require a lot of maintenance with grooming and a fair amount with exercise. Long daily brushings and relatively frequent visits to the groomer should be expected.

The Maltalier is a somewhat new designer dog, and as such there is very little history about this him. What is known is that this hybrid was first conceived in Victoria and Western Australia in the early 21st century — perhaps as recently as five years ago — and that it is one of the most popular cross-bred dogs in the land down under. The parent breeds — the Maltese and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel — have very long, rich and global histories, however.

The Maltese is said to have a lineage that is more than two millennia old, and although the actual origin is not exactly known, the breed is believed to have come from what was the center of the world back then: the isle of Malta. This pure white toy dog has been depicted in the ancient art of Egypt, Greece and Rome; even Aristotle described the breed as "perfectly proportioned." In any case, what is known is the dog was highly coveted, and even before Christianity was born, the dog was an ornament without which no noble woman was fully dressed. The Maltese was apparently imported to the United States from England in the late 1800s. Although the breed's popularity was widespread throughout the rest of the world and was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1888, the Maltese didn't gain nationwide popularity in the U.S. until the 1950s. These days, the Maltese is one of the most popular show dogs in the nation.

With his flat head, long snout and larger body, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a separate breed altogether than the King Charles Spaniel, which is one of the the four varieties grouped under the English Toy Spaniel breed. It is named in part after a 17th century English king, Charles I, who took the throne in 1625. The subsequent monarch, King Charles II, was also fond of the dogs and was never without a few from his pack; they followed him everywhere. His love for the breed was such that he authored a decree allowing the King Charles Spaniel to go anywhere, a decree that remains observed in England to this day. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was recognized by the AKC in 1995.

The Malatier is sure to be a small dog as both parent breeds are small dogs as well. Still, many Australian breeders (where the Maltier was first cross-bred) say that that this hybrid tends to take more from the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel parent, and as such, the dog will more often than not have the soulful eyes and floppy ears of the Cavalier. As the coats of both breeds are long, you should expect your Maltalier's coat to be relatively long and silky too.

As the Maltalier come from two royally pampered breeds (literally!), you should expect the distinct possibility of a snippiness in his personality as well as separation anxiety. With early training, patience and lots of love, however, much of the former may be mitigated. There is also the possibility he may be very shy and/or a barker, but that same training can help this as well. On the bright side, he will be playful, eager to please, relatively easy to train and great for agility competition.

When training, harsh methods should not be used, and you should have plenty of patience; Maltaliers are sensitive dogs who come from equally sensitive breeds. Be firm, fair and consistent — especially when house-training.

Although Maltaliers were cross-bred to have fewer health problems than their parent breeds, they still have some concerns — among them epilepsy, eye problems, ear infections, joint ailments, diabetes and heart illness. Kept healthy and happy, your Maltalier should live about 12-15 years.