Once called a shock dog for their shock of long-hair, the Maltese is most recognizable for its diminutive size and stark white fur. These charming little dogs seem to make wonderful companions, our next door neighbor has one. People in the fifteenth century used the Maltese to symbolize fidelity.
These white dogs were once favored by royalty. Elizabeth I; Mary, Queen of Scots weren’t the first royals to treasure these companion animals. They were treasured by Ancient Greeks and Romans and part of the royal courts of Turkey and China.
This Maltese dog drawing shows a dog that must have been part of a wealthy household. He sits on a table in front of a maroon drapery.
This image is copyright free and in the public domain anywhere that extends copyrights 70 years after death or at least 120 years after publication when the original illustrator is unknown.
