tHe History oF THE MALTESE
by Denise Hunter & tammy simon
T he Maltese dog, once called “The Jewels of Women”, is an ancient breed thought to be over 2000 years old. The breed is generally believed to be from the island of Malta in the Medi- terranean Sea, but the exact origin is uncertain. Called “Ye Ancient Dogge of Malta” Maltese have adorned the laps of royalty throughout the ages. Images depicting the dog have been found on ancient Greek and Roman pottery and mentioned in the writ- ings of philosophers of the time. Dur- ing the time of the Apostle Paul, the Roman governor Publius owned a Maltese named Issa, and the poet, Martial, wrote this epigram of the dog. Issa is naughtier than Catullus’ sparrow Issa is purer than a Dove’s kiss Issa is more coaxing than any maid
racing the record of Phineas Fogg in Jules Verne’s Around the World in Eighty Days. The AKC Stud Books show the first Maltese entry in 1888, were two bitches; Topsy—an import, and Snips— origin unknown. While owners of Mal- tese exhibited during the latter part of that century are known, the breeders and pedigrees are unfortunately lost. Fast forward to the 1930s, a distem- per outbreak all but eradicated the breed from the US. A few very dedicated Mal- tese breeders worked to bring the breed back from near extinction here in Amer- ica. One of these breeders, Dr. Vincenzo Calvaresi of Villa Malta Kennels, import- ed dogs from Ireland and Italy. The Ital- ian dogs; Int. Am. CH. Electa Brio, Italian CH. Electa Laila and Italian CH. Electa Pampi, are in many of the American Maltese pedigrees today. Up until the time Dr. Calvaresi began to exhibit, Maltese were shown in an unkempt manner as many of the photographs of the time show. He started grooming the coats and tying the hair into rudimen- tary topknots. Dr. Calvaresi was famous for showing four-dog braces and at the 1952 Westminster show, Villa Malta won their 18th Best Brace in Show. The Mal- tese of this era and for several decades to come, looked more coarse and less refined than the Maltese of today. In the early 1960s, there were two National Maltese clubs; The Maltese Dog Club of America and the Maltese Dog Fanciers of America. These two clubs merged in 1962 and formed the
AKC-recognized parent club, The Amer- ican Maltese Association. The ‘60s also ushered in the decade of the Maltese at Westminster; with a Maltese winning for the first time in the club’s history in 1964, and again in 1966. A force to be reckoned with during the 1960s was CH. Aennchen’s Poona Dancer, bred by Aennchen and Tony Antonelli and owned by Larry Ward and Frank Oberstar. Poona broke all previous Mal- tese records and amassed 38 BIS, two American Maltese Association National Specialty BISS and she won the group at Westminster in 1966. In addition to being a Top 10 Toy in 1966 and 1967, and a Top 10 All Breed in 1967 and 1968, she was named the official mascot of the Navy’s USS Lenawee. The 1970s was also a good decade for Maltese as well. CH Joanne-Chen’s Maya Dancer won the Toy Group at Westminster in 1972 and 73 and was the National Specialty winner in 1972. Maya was bred by Joanne Hesse, owned by Mamie Gregory and shown by the late and much beloved, Peggy Hogg. Maya went on to beat Poona’s record and won an impressive 43 BIS and 134 Group Firsts. He was the top winning Toy Group winner for 1972 and 73. In the late 70s, a Maya grandson hit the scene and broke the Group win- ning record of Poona and Maya. CH. Joanne-Chen’s Mino Maya Dancer went on to break Group winning records for Maltese with 150 Group Firsts and 34 BIS. Mino was owned by Blanche
Issa is more precious than Indian pearls, Issa is Publius’ darling lap dog If she whines, you’ll think she is speaking, she feels sadness and joy.
The Maltese came to America, pri- marily from Europe, during the latter part of the 1800s with the first entry of a Maltese at Westminster in 1877. And in 1894, according to the Westminster website, Famous American journalist Nellie Bly enters her Maltese at West- minster, some four years after she made a record-breaking trip around the world in 72 days, 6 hours and 11 minutes,
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