The ancient Maltese, renowned for their luxurious, floor-length coat, are playful, charming, and adaptable toy dogs. Weighing under seven pounds, they have a silky, straight coat over a compact body with a graceful gait. Their captivating faces, with big dark eyes and a black nose, are irresistibly endearing. Hardy and adaptable, Maltese make alert watchdogs and are surprisingly fearless. They're also agile and enjoy making new friends of all ages. Despite occasional stubbornness, they respond well to reward-based training. Maltese are low-shedding, long-lived, and blend aristocratic elegance with a friendly disposition, making them cherished companions.