Penelope (Lexie) the Maltese's companion, Juliet the Mini Poodle (adopted) can also be seen on our website.

Special Needs: grain free diet

Description:
We found this poor little girl wandering the streets with Watson the Schnauzer. Penelope is a little shy at first, but warms up quickly. She's is a cute little thing. She was adopted out very shortly after she arrived, but has recently come back to us, due to her owner's health issues. She is now called Lexie, and we can see that her owner loved her very, very much and took great care of her. She is very friendly and walks great on the leash. She is crate trained and will also sleep in the crate, but her owner allowed her to run free when she was there with Lexie. She has skin problems and will need to be on a grain free diet. She is a happy little girl, and is always excited to make a new friend--although then she'll calm down. She reserves cuddles for very special people. Will that be you?

According to www.dogbreedinfo.com, this ancient dog was described by the Greek philosopher Theophrastus as belonging to the "Melita" breed, an archaic name for Malta. It was developed in Italy with the addition of miniature spaniel and poodle blood. It was thought that these lively little dogs were first brought to England by Crusaders returning home from the Mediterranean. The breed became particularly popular with women, who often carried them in their sleeves and even to their beds. The dog was not only popular with women though. Publius, the Roman governor of Malta, prized his Maltese enough to commission a portrait of "Issa" and even have poetry written about her. Today, the glamorous Maltese is an adored pet and sought-after show dog.
The Maltese is spirited, lively and playful. Gentle, loving, trusting and devoted to its master. Highly intelligent. Good at learning tricks if he feels sufficiently rewarded. Bold and quick to sound the alarm in case of suspicious noises. It is a classical companion dog; graceful and lovable. They do well with other animals. Maltese love to play outdoors but have a penchant for jumping in puddles. A bath must follow! These dogs can be snappish with inconsiderate children and may be difficult to housebreak. Sometimes they are picky eaters. Include small biscuits and dry dog food in this breed's regular diet to help the teeth stay strong and healthy. Do not over-pamper or overprotect these little dogs, for some become unstable, and some may become jealous of visitors. They have a life expectancy of 15-18 years.