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The
Maltese is a member of the Toy Group that originated in Malta, an island
near Italy in the Mediterranean Sea. Early European writings made
references to the tiny white dog. The Maltese was a favorite of
the Greeks and the Romans. There are many drawings that show small
longhaired dogs on pieces of Greek and Roman pottery. Malta's location made it an important place in the Mediterranean. It developed the little Maltese, a race of dogs that is different from almost every other breed. It is the only dog that has a long, silky, white coat. The Maltese was first imported into Britain during the reign of Henry VIII. They became the favorite dogs in the time of Queen Elizabeth I. Many of the Maltese in the U.S. today trace their heritage back to English imports.
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