Malti-Pin

The Malti-Pin is a hybrid mix of the Maltese and the Miniature Pinscher, and, being a newer hybrid on the scene, there isn't a great deal of information available on the hybrid itself.  We don't know where and when the hybrid was developed or the purpose for its development, so, to find out more about the background, let's take a quick look at the two parent breeds.  The Maltese parent breed can be traced back to Malta, on the southern coast of Italy, at least as far back as about 3500 B.C. (yes, that's right...B.C.), perhaps earlier.  The Maltese breed is quite possibly the earliest of the lap sitting canines and may even be the most ancient of the European toy canine breeds.  It appears this breed was developed purely for companionship purposes, a role it plays exceedingly well today.  The breed made its way to Britain and quickly became the lapdog of the rich and famous, being referred to as "not bigger than common ferrets" and "about the size of squirrels" and "jewels of women" as they were carried in the bosoms and sleeves of the women of those days.  The breed has a long, rich history which eventually brought it to the show ring in England in 1859 and in America in 1877.  The American Kennel Club finally recognized the Maltese in 1963.  The Miniature Pinscher originated in Germany where it was utilized for purposes of ratting, a task for which their small size was perfect.  The Germans also utilized them for watch-dogging tasks and as companions for hundreds of years.  While the exact date of origin and ancestry is also unknown for the Miniature Pinscher, many believe that the breed descended from its larger cousin, the German Pinscher as well as an assortment of terriers, the Dachshund and the Italian Greyhound.  Contrary to popular belief, there is no Doberman blood in this breed but is believed to bear some of that resemblance due to the influence of the German Pinscher in both breed developments. The first real beginning for the Miniature Pinscher breed is believed to have been in 1895 when the German Pinscher-Schnauzer Klub (Club) was formed.  The Min Pin appeared in the show ring in 1900 in Germany, being virtually unknown outside Germany and Scandinavia at that time.  Eventually, the breed came to America and was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1925 as the "Min Pin", having an official name change in 1972 to Miniature Pinscher.  The Malti-Pin hybrid itself is recognized by the following organizations: American Canine Hybrid Club, Designer Breed Registry, Designer Dog Kennel Club, Dog Registry of America and the International Designer Canine Registry.