Malti-Pug

The Malti-Pug is an intentional cross between two ancient companion animals, the Pug, a loving and outgoing little dog from China, and the Maltese, a small playful dog from the small island of Malta off the coast of Italy. The Pug is believed to be one of the oldest dog breeds on record, canines that have been prized possessions of the Chinese Emperors since the Shang dynasty, around 1600 B.C. These prized Pug puppies were frequently distributed to visiting royal families and other dignitaries that were esteemed by the aristocracy and in this way they were distributed throughout the world. The Pug breed was enjoyed by the royal families of 19^th century England, a notable favorite of Queen Victoria who’s involvement in breeding and showing of this and other dog breeds helped to establish the Kennel Club in England and lend legitimacy and stature to the Crufts dog show. The Pug breed was also one of the first 15 breeds to be recognized by the American Kennel Club when they were first established in 1885. The Maltese may be an even older breed than the Pug, traceable as far back as 3500 B.C., to a small island off of the coast of Italy known as Malta. They have been favored by the rich and famous throughout the world since the time of the ancient Greeks and were widely traded even before the time of Christ. The first Maltese shown in the United States was white with black markings on the ears and was listed as a Maltese Skye Terrier. The modern Maltese dog in the United States is likely to have Pomeranian or Poodle ancestors sprinkled in their family history as well due to the large amount of crossbreeding that occurred once it was introduced to the American continents.