As a designer dog, the Maltipom does not have set standards, nor does it have a documented history. The Maltipom is not a perfect 50/50 mix of its parents and can lean toward either one. However, both parents have similar dispositions and owners can review the histories, temperaments, and medical histories; so, owners may examine the histories of the parents for insights on the Maltipom.
The Maltese developed in Malta and is an ancient Toy breed that has given rise to other favored Toy companions, such as the Havanese of Cuba. Predecessors to the Maltese are traced back over two thousand years. This dog breed has always been a favorite companion dog and gone by many names, including "The Comforter," the "Roman Ladies Dog," and "Ye Ancient Dogge of Malta" before finally being dubbed the Maltese. The modern-day Maltese and standards are developed from the English imports that came into the British Isles during the 15th Century. These dogs were later imported to the United States in the late 1800s where the American Kennel Club recognized the Toy breed in 1888.
The Pomeranian is a northern dog breed in the Spitz family and shares close bloodlines with the larger American Eskimos, German Spitz, and the Schipperke. Some of the early Pomeranians were classified as medium-sized dogs weighing up to 30 pounds but the modern-day standard is significantly reduced to the Toy size. The size of the Pomeranian can be attributed to Queen Victoria's love of the smaller version of the dog and by the late 1800s, dog breeders selectively reduced the size of the Pomeranian to under 7 pounds. The American Kennel Club recognized the Pomeranian in 1888, the same year as the Maltese.
