This dog did not originate in Malta, but in the central countries of Mediterranean, where Aristotle called them "Melitensi" (perhaps from the name of the port town, Melita in Sicily). What is certain, however, is that these small hairy dogs, with a white coat if possible, were common in the ports where their job was to catch mice in the warehouse and on board the ships, on which they ended up traveling and thus became widespread throughout the entire Mediterranean basin. They became the progenitor of all Bichons and attained the status of "luxury dog". More widespread abroad than here in our country, they are nonetheless loved all over the world and are very well-bred, espacially in the Anglo-Saxon countries. It is a small, elongated dog, narrow, with a proud head posture, extremely elegant, covered all over by very long hair which exceeds its height at the withers and falls to the ground in a small train, constituting a very rich, sumptuous, heavy cape. The hair is so dense and adherent that the forms of the animal are hidden under it. A silky texture, whithout flocks or tufts, perfectly uniform so that when the animal is trotting it seems like it is sliding along the ground. This superb coat is its most attractive attribute. Intelligent, like all dogs selected as companions, vivacious, very fond of man. Its delicate appearance conceals a healthy and robust