The Maltese Hunting Dog is a flushing/retrieving hunter extraordinaire despite the fact that most people have never heard of the breed. Known in his home country of Malta as Kelb tal-kaċċa ta’ Malta, he has been known since at least the late 1700’s and was mentioned by name in a legal notice by Grandmaster Ximenes allowing him to be used to hunt game. In the years since, he had been crossed with the Bracco Italiano and other European pointers and hound although has always kept a very uniform appearance. Despite his long history, he was officially recognized as a purebred dog by the Maltese National Canine Federation in 2016 after genetic testing showed that the breed is “genetically distinct and genetically coherent”. He still has a ways to go before he is internationally recognized – he is considered an extremely rare breed – but dedicated breeders are working to ensure the survival of this gun dog.
Hunting Dogs love to please their owners and are enthusiastic working dogs, primarily relying on their fantastic sense of smell as they are “heads-down hunters”. They are also intelligent and even easy to housebreak. This is generally a non-aggressive breed that thrives on working with and spending time with their people – almost to a fault as many do suffer from separation anxiety if left alone too long. They can also become problem barkers/howlers if not given enough stimulation or attention, which means training and giving them jobs to do are very important!
Maltese Hunting Dogs are very athletic and have plenty of energy. This is despite their stocky and somewhat stubby appearance. In fact, they are even built to withstand hot temperatures and can easily maintain plenty of stamina while working/running in hot summers. Their working style is that of calmness and determination, and like many gun dogs they have a “soft mouth” for retrieving. For these reasons they make fantastic choices for hunters, although can also live well with active, outdoors-y people who can fit a dog into their lives! This playful and energetic breed needs to be given lots of exercise. Without it they can be hyperactive and frustrating to live with.
Hunting Dogs are fairly clean animals, have a friendly demeanor, and are intensely loyal to their owners – which all mean they can be excellent companions in the right home. They even do well with children, whom they will take it upon themselves to protect if they feel the child is in danger. They are very gentle which means even young children are ok, as long as parents make sure to keep the kid from hurting the dog!
Appearance-wise, the Maltese Hunting Dog is a medium sized dog with a smooth coat. The color is white with red patches along the body, and dogs often have what is called a “Maltese cross” marking on the forehead. The nose and lips are always pink in color, and the ears are somewhat large and hang at the sides of their head. They have webbed feet and are talented swimmers, and are also said to be able to float on the water when needed!
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