I always assumed that Maltese came from Bichons and that Havanese were another type of Bichon. Someone told me that actually, Bichons came from Maltese.
Anyone knows the answer?
Anyone knows the answer?
Nucci
This might be of interest to you: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bichon
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A bunch of breeds such as the havanese, bolognese, maltese and bichon frise are all part of the "bichon" family of dogs... all related. I don't think you can make it so simple as saying one comes from the other or vice-versa... but they share ancestry. It has always been my impression that maltese are the oldest of the bichon breeds that still lives today, but that doesn't mean the bichon family nor bichon frise necessarily "came from them".
A bunch of breeds such as the havanese, bolognese, maltese and bichon frise are all part of the "bichon" family of dogs... all related. I don't think you can make it so simple as saying one comes from the other or vice-versa... but they share ancestry. It has always been my impression that maltese are the oldest of the bichon breeds that still lives today, but that doesn't mean the bichon family nor bichon frise necessarily "came from them".
I don't believe that the Maltese is in any way related to the Bichon. According the the History of the Maltese from the AKC Kennel Club Book on Maltese The Maltese is the most anciet lap dog of the Western World. Charles Darwin placed the breed as havind exited around 6000 BC with models of the same dog being found that are 2,000 years older than that.
The book further states that the Maltese contributed to the ancestral breeding of the Pekingese. Their history is traced to the Isle of Malta as well as the Courts of Impreial Rome. They have also been found to have been closely involved in Egyptian culture between 600 and 300 BC. Aristotle is credited with the first written history of the breed around 350BC in Greece.
It does say that the Maltese should not be confused with today's Bichon Frise depsite the fact that it has at times been called Bichon. I don't know where the Bichon hails from but suspect it is a much newer breed.
The book further states that the Maltese contributed to the ancestral breeding of the Pekingese. Their history is traced to the Isle of Malta as well as the Courts of Impreial Rome. They have also been found to have been closely involved in Egyptian culture between 600 and 300 BC. Aristotle is credited with the first written history of the breed around 350BC in Greece.
It does say that the Maltese should not be confused with today's Bichon Frise depsite the fact that it has at times been called Bichon. I don't know where the Bichon hails from but suspect it is a much newer breed.
The Bichon Frise is of Mediterranean ancestry. His oldest ancestor is the Barbet, or Water Spaniel, from which the name Barbichon cam, later shortened to Bichon. Also descended from the Barbet are the Caniche, or Poodle, and the Maltese. They have certain similarities because of their common ancestry, but each long ago became a separate breed.
The Barbichon group of dogs evolved into four breeds: The Bichon Bolognese, the Bichon Havanese, the Bichon Maltese and the Bichon Tenerife. From the Bichon Tenerife came today's Bichon Frise.
The Barbichon group of dogs evolved into four breeds: The Bichon Bolognese, the Bichon Havanese, the Bichon Maltese and the Bichon Tenerife. From the Bichon Tenerife came today's Bichon Frise.
I had never heard of the Barbet so looked it up, below was cut and pasted from the internet.
"Exact roots of the Barbet are forever lost, but most likely they stem from corded sheep dogs from Asia and, possibly, early griffon hounds. Woolly water dogs were found throughout 14th-century Europe, answering to various names, i.e., the wasserhund meaning water dog. Although not the source of all water dogs, the Barbet is very likely closest to the original type. The Barbet is most generic of water dogs, with a woolly sheep-dog coat and hair all over, allowing him to withstand hours in water and chilly marshes. He resembles a pointing dog, but is slower and heavier of body, without the keen nose or sleek beauty. Sixteenth-century cynologist Fou-illoux dubbed him the Barbet, from barbe, a French designation for beard; his pseudonym, laineux., translates into woolly."
Their history does not appear to go back as far as the Maltese. The Bichon CLub Web site gives the above link to Maltese but everywhere else seems to indicate that the Maltese came first. Is that kinda like which came first, the chicken or the egg??
Here's an interesting link from a breeders website that gives a good Maltese history
http://www.annasheavenlymaltese.com/maltese_history.html
Here is a Maltese History By Lee Weston:
http://www.barkbytes.com/history/maltse.htm
"Exact roots of the Barbet are forever lost, but most likely they stem from corded sheep dogs from Asia and, possibly, early griffon hounds. Woolly water dogs were found throughout 14th-century Europe, answering to various names, i.e., the wasserhund meaning water dog. Although not the source of all water dogs, the Barbet is very likely closest to the original type. The Barbet is most generic of water dogs, with a woolly sheep-dog coat and hair all over, allowing him to withstand hours in water and chilly marshes. He resembles a pointing dog, but is slower and heavier of body, without the keen nose or sleek beauty. Sixteenth-century cynologist Fou-illoux dubbed him the Barbet, from barbe, a French designation for beard; his pseudonym, laineux., translates into woolly."
Their history does not appear to go back as far as the Maltese. The Bichon CLub Web site gives the above link to Maltese but everywhere else seems to indicate that the Maltese came first. Is that kinda like which came first, the chicken or the egg??
Here's an interesting link from a breeders website that gives a good Maltese history
http://www.annasheavenlymaltese.com/maltese_history.html
Here is a Maltese History By Lee Weston:
http://www.barkbytes.com/history/maltse.htm
Don't believe everything you read. Nobody knows exactly the origins. There are many versions going around. And it's not because he is called Maltese that he necessarily had his origins in Malta. The Bichon is as old a breed as the Maltese. In France, the Maltese is called a Bichon Maltais. Where do you think the curly hair of some Maltese in coming from ? They probably have some leftover bichon in them.
I'v alway thought it was a mix of Maltese and poodle.. No matter how old there "breed" is.
There are Old Paintings clearly showing Maltese dogs.
Aren't Poodles french? So someone mixed the breeds and called something new.
Like today's "Morkie"
I vote for Maltese being the oldest breed.
There are Old Paintings clearly showing Maltese dogs.
Aren't Poodles french? So someone mixed the breeds and called something new.
Like today's "Morkie"
I vote for Maltese being the oldest breed.
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Don't believe everything you read. Nobody knows exactly the origins. There are many versions going around. And it's not because he is called Maltese that he necessarily had his origins in Malta. The Bichon is as old a breed as the Maltese. In France, the Maltese is called a Bichon Maltais. Where do you think the curly hair of some Maltese in coming from ? They probably have some leftover bichon in them.
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Actually, I believe the curly hair of some Maltese comes from a more recent source - the mixing of Bichon and Maltese by unscrupulous breeders.
http://www.foxstonemaltese.com/maltesesize.htm
Don't believe everything you read. Nobody knows exactly the origins. There are many versions going around. And it's not because he is called Maltese that he necessarily had his origins in Malta. The Bichon is as old a breed as the Maltese. In France, the Maltese is called a Bichon Maltais. Where do you think the curly hair of some Maltese in coming from ? They probably have some leftover bichon in them.
[/QUOTE]
Actually, I believe the curly hair of some Maltese comes from a more recent source - the mixing of Bichon and Maltese by unscrupulous breeders.
http://www.foxstonemaltese.com/maltesesize.htm
No matter which came first, the Maltese is the best and for me the last breed I will ever have!!!!!
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