The story of turning a dog into a “living toy”

About 2000 years ago, the Romans became fascinated with miniature dogs. They got the name – Melitsky. The birthplace of graceful dogs is the island of Melita in the Adriatic Sea. The pygmy dog was decorated and dressed up. They were wearing collars adorned with precious stones. The dogs were fed delicious treats. It is assumed that they came to Rome from Greece along with other luxury items. Noble ladies used them as exquisite toys, took them to sleep in their bed.

During the collapse of the Roman Empire, the Melite dogs were on the verge of extinction, but still survived. The Romans called Melita and the island of Malta, as a result, the name of the breed was changed to Maltese. Sailors brought tiny dogs to different countries. So, they ended up in the Hawaiian and Philippine Islands. There, the dogs became the ancestors of the Manila lap dog. Currently, lapdogs are distributed throughout the world.

Cute and miniature doggy still attract women. Spaniels were popular in England. They were called toys. Women valued dogs not only for their appearance, but also for their affectionate nature. Widespread popularity came to them under Charles II. Dogs not only lived in the chambers of the king, they could attend important receptions too. The King Charles Spaniel was named after Charles.

Spaniels are considered English Hounds. She was crossed with a short-faced dog, similar to the Pekingese. Almost every breed has a dwarf version. They are distinguished not only by their smaller size, but also by the disproportion of the body. The most famous dwarf dog is the Pekingese. The Beijing Palace Dog has been guarded for centuries. They lived within the walls of the imperial palace. Special servants looked after and guarded them. No one was allowed to have a Pekingese, otherwise the death penalty. All this was reflected in the character of the animal. He became a little incredulous and jealous egoist. In 1860, the French army destroyed the palace in Beijing and the dogs came to Europe.

Nowadays, people living in an apartment who do not have much space choose a small dog. These tiny animals are very loyal and playful. They get along great with children. You can always take them with you to visits and events.