Cav-a-Malt Dog Breed Pictures, Characteristics, and Facts

The Cav-a-Malt is a mixed breed, so they don’t have history as their own breed. Both parent breeds, however, are well known and loved.

Cavaliers are descended from the toy spaniels depicted in many 16th, 17th, and 18th century paintings by famous artists such as Van Dyck and Gainsborough. Used as a hunting dog, the athletic Cavalier was bred for both work and the ability to curl up on a lap at the end of the day. However, the breed itself is fairly new. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was recognized by the UKC in 1945, after much pushing from devoted breeders and fans. However, American Cavalier fans still had to wait longer before the breed became popular or recognized in the US. In 1954, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club was created, the official breed club and only registering body for Cavaliers in the United States for more than fifty years.  The AKC officially recognized the breed in March 1995 — meaning that the breed has been able to be registered in the US for less than thirty years.

The Maltese dog is one of the most ancient of the toy breeds, with a history that can be traced back at least two millennia. Many believe the breed was developed in the Isle of Malta in the Mediterranean Sea from Spitz- or Spaniel-type dogs.  The small pup was even referenced by Aristotle. The Egyptians and, centuries later, many Europeans, thought that the Maltese had the ability to cure people of disease and would place dogs of this breed on the pillow of an ill person. The dog is now known as « the Comforter » by some for these reasons. English breeders were responsible for the development of the breed as we know it today. Even now, most Maltese in the U.S. trace their heritage back to English imports. The number of Maltese dogs registered with the AKC grew very slowly until the 1950s. Since then, the breed has become quite popular.