Maltese

Though she steadfastly guards her own privacy, Juliette Cunliffe has established a reputation as one of the world's great experts on toy and rare breeds. MALTESE, which she wrote for the Kennel Club Dog Breed Series, is a fine example of her work. Perhaps not as carefully researched as PUG or SHAR PEI, two of her other classic works, the love is obvious as you turn over the pages of her book. She cares for the humble Maltese, with its so-called "bridal veil" of white fur that tumbles over its brow and forms a fringe over its cute little black eyes, eyes which sparkle with affection and aristocratic breeding. On the other hand, you never get the feeling that Cunliffe has actually owned a Maltese herself, whereas her feeling for the Bichon Frise emanates throughout her handbook BICHON FRISE and the KING CHARLES SPANIEL book has a similar warmth to it which is oddly lacking in MALTESE. She is also very good at the racing dogs and her book on WHIPPER and GREYHOUND have some good tips in them. Of course the little Maltese will never be a race dog. His heart is closer to the ground! And once you own one, as she admits from watching friends with Maltese breeding, you don't give your heart easily to any other breed no matter how handsome or lordly.