The Maltese has a beautiful, long, silky white coat, and makes an excellent companion dog. They are gentle and playful, but do not tolerate rough children well. This Maltese was painted late in the day in a favorite play area where there was an old wood pile and berry bushes. I had to include them all in the portrait, even some berries! It could have been too crowded, but the beautiful white of the dog stood out well against the background and minimized the feeling of clutter.