The Maltese Hunting Dog (Kelb tal-Kaċċa ta’ Malta, KTKM) is deeply rooted in Malta’s hunting tradition, with
historical records tracing its presence back to the 16th century. Despite the absence of official recognition, this
breed has been preserved and selectively maintained over centuries, thanks to the dedication of breeders. This
study aimed to characterize the phenotypic and genomic features of 24 KTKM individuals to support their official
recognition and conservation. Morphological analyses defined the KTKM as a mesocephalic and mesomorphic
breed, characterized by large pendulous ears, a ”Braque”-type face, and a short coat with white-patched pheomelanic
colouration. Genomic comparisons with 46 dog breeds consistently revealed the KTKM’s unique genetic
identity and high uniformity, placing it near pointing dogs while highlighting ancient connections with the Maltese
Pharaoh Hound. Moreover, despite the small population size and geographic isolation, KTKM displayed
relatively low levels of genomic inbreeding. Effective population size was 76, with a trend dropping 12 generations
ago. To identify potential introgressed genomic regions, local ancestry inference was performed against nine
historically, phenotypically, or genomically relevant breeds. Several emerged regions were associated with key
morphological traits -e.g., coat color and length, ear shape, and size-, behaviour, and physical or cognitive abilities
important for hunting tasks. In conclusion, the KTKM emerges as a genetically distinct and uniform population
belonging to the pointing dog group. Its moderate inbreeding levels and unique genomic characteristics support
the possibility of preserving the breed through dedicated conservation efforts. This study underscores the critical
need to protect the KTKM’s genetic diversity and cultural heritage, providing a foundation for its official recognition
and long-term preservation
