The Maltese

(Breed Standard)

Partha Sekhar Chatterjee

International All Breeds Dog Show Judge

The Maltese are smart white coated dogs. They are lively, alert and intelligent and sweet tempered.  

The stop is well defined and equally balanced. The nose is black and the muzzle is broad and is well filled under the eye. They are not snipey.  

The eyes are oval in shape and dark brown in colour. The eye rims are black with dark haloes. 

The ears are long and well feathered. They hang close to the head. The Jaws are strong with perfect, regular and complete scissor bite. The teeth are even. 

The neck is of medium length.

The legs at forequarters are short and straight. The shoulders are well sloped.  

The body is well balanced, short and cobby. Good spring of ribs. The back is level from withers to tail. The feet are round with black pads. The hind limbs are short and well angulated. 

The tail is feathered and carried well arched over the back. 

The movement is free without any weaving.

The cost is of good length and does not impede action. It is straight silky in texture. Never crimped or wooly and without a wooly under coat. 

The colour is pure white. Slight lemon markings are permissible. 

The size may not exceed 25.5cm (ins) from ground to withers.

Note: The males should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended in to the scrotum.

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