What Colors Do Maltese Come In?

Maltese dogs are named after the Mediterranean island of Malta, their supposed place of origin. However, drawings of Maltese-type dogs have been found in Asia as early as 5,000 B.C., indicating that these popular dogs reached Malta later. Well-known for their unique hair and pure white color, Maltese had long been the breed of high society ladies.

  1. Description

    • Maltese are small dogs with hair on their bodies instead of fur. They are typically under 7 pounds and less than a foot tall. Their heads are slightly rounded on top with a small muzzle and black nose. Their hair is long and flowing and always white. Sometimes the ears are a light yellow or tan color, but this is not preferred among breeders so it's not common to see them. It has small, round feet with black pads.

    Basic Coloring

    • These little dogs are always white and sometimes have a light yellow or tan color to the tips of their ears. They have long, straight, flowing hair, not fur and it covers their entire bodies. They have long hair on their ears and a beard or mustache of hair draping down from their muzzles. The hair is pure titanium white all over their bodies, except for the ears in some dogs.

    Mixed Breeds

    • Occasionally, you'll see Maltese in different colors. These are usually mixed breed dogs with mostly Maltese and another similar breed ancestry. They can look very similar to the Maltese with the same body type and long, flowing hair. However, the different color gives them away every time. Colors such as grey, black, tan and brown can come from ancestors of a similar breed and size. They are still beautiful dogs with agreeable and active dispositions.

    Similar Breeds

    • It's also possible to confuse another similar breed with a Maltese. These little dogs are a part of the Bichon family of dog breeds. They all share certain characteristics, such as the short muzzle, small size and round dark eyes. The Havanese is similar enough to be mistaken for a Maltese with its long hair and mustache. However, their coats come in different colors, such as off-white, tan, grey, blue or black. The Bichon Frise can also resemble a Maltese with a puppy hair cut. They have fluffy, curly fur that is generally white. Many of them also feature areas of off-white, tan or apricot coloring on their bodies.