Instructions
Check the natural expression of the Maltese. It is a gentle toy breed with a lot of springy action and sports long, white hair.
Make sure the head is in proportion to the size of the dog. It may be difficult to find the low-set ears as they are extremely feathered with the Maltese’s long hair. The round dark eyes are set somewhat close together and the medium length muzzle leads to a black nose.
Look at the length of the neck to be sure is it sufficient enough to carry the head high. It leads into sloping shoulder blades and a deep chest. The Maltese should weigh no more than 7 pounds. Males are 8 to 10 inches at the withers and females are 8 to 9 inches at the withers. The small front and rear feet are round while the tail curves over the back and supports a long plume.
Pet the dog's coat. It should feel silky, not coarse or curly. The Maltese should only be white, with no other markings.
How to Identify a Maltese
The Maltese is a big dog in a little package. It is quite playful and highly intelligent. It will bark at suspicious noises, alerting its family of possible danger. Learn to identify a Maltese so you can get to know this loveable breed.