MALTESE BREED STANDARDS
AUSTRALIAN STANDARD
HEAD AND SKULL:
From stop to centre of skull (centre between forepart of ears) and stop to tip of nose equally balanced. Stop defined,nose pure black..
EYES:
Oval, not bulging, dark brown, black eye rims. Any shading around the eyes enhances the expression and is known as haloes; as described in the Australian Breed Standard Extension.
MOUTH:
Level or scissor bite with even teeth.
EARS:
Long and well feathured. Hanging close to the side of head. The hair to be mingled with coat at the shoulders.
BODY:
Should be well balanced in every way. Essentially short and cobby with good rib spring. The back should should be straight from the tip of the shoulders to the tail. HIhquarters legs should be short and nicely angulated. Forequarters legs should be short and straight. Tail should be well arched over back and feathured. Feet should be round and pads should be black. Neck of medium lenght set on well sloped shoulders.
COAT:
Shoiuld be of silky texture, good length but not impeding action. Not in anyway woolly and should be straight,not crimped and no woolly undercoat. Colour should be white but slight lemon markngs should not penalise.
GAIT/MOVEMENT:
Straight and free flowing, without weeving.
SIZE:
Not exceeding 25cm (10 inches) from ground to top of shoulder.
As included in the Australian Breed Standard Extension. Overall quality is to be favoured over size. Some have interpreted this to mean larger specimens are to be favoured over smaller ones. This was never intended. All Maltese are to be considered equally within the maximum height limit.
MALE:
Should have two apparantly normal tiesticles fully descended into the scotum
AMERICAN STANDARD
HEAD:
Of medium length in proportion to dog. Slighlty rounded on the top, the stop is moderate, muzzle of medium length and the nose is black.
NECK:
Of medium length is desirable as promoitng a high carriage of the head.
EYES:
Are not set too far apart , very dark and round with black rims.
MOUTH:
The teeth meet in an even edge to edge bite, or in a scissor bite.
EARS:
Rather low set and heavily feathered with long hair that hangs close to the head.
BODY:
Compact, the height from the withers to the ground equaling the lenght from the withers to the root of the tail. Shoulder blades sloping, elbows well knit and held close to the body. The back is level in topline. Tail carried gracefully over the back, its tip lying to the side over the quarter. Feet small and round with black toe pads.
COAT:
The coat is single without undercoat, long flat and silky over the sides of the body almost to the ground. Any kinkiness or woolly texture is objectionalbe. Colour is pure white, light tan or lemon markings is permitted but indesirable.
SIZE:
Weight under 7 pounds, with from 4 to 6 pounds preferred. Overall quality is to be favoured over size.
GAIT:
The Maltese moves with a smooth flowing gait
UK STANDARD
HEAD & SKULL:
From stop tp centre of skull (centre between forepart of ears) and stop to tip of nose equally ballanced. Stop well defined. Nose black, muzzle broad, well filled under eye not snipey.
EYES:
Oval, not bulging, dark brown, black eye rims, with dark haloes.
COAT:
Reasonable length never impeding action. Straight of silky texture, never woolly, or crimped and without undercoat. Colour white, slight lemon markings permissible.
SIZE:
Height not exceeding 25cms (10 inches) from ground to withers.
BODY:
Well balanced essentially short and cobby. Neck medium length. Back level from withers to tail Hindquarters legs short, well angulated. Forequarters legs short and straight, shoulders well sloped. Tail feathred, carried well arched over the back. Feet round, pads black. Ears long well feathered hanging close to head, hair to mingle with coat at shoulders.
BITE:
Complete scissor - upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and even teeth.
GAIT/MOVEMENT:
Straight and free flowing, without weaving.
MALE:
Male animals should have two aparantly normal tresticles fully descended into the scrotum.