General Appearance:  A gentle, eager, affectionate toy dog covered with long, silky white hair.

Size, Proportion, and Substance:  Weight-under 7 lbs; between 4and 6 lbs. preferred.

Background:  These tiny toys have tons of personality.  Maltese like to be pampered, but will accept ground rules gladly.  Maltese do well with adults and older children but are not recommended with toddlers, due to their tiny size.  The Maltese's coat should be brushed daily if grown long or cut every 2-3 months to keep short. 