Maltese Breed Standard
Toy Group

General Appearance
The Maltese is a toy dog covered from head to foot with a mantle of long, silky, white hair. He is gentle-mannered and affectionate, eager and sprightly in action, and, despite his size, possessed of the vigor needed for the satisfactory companion.

Head
Of medium length and in proportion to the size of the dog. The skull is slightly rounded on top, the stop moderate. The drop ears are rather low set and heavily feathered with long hair that hangs close to the head. Eyes are set not too far apart; they are very dark and round, their black rims enhancing the gentle yet alert expression. The muzzle is of medium length, fine and tapered but not snipy.The nose is black. The teeth meet in an even, edge-to-edge bite, or in a scissors bite.

Neck

Sufficient length of neck is desirable as promoting a high carriage of the head.

Body
Compact, the height from the withers to the ground equaling the length from the withers to the root of the tail. Shoulder blades are sloping, the elbows well knit and held close to the body. The back is level in topline, the ribs well sprung. The chest is fairly deep, the loins taut, strong, and just slightly tucked up underneath.

Tail
A long-haired plume carried gracefully over the back, its tip lying to the side over the quarter.

Legs and Feet
Legs are fine-boned and nicely feathered. Forelegs are straight, their pastern joints well knit and devoid of appreciable bend. Hind legs are strong and moderately angulated at stifles and hocks. The feet are small and round, with toe pads black. Scraggly hairs on the feet may be trimmed to give a neater appearance.

Coat and Color
The coat is single, that is, without undercoat. It hangs long, flat, and silky over the sides of the body almost, if not quite, to the ground. The long head-hair may be tied up in a topknot or it may be left hanging. Any suggestion of kinkiness, curliness, or woolly texture is objectionable. Color, pure white. Light tan or lemon on the ears is permissible, but not desirable.

Size
Weight under 7 pounds, with from 4 to 6 pounds preferred. Overall quality is to be favored over size.

Gait
The Maltese moves with a jaunty, smooth, flowing gait. Viewed from the side, he gives an impression of rapid movement, size considered. In the stride, the forelegs reach straight and free from the shoulders, with elbows close. Hind legs to move in a straight line. Cowhocks or any suggestion of hind leg toeing in or out are faults.

Temperament
For all his diminutive size, the Maltese seems to be without fear. His trust and affectionate responsiveness are very appealing. He is among the gentlest mannered of all little dogs, yet he is lively and playful as well as vigorous.

Approved March 10, 1964

 Maltese(玛尔济斯)

 [历史] 　　英国亨利八世时马尔济斯犬已在英国流行了，并成为宫廷夫人的心爱小犬。1877年作为马尔济斯狮子犬首次在美国展出。1879年一条有色犬作为马耳济司绠展出。1888年美国养犬俱乐部登记了马尔济斯犬。　　许多世纪以来，马尔济斯犬就是有文化的，是有钱人和口味高的人的家庭宠物，可能就因为马尔济斯犬具有文雅、忠诚和爱清洁等品质的原因。马尔济斯犬对运动的要求很低，对儿童特别友好，具有良好的体质而长寿（可活14－16年，有时可活18年以上）。它态度高贵、聪明（有时甚至是狡猾）。而且非常依恋它的主人。如果有兴趣拥有一条非常美丽的小犬而不是一条有实际用途的犬，马尔济斯犬是合适的选择。　　马尔济斯犬虽然不需要太大的空间，但要求精心照顾，每天必须彻底地梳理刷净它的长毛。这种犬不脱毛。但它毛长及地往往带进屋内许多污物，尤其是在阴雨天。由于它对潮湿很敏感，阴雨天每次外出后都必须擦干吹干，因此不适合不能花时间做这些事的人。

[简介] 马尔济斯犬是从头到脚披着白色丝状长毛的玩具犬。它的态度文雅而深情、热切而行动活泼，尽管体型小却具有令人满意的作为伴侣犬所需的精力。马尔济斯犬是温和的小犬，全家的宠物。可以放心地让它与儿童玩耍。通常健康良好，一直到生命晚期仍生气勃勃。马尔济斯犬最古老的欧洲玩赏犬之一。但是肯定马尔济斯犬的原产地是马耳他岛，却引起了一系列的异议， 虽然这种犬在该岛无疑已有许多世纪了。

[头部] 与体形大小相比长度适中。颅顶部略呈圆形，额鼻阶适度。下垂耳位较低，有大量长毛形成耳缘饰毛，毛下垂至头。眼距极宽，眼色极深而呈圆形，其黑色眼边增强了文雅而机敏的表情。吻长适中，精巧而逐渐收缩但不显长吻状。鼻黑色。牙齿钳状咬合或剪状咬合。

[颈部] 最好有充分长度以便头能高昂。

[躯干] 紧凑，肩高等于肩峰至尾根长。肩胛斜位，肘部结实并紧贴躯干。 背线平， 肋骨扩张良好。 胸相当深， 腰紧而强， 下面略收腹。

[尾] 尾有长羽状饰毛，优美地位于背上，尾尖向体侧超过1/4。

[腿与脚] 腿骨纤细，有良好的饰毛。前腿直，掌节结实，不见弯曲。后腿强健，膝关节和飞节角度适当。脚小而圆，趾垫黑色。脚上参差不齐的毛可修剪使之更整洁。

[被毛和颜色] 单层被毛，即无绒毛层。被毛长、平而呈丝状，向体侧下垂及地。头部长毛可用头饰扎住或任其下垂。任何缠纹、卷曲或毛茸茸状迹象都是要不得的。毛色纯白，允许耳部有淡黄褐色或柠檬色，但不是最好的。

[体型] 体重小于7磅，比较理想的体重为4~6磅。但整体品质比体重重要。

[步态] 马尔济斯犬的步态轻快、平稳而流畅、侧观，按体形大小考虑，给人以运动迅速的印象。后腿"X"（飞节向内靠而后脚趾向外）或后脚趾内向或外向的任何迹象都算缺点

[气质] 尽管马尔济斯犬体型极小，但却似乎不知道害怕。它的自信和有感情的反应性是很诱人的。它是所有小犬中态度最温和的，但它又是活泼爱玩和生气勃勃的。

[优劣] 体重不要超过6斤，毛色纯白，允许耳部有淡黄褐色或柠檬色，但不是最好的。

原作： 酋长

来源： 转译自AKC

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