does all maltese dogs have to be white?
December 15th, 2009 | by admin |I have a dog that looks white and tan, but she looks like a Maltese.
Maltese are pure white. Sometimes they have brown markings around the eye areas caused by tear stains.
They may also have some tan or yellowish markings around the ears but this is usually very rare (breeders will not breed dogs with these markings) and undesirable in the standard breed.
What you are describing sounds more like a Shih Tzu crossed with a Maltese.
Note to the person below: A Silky Terrier is a separate breed alone and not a cross between a Yorkie and a Malt.
11 Responses to “does all maltese dogs have to be white?”
By K on Dec 15, 2009 | Reply
Maybe it’s a Shih Tsu
From the Maltese Standard:
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.
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By Heather H on Dec 15, 2009 | Reply
The colors acceptable are pure white, or light ivory. But she maybe a mix!
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By Ivan on Dec 15, 2009 | Reply
Maltese are pure white. Sometimes they have brown markings around the eye areas caused by tear stains.
They may also have some tan or yellowish markings around the ears but this is usually very rare (breeders will not breed dogs with these markings) and undesirable in the standard breed.
What you are describing sounds more like a Shih Tzu crossed with a Maltese.
Note to the person below: A Silky Terrier is a separate breed alone and not a cross between a Yorkie and a Malt.
References :
Owner of 6 Shih Tzus
By rican99 on Dec 15, 2009 | Reply
You probabaly have a Silk Terrier – It’s a mix between a Yorkshire Terrier and a Maltese.
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By Patti G on Dec 15, 2009 | Reply
If you go to the AKC’s web site and pull up Maltese-you will find that pure white is the only accepted color. You probably have a very sweet and cute "mix". Spay or neuter the little darling and live happily ever after!
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http://www.AKC.org
35 yrs Animal Behavior
By Xo_Danielle_xO on Dec 15, 2009 | Reply
She is most likely a Shih Tzu. They look like Maltese. But, they are black and white, brown and white, or tan and white…The Maltese Breed standard is all white.
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By crystal b on Dec 15, 2009 | Reply
She’s not a Maltese, they our solid white, no other color. If you can’t ask the people you got her from what she is then the next time you take her in to the Vet ask them about. They can usually tell you what you have. She sounds adorable!
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By Karen W on Dec 15, 2009 | Reply
Could be a Shih-Tzu or Lhasa Apso, or even mixed with one of these; both can have colors as well as white.
According to AKC breed standards for Maltese, light tan or yellow on the ears is permissible but not desirable.
http://www.akc.org/breeds/maltese/index.cfm
http://www.akc.org/breeds/lhasa_apso/index.cfm
http://www.akc.org/breeds/shih_tzu/index.cfm
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By iwannagohome on Dec 15, 2009 | Reply
Nah, you can just dunk her in some pink koolaid and voila! Pink pooch!
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By eurobichons on Dec 15, 2009 | Reply
Maltese are all white. These days many are bred with Yorkies and poodles and such other dogs.
What I would suggest is that you log into our site its totally free and it will help you with the dog if it is indeed a mixed malt breed.
We are the only site that is free to join globally that gives up to date health , grooming and training advice for all bichons group.
http://www.eurobichons.com
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By Lexi on Dec 15, 2009 | Reply
Malteses might not be pure white. Some my be slightly tan on their ears and maybe on their body. This doesn’t mean that they are mixed with another breed, but if the tan color is very distinct there might be a chance of it being mixed.
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I have two maltese, both of them are off white but one of them is slightly tan on his body. Both dogs had some tan fur as puppies, but eventually grew up to have lighter fur. If your maltese is a puppy this might also be the reason.