How to Evaluate the Body of a Maltese Show Dog

Maltese are dainty little animals known for their delicate poise.

Maltese are toy dogs that usually do not grow to be much over 6 lbs. They are gentle little dogs known for their sweet dispositions and snowy white coats that hang almost to the ground when they are in show mode. While the coat is certainly one of the most striking things about a Maltese, judges also evaluate the body of the dog when they are ranking it for show places.

Things You'll Need

• Table for the dog to stand on

Instructions

1. Place the dog on the table. This will help you get a better look at this tiny animal. A show dog will have been trained to stand on a table or platform, and will be pliant and helpful when you are trying to get a good look at her.

2. Compare the distance from the withers to the ground, and from the withers to the root of the tail. The withers of the dog is the area immediately behind the neck and just above the shoulders. The distance between the withers and the ground should be equal to the distance between the withers and the root of the tail.

3. 

   Look at the line of the dog's back. It should be level when the dog is standing with his head up and his rump in its customary position. A dog that tucks his back legs under or whose spine is not correctly aligned will not have a level back.

4. Judge how closely the dog's "elbows" hug her body. The dog's elbows are the bends in her legs. They should stay close to the body and not be bowed outward.

5. Rate the shoulders. Square shoulders give some dogs a broader, tougher appearance. Maltese are gentle and have sloping shoulders that enable their legs to blend in with their hanging curtain of snowy white fur.