Maltese Coloring Page

Here is an elegant Maltese, with the pure white, silky coat this breed is famous for. Since the fur is such a pure white, adding only the faintest touches of pale gray for shadow will bring out its soft, fluffy texture without losing that elegant look. This sheet works well for senior recreation, care facilities, day services, and brain-training activities, and it prints cleanly at A4 size, free to download.

About the Maltese

The Maltese is one of the oldest toy breeds in Europe, with a history that stretches back more than two thousand years to the small Mediterranean island that gave the dog its name. Ancient Greek and Roman writers already described a tiny white lapdog kept by noblewomen, and the breed went on to become a fixture of European royal courts, appearing in paintings from the Renaissance onward as a symbol of refinement and devotion. Unlike working breeds bred for a job, the Maltese has always been prized simply as a companion animal, shaped over centuries to be gentle, affectionate, and easy to keep close at hand.

That famous coat is the heart of this page, and it rewards a light touch rather than heavy color. Because Maltese fur is pure white and almost silk-like, try shading with just a very pale gray or the faintest blue, following the direction the hair falls along the back, ears, and legs, and leave plenty of white paper showing through so the coat keeps its soft, feathery look instead of turning flat and dull. Save your one strong, dark color for the small features that give the face its expression: the round black eyes and the little black button nose stand out best in solid black or deep brown, and even a small ribbon or bow at the topknot, a classic way owners style this breed's long hair, can take a single cheerful color all its own.