Its back should be level from the tail to the shoulders. The dog's chest should be slightly deep and the loins should be tight and slightly tucked under.
[header] How to identify a show worthy maltese [title] Assess the body of the dog. [step] The standard body of a maltese is compact. Typically, the distance from the withers (shoulders) to the root (base) of the tail should be the same as the distance from the withers to the ground.