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Maltese

Maltese genetic profile from the CanVAS Atlas. 96 dogs in the Atlas, heterozygosity 0.31. Nearest relatives, trait loci frequencies, cohort distribution.

What the atlas says about Maltese

In the atlas, the Maltese clusters consistently as Maltese (100% of the 96 dogs here). At the trait loci, FGF4_retrogene_CFA18 runs lower than average (2% here vs 77%); SMAD2 runs lower than average (16% here vs 74%).

Low breed predictability score (0.24), individual dogs of this breed vary widely in genetics, suggesting active substructure or sub-population diversity.

Closest genetic neighbors in the atlas: Chihuahua, Toy Poodle, Beagle, Havanese, and Pomeranian.

Median lifespan is 12.05 years, about 1.5 years shorter than a typical dog of 3.5 kg, one of the larger gaps in the atlas.

Genetic dimensions · CanVAS atlas

What the genome says about Maltese

Computed from the 14,478 research dogs in the Atlas. Methods: technical methodology.

Dogs in the Atlas
96Founders
77 from Hayward2016, 10 from Spatola, 8 from Shannon
Genetic diversity
0.31Moderate
Mean heterozygosity across the breed. Ranks 59th most genetically tight of 107 ranked breeds.
Cluster structure
Splits into two genetic sub-populations
Intra-breed RMS distance: 30.10 · likely working/show-line, regional, or kennel lineage split.
Nearest genetic relatives
  1. Chihuahua3.39
  2. Toy Poodle4.63
  3. Beagle4.97
  4. Havanese5.02
  5. Pomeranian5.03
Top-10 PC corrected Euclidean. Lower = closer.
Trait genetics
Allele frequencies at named morphology loci

Frequency of the alternate allele in this breed at each locus's representative SNP. Methods + caveats in technical methodology.

Body size
IGF189%
HMGA22%
SMAD216%
LCORL100%
STC291%
ADAMTS1742%
Leg length
FGF4·CFA182%
FGF4·CFA1286%
Coat
RSPO290%
FGF591%
KRT71100%
MC1R77%
Ear set
MSRB383%
Skull shape
BMP379%
SMOC2100%
Add your Maltese to the Atlas

You can add your Maltese right now at /add/ as a Charted star. Or, if you'd rather wait for DNA uploads, leave your email and we'll let you know the moment those open.

Last updated
Sources: CanVAS (Brundage 2026) · CanVAS dimensions data