Maltese bandana size chart: 15 in square

How do I measure a Maltese?

1. Stand the dog square. Use a soft tape where a flat collar sits, on the skin, not over the coat.
2. Snug the tape, then leave room for two fingers. That reading is the neck.
3. Add about 8 inches on the long edge for the knot. Pick the smallest square that covers it.
4. Fold corner to corner. The point rests on the chest, and the knot sits at the side or the back.

What fit notes matter for a Maltese?

Cut a 15 in square for a typical adult Maltese neck of 8–11 inches where a flat collar sits. The build to expect is a light neck that cannot carry a heavy knot. That interval is a fitting range for adult pets, not a breed-standard measurement and not a reason to skip the tape on the dog in front of you.

Both ends of that range use the extra small 15 in square (long edge about 21.2 in). The 8 extra inches on the long edge are there for the knot, not for a looser guess.

The miss that shows up on a Maltese is a decorative bow that pulls the knot around to one side. Keep the knot flat. If the fabric outweighs the head, cut a smaller square. Weight, a photo, or the size printed on another dog's bandana does not give you the long edge.

Fit the fabric to the anatomy you can feel: a light neck that cannot carry a heavy knot. Fold the square once, corner to corner, and tie the long edge so the point rests on the chest rather than over the eyes or into the water bowl. Two fingers should still slide under the knot after it is snug. If the point drags or the knot pinches a fold of skin, remeasure and recut—do not force a larger square and pull harder.

Measure where a flat collar sits and leave room for two fingers, as in common dog-apparel measuring guidance from the American Kennel Club. Then use this site's square chart rather than a clothing size label.