The coat is long and silky and lacks an undercoat. Some Maltese can have curly hair (especially behind their ears), but this is considered a fault. The colour of the coat is pure white. A pale ivory tinge is permitted on the ears. In some standards, a pure white coat with slight lemon markings is tolerated.The Maltese does not shed, and is therefore a good choice for people with dog allergies. They can exhibit signs of tear-staining. Some people prefer their dogs to have the coat short, clipped to a few centimetres in length.Adult Maltese range from roughly 1.4 to 4.5 kg (3 to 10 lb). The international FCI standard specifies a weight of 3–4 kg (6.6–8.8 lb); the American Kennel Club calls for a somewhat lighter weight of 4–7 lb (1.8–3.2 kg), with 4–6 lb (1.8–2.7 kg) preferred, They are usually 18 to 30 cm (7 to 12 in) tall.