Maltese
#37 Most PopularLast updated
Is the Maltese Right For You?
YES, if you are…
Apartment dwellers, seniors, and families with older (gentle) children. Owners who want a steady companion without committing to high-octane daily workouts. First-time and seasoned owners alike, provided they commit to consistent positive-reinforcement training. Adaptable enough for apartment living when daily exercise is non-negotiable. Above all, the ideal Maltese owner understands the breed's toy-group heritage from Malta and is prepared to honor those instincts with appropriate outlets, structure, and the kind of patient, daily commitment this breed deserves.
NO, if you are…
Households where rough-and-tumble large dogs or very active toddlers might injure them. Owners at the extremes, people who want a true couch potato or a tireless endurance athlete should look at breeds outside the moderate-energy range. Anyone who plans to skip foundational obedience entirely, even an "easy" breed needs structure to thrive. Anyone unwilling to research the specific health risks common in the Maltese (notably patellar luxation and portosystemic shunt) and budget for the preventive care that follows.
Fun Facts about the Maltese
- Maltese have been lap dogs of luxury for over 2,000 years.
- The Maltese originated in Malta, where the breed was developed for purposes that still influence their behavior today.
- As a Toy Group breed, the Maltese shares structural and temperamental traits with other breeds developed for the same kind of work.
- The Maltese is considered one of the lower-shedding breeds, which makes them a more workable choice for some allergy sufferers, though no dog is truly hypoallergenic.
- A typical Maltese lifespan is 12-15 years, meaning families should plan for that full commitment when bringing one home.
Common Misconceptions about the Maltese
Toy breeds are not fragile decorations. Treating them like accessories produces neurotic, anxious, snappy adults. They are real dogs and need socialization, training, and exercise like any other breed. Don't assume a "moderate energy" label like the Maltese's means a couch-potato dog, moderate-energy breeds still need consistent daily activity to stay balanced and prevent boredom-driven habits. One specific point worth correcting about the Maltese: their Malta origin and toy-group heritage shape behavior in ways the casual observer often misses, including their reaction to patellar luxation risks and the level of socialization they actually need from puppyhood onward.
Quick Facts
4-7 lbs
7-9 in
12-15 years
Long
White
Low
Moderate
Easy
Occasional
Yes
Maltese Temperament
Gentle, Playful, Charming
Exercise & Grooming
Exercise Needs
Short daily walks
Grooming
Daily brushing for full coat
Grooming Guide
Daily brushing for full coat. Coat care is centered on daily brushing for full coat. Long coats mat quickly without consistent attention; line-brushing weekly prevents painful tangles. Their long coat sheds very little, which suits owners who prefer a tidier home, though "low-shedding" never means "no maintenance." Trim nails every 3–4 weeks, check ears weekly for redness or odor, and brush teeth daily or use vet-approved dental chews.
Maltese Health
Common Health Issues
Patellar luxation, portosystemic shunt, dental issues
Diet & Nutrition
Feed a high-quality, AAFCO-certified diet appropriate for the Maltese's life stage and small size. Because their energy level is moderate, it's easy for this breed to become overweight; measure portions and skip the constant treat-feeding. Small breeds can be prone to hypoglycemia as puppies, multiple smaller meals per day during the first six months helps prevent it.
Health Care
The Maltese has an average lifespan of 12-15 years, which is their long lifespan means a 12-to-16-year commitment is realistic, a meaningful chapter of any owner's life. Breed-specific concerns to discuss with your vet include: patellar luxation, portosystemic shunt, dental issues. Reputable breeders screen breeding stock for these conditions, so always ask to see health clearances before committing to a puppy. Beyond breed-specific issues, follow the standards of good preventative care: a core vaccine schedule, year-round parasite prevention, regular dental cleaning, and an annual senior workup once your dog passes the midpoint of their expected lifespan. Small breeds are particularly prone to dental disease; daily brushing or a vet-approved dental routine is one of the highest-impact things you can do for their long-term health.
About the Maltese
History
The Maltese's lineage traces back to Malta, where the breed was developed for serving as devoted companion animals to royalty, merchants, and city dwellers alike. Centuries of selective work shaped the temperament, structure, and instincts you see in the breed today, and many of those original drives remain, even in dogs that will spend their lives as family companions. As a member of the Toy Group, bred specifically as devoted human companions and lap dogs, the Maltese carries hallmark traits of the group, visible in everything from how they move to how they read situations. The Maltese sits in the middle of the popularity charts, well-known to dog enthusiasts but not so common that they've been over-bred by careless breeders. An often-cited piece of breed history: Maltese have been lap dogs of luxury for over 2,000 years.
Personality
Owners who live with the Maltese consistently describe them as gentle, playful and charming, a personality shaped by generations of purposeful breeding. In daily life this shows up as balanced energy, playful when invited, calm when at rest, paired with a temperament that is eager to learn and quick to pick up new commands. With family they are friendly with children when properly socialized, generally great with other dogs, and generally great with new people; they bark occasionally, usually with reason. They can adapt to apartment living when their daily activity needs are met, but a tired dog is the real prerequisite, not square footage. Their compact size makes them easy to transport and accommodate, though it also means they can be fragile around very young children or large, rough-playing dogs. Above all, the Maltese thrives when their physical and mental needs are taken seriously, under-stimulated, even the gentlest individuals can develop frustrating habits, while a well-exercised, mentally engaged Maltese is genuinely one of the best companions you can ask for.
Living With a Maltese
Plan on 30–60 minutes of daily activity, enough to take the edge off and keep them content. They can adapt to apartment living when their daily activity needs are met, but a tired dog is the real prerequisite, not square footage. Within the household, expect a dog who is friendly with kids when properly socialized and generally great with cats. On the noise front, they bark occasionally, usually with reason, important to factor in if you have close neighbors or work-from-home calls. Their long lifespan means a 12-to-16-year commitment is realistic, a meaningful chapter of any owner's life.
Training
Malteses are eager to learn and quick to pick up new commands. Positive-reinforcement methods, food, play, and genuine praise, work far better than corrections; this breed in particular shuts down or grows resistant under harsh handling. Their moderate energy means short, focused 10–15 minute training sessions yield the best results. Early, frequent, and varied socialization between 8 and 16 weeks is critical, especially given their naturally social disposition toward strangers. Their generally measured vocalizations make impulse-control training easier than with more vocal breeds.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Maltese
Is the Maltese a good family dog?
The Maltese can work in the right family, but they are friendly with children when properly socialized. Households with very young or unsupervised children should look at a more universally child-tolerant breed. As with any breed, success depends on early socialization, supervised interactions, and teaching children how to respect the dog's space.
How much exercise does a Maltese need?
Plan on 30–60 minutes of daily activity, enough to take the edge off and keep them content. Plan for daily, structured activity rather than relying on backyard time alone, under-exercised Malteses commonly develop boredom-driven habits like chewing, digging, or excessive vocalization.
Are Malteses easy to train?
Malteses are eager to learn and quick to pick up new commands. Positive-reinforcement methods, food, play, and genuine praise, work far better than corrections. Start training in puppyhood and keep sessions short and frequent.
How much do Malteses shed?
Their long coat sheds very little, which suits owners who prefer a tidier home, though "low-shedding" never means "no maintenance." The Maltese is considered a lower-shedding breed, which can make them a more workable choice for some allergy sufferers, though no dog is truly hypoallergenic.
What is the lifespan of a Maltese?
The typical Maltese lifespan is 12-15 years. Their long lifespan means a 12-to-16-year commitment is realistic, a meaningful chapter of any owner's life. Common breed-specific health concerns to discuss with your vet include: patellar luxation, portosystemic shunt, dental issues.
Can Malteses live in an apartment?
They can adapt to apartment living when their daily activity needs are met, but a tired dog is the real prerequisite, not square footage.
Is the Maltese good with other dogs?
The Maltese is generally great with other dogs. Early, ongoing socialization between 8 and 16 weeks is critical, and adult introductions should always be on neutral ground with both dogs on loose leashes.
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