Maltese Dog Breed: Everything You Need to Know

The Maltese dog breed is known for its gentle and affectionate nature. These small dogs are lively and intelligent, making them great companions. They love to be around people and can be friendly with strangers, which is a plus for social families.

Maltese dogs thrive in apartment settings due to their small size and low exercise requirements. They need about 30 minutes of exercise each day, which can include walks and playtime. Regular grooming is essential to maintain their long, silky coat and prevent matting.

Understanding the pros and cons of the Maltese can help you decide if this breed suits your lifestyle.

The Maltese is demanding on 2 of 8 fronts: alone time, coat care. If any of those is a hard no in your life, this is not a good fit - compare a close cousin instead. If not, each one needs a plan before you commit, not after.

How many hours a day will the dog be alone? Demanding - Alone-time tolerance: low. Away 6+ hours most days means daily cover (walker or daycare) or a different breed. Decide this before anything else.

Where will the dog live, and how much noise can the building take? Easy - Apartment suitability: very high; barking: moderate. Suits apartments and houses alike; barking is manageable with early quiet-training.

What can you spend every month, including a buffer for vet bills? Plan for it - Typical monthly cost: $100 - $180; cost level 3/5. Mid-range running costs ($100 - $180 a month); the first-year setup and an emergency fund are what people underestimate.

Have you trained a dog before? Easy - First-time-owner friendliness: high; trainability: high. Forgiving for first-time owners; trainability makes the Phase 3 basics quick.

Are there children in the home (now or soon)? Plan for it - Kid-friendly: moderate. Workable with older, dog-savvy children; no unsupervised time with under-5s.

How much exercise will you actually give, on a bad week? Easy - Exercise need: low; energy: moderate. Modest exercise needs: a daily walk and some play cover it.

How much hair and grooming can you live with? Demanding - Shedding: very low (Long, silky, white); grooming need: high. Heavy shedding or a coat that needs professional grooming: a monthly groomer bill or a serious brushing habit, not optional.

Any other pets at home? Easy - Dog-friendly: high. Generally easy with other dogs; cats are an individual question to ask the breeder or rescue.

A good fit if the demanding rows above have a plan you can name today; you should avoid this breed if one of them is something you would be hoping to change later. Take the lifestyle quiz to have these scored against your own answers.

The Maltese dog breed can be a great addition to families with children. They are generally gentle and affectionate, making them suitable companions for kids. However, their small size and delicate frame require some caution around very young children to prevent accidental injuries.

The Maltese dog breed is well-suited for apartment living due to its small size and moderate energy level. They typically adapt well to smaller spaces as long as they receive regular exercise and mental stimulation. However, they can be vocal, which might be an issue in close quarters with neighbors.

In a house with a yard, the Maltese can enjoy more freedom to explore and play. This breed loves to run around, and having a yard means you can provide them with more opportunities for exercise. However, it’s essential to have a secure fence, as they can be curious and may wander off.

If you live in an apartment, a Maltese can thrive as long as you ensure daily walks and playtime. They are generally quiet but can bark at unfamiliar sounds, so training to manage their barking is crucial. A house with a yard is ideal if you prefer a more laid-back lifestyle where your dog can roam freely.

Overall, consider your lifestyle and whether you can commit to exercising them regularly in an apartment setting.

The Maltese dog breed requires regular grooming to maintain their beautiful, long, silky coat. Brushing should be done at least 3–4 times a week to prevent tangles and matting. A bath every 3–4 weeks is also recommended, along with regular nail trims, ear cleanings, and teeth brushing to keep them healthy and clean.

A healthy Maltese usually reaches 12–15 years of age. Budget for senior-stage vet care from roughly 9 with a Maltese. Within that range, the conditions that most often shorten a Maltese's life are led by patellar luxation. Small breeds like the Maltese routinely outlive giant ones by five years or more, and 7 lb is well inside that advantage. Before buying, ask the breeder for screening results covering patellar luxation, white shaker syndrome, hypoglycemia — those are the Maltese conditions our records list first.

Three things move a Maltese within that 12–15 window rather than outside it: keeping the dog lean, staying ahead of dental disease, and screening for what the breed is known to carry.

Adult Malteses weigh 3–7 lb. Expect very low shedding from this long, silky, white coat. Skeletal growth completes near 12 months in this breed.

The grooming commitment is high — worth checking against the time you actually have. "Hypoallergenic" is marketing rather than biology: what varies is volume, and the Maltese sheds its long, silky, white coat at a very low rate. Temperament ratings for the Maltese read gentle, affectionate, lively, and the breed sits at number 22 for popularity in our data, with the breed developed in Malta.