Living
Which is the better overall choice?
The Maltese fits small spaces and first-time owners better; the Am Staff is the steadier pick around kids and needs far less grooming.
American Staffordshire Terrier vs Maltese: Which Suits Your Home?
American Staffordshire Terrier or Maltese? On paper they differ most on grooming need, and on the scales American Staffordshire Terrier is the heavier at 40–70 lbs. Here is how the two compare on everything that shapes an ordinary week.
This is for someone already down to American Staffordshire Terrier and Maltese and deciding between them. For this pair the decision usually turns on grooming need and exercise need, so those are covered first and in most detail. Anyone choosing from a flat has a clear answer here: Maltese rates 5/5 against 3/5. The focus throughout is on daily consequences rather than breed background.
Quick verdict
Between American Staffordshire Terrier and Maltese, grooming need is what separates them, and Maltese is the lower-effort dog of the two to keep.
Choose american staffordshire terrier if...
Choose American Staffordshire Terrier if you do not want a standing grooming appointment, the dog will be alone during the working day and there are young children at home.
Choose maltese if...
Choose Maltese if you are in a flat or a smaller home, this is your first dog and shedding is a problem in your house.
Head-to-head comparison
| Feature | american staffordshire terrier | maltese | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size class | medium | small | Equal |
| Weight | 40–70 lbs | 3–7 lbs | Equal |
| Height | 17–19 in | 7–9 in | Equal |
| Lifespan | 12–16 years | 12–15 years | american staffordshire terrier |
| Exercise need | High (4/5) | Low (2/5) | maltese |
| Grooming need | Very low (1/5) | High (4/5) | american staffordshire terrier |
| Shedding | Moderate (3/5) | Very low (1/5) | maltese |
| Energy level | High (4/5) | Moderate (3/5) | Equal |
| Barking | Low (2/5) | Moderate (3/5) | american staffordshire terrier |
| Apartment suitability | Moderate (3/5) | Very high (5/5) | maltese |
| Good for first-time owners | Moderate (3/5) | High (4/5) | maltese |
| Tolerates being alone | Moderate (3/5) | Low (2/5) | american staffordshire terrier |
| Trainability | High (4/5) | High (4/5) | Equal |
| Good with kids | High (4/5) | Moderate (3/5) | american staffordshire terrier |
| Good with other dogs | Low (2/5) | High (4/5) | maltese |
| Friendly to strangers | High (4/5) | High (4/5) | Equal |
| Cost level | Moderate (3/5) | Moderate (3/5) | Equal |
| Coat | Short, stiff and glossy | Long, silky, white | Equal |
| Origin | Various | Malta | Equal |
| Typical monthly cost | $100–$200 | $100–$180 | Equal |
| Typical first-year cost | $1,400–$2,900 | $1,400–$2,300 | Equal |
Deep dive
Size and build
The size gap here is the largest in the entire batch: the Am Staff at 40-70 lbs and 17-19 inches against the Maltese at just 3-7 lbs and 7-9 inches. A full-grown Maltese can weigh less than an Am Staff puppy at a few weeks old. They're not just different breeds — they're built for entirely different physical worlds.
Energy and exercise
The Am Staff needs considerably more exercise — 4 out of 5 against the Maltese's low 2. Energy level is closer, high versus moderate, but a Maltese's small frame simply can't absorb the same volume of activity as a 40-70 pound dog. Short walks and indoor play genuinely satisfy this breed; the Am Staff needs more sustained output.
Grooming and shedding
The Maltese's long, silky, white coat needs real upkeep — grooming rates a high 4 out of 5, with regular brushing to prevent matting and staining. The Am Staff needs almost none (1/5). Shedding runs the other way: the Maltese sheds very little (1/5) against the Am Staff's moderate (3/5). If you can commit to daily brushing, the tradeoff is a coat that doesn't end up on your clothes.
Apartment living, noise and time alone
The Maltese is close to a perfect apartment dog on paper — 5 out of 5 for apartment suitability against the Am Staff's moderate 3 — though it barks more (3/5 versus 2/5), which can matter in thin-walled buildings. The Am Staff tolerates being alone slightly better (3/5 versus 2/5). Small and quiet aren't the same thing; the Maltese is small but not especially quiet.
Training and owner experience
Trainability rates identically at 4 out of 5 for both, but the Maltese is rated notably more forgiving for first-time owners — high 4 out of 5 against the Am Staff's moderate 3. Its small size lowers the physical stakes of training mistakes in a way that matters for someone handling a dog for the first time.
Kids, other dogs and visitors
The Am Staff actually rates better with kids here — 4 out of 5 against the Maltese's moderate 3, worth noting given how often small dogs get assumed to be the safer choice around children; fragility can cut the other way. The Maltese pulls ahead with other dogs, 4 out of 5 against the Am Staff's low 2. Both rate high with strangers.
Health and lifespan
The Am Staff has a slight lifespan edge, 12-16 years versus the Maltese's 12-15. Their health lists don't overlap much on paper — the Maltese's is built around small-breed issues like patellar luxation, white shaker syndrome, and tear staining, while the Am Staff's shorter list includes cerebellar ataxia and cruciate ligament tears. Allergies appear on both lists.
Cost to keep
Cost level ties at moderate (3/5) for both breeds, and the dollar ranges sit close together too: $100-$180 monthly for the Maltese versus $100-$200 for the Am Staff, and $1,400-$2,300 versus $1,400-$2,900 in the first year. The Maltese's small size keeps food costs down even as its grooming needs add a recurring bill the Am Staff doesn't have.
American Staffordshire Terrier vs Maltese at a glance
American Staffordshire Terrier weighs 40–70 lbs and lives 12–16 years; Maltese weighs 3–7 lbs and lives 12–15 years. The two diverge most on grooming need, exercise need and apartment suitability and 2 other rated axes. They are level on cost level, friendly to strangers and trainability, so those cannot decide it. The table below marks a winner only where one breed is genuinely easier for a typical owner; size and origin are facts rather than merits and stay level. Ratings come from one source applied to both breeds, so they are meaningful against each other rather than as absolute scores.
Frequently asked questions
How much smaller is the Maltese?
Dramatically — 3-7 lbs versus the Am Staff's 40-70 lbs, the widest size gap in this whole batch of comparisons.
Which is better around young kids?
The Am Staff actually rates higher, 4 out of 5 versus the Maltese's moderate 3 — a reminder that small dogs aren't automatically the safer pick around rough play.
Which needs more grooming?
The Maltese, 4 out of 5 versus the Am Staff's 1. Its long white coat needs daily attention to avoid matting and staining.
Which fits an apartment better?
The Maltese, 5 out of 5 against the Am Staff's moderate 3 — though it also barks more, so check with neighbors.
What's the monthly cost?
Nearly identical — $100-$180 for the Maltese, $100-$200 for the Am Staff.
Do their health risks overlap?
Allergies is the main shared item. Otherwise their lists diverge toward breed-typical concerns — small-dog joint and eye issues for the Maltese, cerebellar ataxia for the Am Staff.
Which is easier for a first-time owner?
The Maltese, 4 out of 5 versus the Am Staff's moderate 3.
Quick answers
View more answersCosts
What's the monthly cost?
$100-$180 for the Maltese, $100-$200 for the Am Staff — close enough that grooming time, not money, is the real difference.
Training
How much exercise do they need?
The Am Staff needs significantly more — 4 out of 5 versus the Maltese's low 2.
Health
Which lives longer?
Nearly the same — the Am Staff's 12-16 years versus the Maltese's 12-15.
Related DogBreedCompass guides
- American Staffordshire Terrier breed guide – Readers comparing the two usually want the full profile of American Staffordshire Terrier before deciding.
- Maltese breed guide – The same for Maltese, so the comparison can be checked against the detail.
- American Staffordshire Terrier vs American Pit Bull Terrier – American Pit Bull Terrier is the closest breed to American Staffordshire Terrier on the measured axes, so it is the natural next comparison.
- Maltese vs Bichon Frise – Bichon Frise sits closest to Maltese, which makes it the alternative worth ruling out.
- What American Staffordshire Terrier costs to keep – Anyone weighing these two is usually also pricing them, and the cost pages carry city-level figures.
- Maltese health problems – The health pages set out what each breed is actually screened for.
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Important reminder
Health information here is general and is not veterinary advice. If your dog shows pain, sudden behaviour change, or worsening symptoms, consult a licensed veterinarian.
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