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Australian Shepherd vs Maltese: Which Suits Your Home?

Australian Shepherd or Maltese? On paper they differ most on apartment suitability, and on the scales Australian Shepherd is the heavier at 40–65 lbs. Here is how the two compare on everything that shapes an ordinary week.

This is for someone already down to Australian Shepherd and Maltese and deciding between them. For this pair the decision usually turns on apartment suitability 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 1/5. Breed history is left out; what follows is what you will actually live with.

Quick verdict

Between Australian Shepherd and Maltese, apartment suitability is what separates them, and Maltese is the lower-effort dog of the two to keep.

Choose australian shepherd if...

Choose Australian Shepherd if you do not want a standing grooming appointment, there are young children at home and you want a dog that picks up training quickly.

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	australian shepherd	maltese	Winner
Size class	medium	small	Equal
Weight	40–65 lbs	3–7 lbs	Equal
Height	18–23 in	7–9 in	Equal
Lifespan	12–15 years	12–15 years	Equal
Exercise need	Very high (5/5)	Low (2/5)	maltese
Grooming need	Moderate (3/5)	High (4/5)	australian shepherd
Shedding	High (4/5)	Very low (1/5)	maltese
Energy level	Very high (5/5)	Moderate (3/5)	Equal
Barking	Moderate (3/5)	Moderate (3/5)	Equal
Apartment suitability	Very low (1/5)	Very high (5/5)	maltese
Good for first-time owners	Low (2/5)	High (4/5)	maltese
Tolerates being alone	Low (2/5)	Low (2/5)	Equal
Trainability	Very high (5/5)	High (4/5)	australian shepherd
Good with kids	High (4/5)	Moderate (3/5)	australian shepherd
Good with other dogs	High (4/5)	High (4/5)	Equal
Friendly to strangers	Low (2/5)	High (4/5)	maltese
Cost level	Moderate (3/5)	Moderate (3/5)	Equal
Coat	Medium-length double coat	Long, silky, white	Equal
Origin	United States	Malta	Equal
Typical monthly cost	$100–$200	$100–$180	Equal
Typical first-year cost	$1,500–$2,800	$1,400–$2,300	Equal

Deep dive

Size and build

The size difference here is extreme. An Aussie can weigh up to 65 lbs; a Maltese tops out around 7 lbs, under a tenth of that. At 7-9 inches tall, a Maltese is closer in scale to a large housecat than to the dog standing next to it in this comparison.

Energy and exercise

The Aussie rates a maxed 5/5 for exercise need; the Maltese sits at a low 2/5. This isn't a small gap you can split the difference on, an Aussie without serious daily exercise tends to develop behavior problems, while a Maltese is genuinely content with modest indoor play and a short walk.

Grooming and shedding

Grooming leans toward the Aussie's favor, 3/5 against the Maltese's 4/5, since that long white silky coat needs regular brushing to avoid mats and staining. Shedding flips hard the other way, the Maltese rates a nearly shed-free 1/5 against the Aussie's high 4/5.

Apartment living, noise and time alone

Apartment suitability couldn't diverge more: 5/5 for the Maltese, 1/5 for the Aussie. Barking is a tie at moderate (3/5) for both, and both also share the same weak spot, a low 2/5 for tolerating time alone, so the Maltese's small size doesn't make it a low-maintenance dog to leave home alone.

Training and owner experience

First-time-owner suitability favors the Maltese heavily, 4/5 against the Aussie's 2/5. Trainability tilts slightly to the Aussie, 5/5 versus 4/5, but that's a minor edge next to how much more forgiving the Maltese is for someone without prior dog-handling experience.

Kids, other dogs and visitors

The Aussie actually rates higher with kids here, 4/5 against the Maltese's 3/5, a Maltese's small, delicate frame doesn't hold up as well to rough play from young children. The Maltese pulls ahead with strangers (4/5 vs 2/5), and both handle other dogs equally well at 4/5.

Health and lifespan

Lifespan ties at 12-15 years for both breeds. Health risks diverge sharply, though, the two lists barely overlap beyond allergies. The Maltese carries its own set of small-breed issues: patellar luxation, hypoglycemia, dental disease and tear staining, none of which show up on the Aussie's list.

Cost to keep

Cost level ties at 3/5 for both, and the dollar figures land close together, $100-180 monthly for the Maltese against $100-200 for the Aussie, with first-year costs of $1,400-2,300 versus $1,500-2,800. Despite the size gap, keeping a Maltese isn't meaningfully cheaper once grooming is factored in.

Australian Shepherd vs Maltese at a glance

Australian Shepherd weighs 40–65 lbs and lives 12–15 years; Maltese weighs 3–7 lbs and lives 12–15 years. The two diverge most on apartment suitability, exercise need and shedding and 3 other rated axes. They are level on tolerates being alone, barking and cost level, so those cannot decide it. The comparison marks an easier option only where one exists. Facts like weight and country of origin are not scored. Both dogs are rated from the same dataset, which is what makes the numbers comparable with each other even though any individual dog sits somewhere inside its breed's range.

Frequently asked questions

How much smaller is a Maltese than an Aussie?

Dramatically, a Maltese tops out around 7 lbs against the Aussie's 65 lbs, a difference of nearly ten times at the high end.

Which breed sheds less?

The Maltese by far, rated 1/5 against the Aussie's 4/5. It's about as close to shed-free as this comparison gets.

Which is safer around young kids?

Actually the Aussie, rated 4/5 versus the Maltese's 3/5, a Maltese's small frame is more easily hurt during rough play.

Is either breed apartment-friendly?

The Maltese is, rated 5/5. The Aussie rates a 1/5 and really needs space and a yard.

Does the Maltese cost less to keep, given its size?

Not by much, both breeds rate 3/5 for cost, and the monthly ranges ($100-180 vs $100-200) land close together once grooming is factored in.

Do the two breeds share health risks?

Barely, allergies is about the only overlap. The Maltese has its own list including patellar luxation, hypoglycemia and tear staining that doesn't appear for the Aussie.

Which is easier for a first-time owner?

The Maltese, 4/5 against the Aussie's 2/5, a much more forgiving choice if you haven't owned a dog before.

Quick answers

View more answers

Behavior

Which breed fits most first-time owners better?

The Maltese, easily, low exercise needs and a 4/5 first-time-owner rating make it far more forgiving than the Aussie.

Costs

Are monthly costs really similar despite the size gap?

Yes, close, $100-180 for the Maltese versus $100-200 for the Aussie, since grooming offsets the smaller dog's lower food cost.

Training

How different are their exercise needs?

Very, the Aussie rates 5/5, the Maltese just 2/5, so this pairing splits sharply on activity level.

Health

Do they live the same length of time?

Yes, both average 12-15 years, lifespan is a tie in this matchup.

Related DogBreedCompass guides

Australian Shepherd breed guide – Readers comparing the two usually want the full profile of Australian Shepherd before deciding.
Maltese breed guide – The same for Maltese, so the comparison can be checked against the detail.
Australian Shepherd vs German Shorthaired Pointer – German Shorthaired Pointer is the closest breed to Australian Shepherd 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.
Australian Shepherd vs Bichon Frise – Bichon Frise is the other breed Maltese is most often weighed against.
Maltese health problems – The health pages set out what each breed is actually screened for.

Related guides

Guide

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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