Bernedoodle vs Maltese: Which Suits Your Home?

A Maltese weighs as little as 3 pounds and tops out at 7 -- genuinely one of the smallest dogs you can own, at 7 to 9 inches tall. Set next to a Bernedoodle's 20-to-90-pound, 12-to-23-inch range, this isn't really a comparison of similar-sized dogs. If you have small kids in the house, that size gap has real safety implications in both directions -- a Maltese is fragile around rough play, while a large Bernedoodle can accidentally knock a toddler over just by being enthusiastic.

The Maltese needs comparatively little: exercise rated low (2/5) against the Bernedoodle's high (4/5). Energy level splits similarly, moderate (3/5) versus high (4/5). A Maltese is genuinely content with short indoor play and a modest walk; a Bernedoodle left with that little activity will act out.

Grooming ties at high (4/5) -- the Maltese's long, silky white coat is famous for showing every bit of dirt and needs daily attention to avoid staining and matting, on par with the upkeep a Bernedoodle's curly coat demands. Shedding favors the Maltese slightly, very low (1/5) against the Bernedoodle's low (2/5), though neither breed leaves much hair around.

Apartment suitability heavily favors the Maltese, very high (5/5) against the Bernedoodle's low (2/5) -- a 3-to-7-pound dog is simply easier to exercise adequately in a small space. Barking runs the other way, though: moderate (3/5) for the Maltese versus low (2/5) for the Bernedoodle, so factor that in if noise is a concern for neighbors.

Trainability favors the Bernedoodle, very high (5/5) against the Maltese's high (4/5), but the first-time-owner rating ties at high (4/5) for both. Both breeds are reasonably approachable for a new owner, though a Maltese's small size makes housetraining occasionally trickier -- small bladders, small accidents that are easy to miss.

This is a category where size matters directly: the Bernedoodle rates very high (5/5) with kids against the Maltese's moderate (3/5), largely because a tiny dog is more vulnerable to rough handling from young children. The Bernedoodle also edges ahead with other dogs, very high (5/5) versus high (4/5) for the Maltese. Both tie for friendliness to strangers, high (4/5).

Lifespans overlap closely, 12-18 years for the Bernedoodle against 12-15 for the Maltese, both solidly long-lived. The health lists barely intersect, though -- the Maltese carries small-breed-specific risks like patellar luxation, hypoglycemia, white shaker syndrome, and liver shunts, none of which appear on the Bernedoodle's list of hip and elbow dysplasia, bloat, and epilepsy.

The Maltese is the more budget-friendly dog: $100-180 a month against $120-220 for the Bernedoodle, and $1,400-2,300 in year one versus $1,800-3,200. Cost level backs that up, moderate (3/5) for the Maltese against high (4/5) for the Bernedoodle -- less food and a smaller dog generally means lower bills, even with comparable grooming needs.