Living
Which fits your household better?
Small kids in the house point to the Brittany, which rates very high (5/5) with kids; a tight apartment and low shedding priority point to the Maltese.
Brittany Spaniel vs Maltese: Which Suits Your Home?
Brittany Spaniel or Maltese? On paper they differ most on exercise need, and on the scales Brittany Spaniel is the heavier at 30–40 lbs. Here is how the two compare on everything that shapes an ordinary week.
This is for someone already down to Brittany Spaniel and Maltese and deciding between them. For this pair the decision usually turns on exercise need and grooming 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 Brittany Spaniel and Maltese, exercise need is what separates them, and Maltese is the lower-effort dog of the two to keep.
Choose brittany if...
Choose Brittany Spaniel if you do not want a standing grooming appointment, there are young children at home and you already have another dog.
Choose maltese if...
Choose Maltese if you are in a flat or a smaller home, shedding is a problem in your house and your walking routine is modest.
Head-to-head comparison
| Feature | brittany | maltese | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size class | medium | small | Equal |
| Weight | 30–40 lbs | 3–7 lbs | Equal |
| Height | 17–20 in | 7–9 in | Equal |
| Lifespan | 12–15 years | 12–15 years | Equal |
| Exercise need | High (4/5) | Low (2/5) | maltese |
| Grooming need | Low (2/5) | High (4/5) | brittany |
| 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) | brittany |
| Apartment suitability | Moderate (3/5) | Very high (5/5) | maltese |
| Good for first-time owners | High (4/5) | High (4/5) | Equal |
| Tolerates being alone | Low (2/5) | Low (2/5) | Equal |
| Trainability | Very high (5/5) | High (4/5) | brittany |
| Good with kids | Very high (5/5) | Moderate (3/5) | brittany |
| Good with other dogs | Very high (5/5) | High (4/5) | brittany |
| Friendly to strangers | High (4/5) | High (4/5) | Equal |
| Cost level | Moderate (3/5) | Moderate (3/5) | Equal |
| Coat | Medium, wavy coat | Long, silky, white | Equal |
| Origin | France | Malta | Equal |
| Typical monthly cost | $90–$180 | $100–$180 | Equal |
| Typical first-year cost | $1,300–$2,500 | $1,400–$2,300 | Equal |
Deep dive
Size and build
The Maltese is genuinely tiny, 3-7 lbs and 7-9 inches, while the Brittany, at 30-40 lbs and 17-20 inches, is roughly six to ten times heavier. This is about as extreme a size gap as you'll find in a single comparison on this site.
Energy and exercise
The Maltese rates low (2/5) for exercise need against the Brittany's high (4/5). A short walk and some indoor play satisfies a Maltese; a Brittany, built to hunt birds all day, needs considerably more.
Grooming and shedding
The Maltese's long, silky white coat demands high (4/5) grooming, regular brushing to prevent matting and staining, against the Brittany's low (2/5). Shedding runs the other way: very low (1/5) for the Maltese, moderate (3/5) for the Brittany. If allergies are a concern, the Maltese sheds far less; if grooming time is the concern, the Brittany wins easily.
Apartment living, noise and time alone
The Maltese is built for small spaces, rating very high (5/5) for apartment suitability against the Brittany's moderate (3/5). It does bark a bit more, moderate (3/5) versus the Brittany's low (2/5), a small trade-off for a dog this well-suited to compact living.
Training and owner experience
Both dogs rate high (4/5) for first-time owners, a tie. Trainability slightly favors the Brittany, 5/5 against the Maltese's still-solid 4/5, neither is a difficult dog to teach basic obedience.
Kids, other dogs and visitors
This is where the size gap matters most: the Brittany rates very high (5/5) with kids, the Maltese only moderate (3/5), largely because a five-pound dog is easier to injure in boisterous play. Both score similarly with other dogs and strangers, though the Brittany edges ahead on both counts.
Health and lifespan
Lifespan ties at 12-15 years for both. Health lists diverge more than most pairs, the Maltese's risks, white shaker syndrome, hypoglycemia, tear staining, liver shunts, are largely toy-breed specific, while shared ground is limited to ear infections, heart murmurs, and allergies.
Cost to keep
Cost level ties at moderate (3/5) for both, and the monthly ranges sit close together: $90-180 for the Brittany, $100-180 for the Maltese. First-year costs run $1,300-2,500 versus $1,400-2,300, practically interchangeable on the budget line.
Brittany Spaniel vs Maltese at a glance
Brittany Spaniel weighs 30–40 lbs and lives 12–15 years; Maltese weighs 3–7 lbs and lives 12–15 years. The two diverge most on exercise need, grooming need and apartment suitability and 2 other rated axes. They are level on tolerates being alone, cost level and good for first-time owners, 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 a Maltese than a Brittany?
Dramatically, 3-7 lbs versus 30-40 lbs, roughly a tenth the weight at the low end.
Which sheds less?
The Maltese, very low (1/5) versus the Brittany's moderate (3/5), one of the lowest-shedding breeds on the site.
Is a Maltese good with kids?
Only moderately, 3/5, its small size makes it easier to injure in rough play. The Brittany rates very high (5/5) with kids.
Which is better for an apartment?
The Maltese, very high (5/5) suitability against the Brittany's moderate (3/5).
What does each cost monthly?
Very close: Maltese $100-180, Brittany $90-180.
Which lives longer?
They're tied, both 12-15 years.
How much grooming does a Maltese need?
High (4/5), its long silky coat needs regular brushing to avoid tangles and tear staining.
Quick answers
View more answersCosts
What's the monthly cost?
Nearly identical, Brittany $90-180, Maltese $100-180.
Training
How much exercise does each need?
Brittany high (4/5) versus Maltese low (2/5), the Maltese asks far less daily activity.
Health
Which lives longer?
Tied, both at 12-15 years.
Related DogBreedCompass guides
- Brittany Spaniel breed guide – Readers comparing the two usually want the full profile of Brittany Spaniel before deciding.
- Maltese breed guide – The same for Maltese, so the comparison can be checked against the detail.
- Brittany Spaniel vs Beagle – Beagle is the closest breed to Brittany Spaniel 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.
- Brittany Spaniel 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.
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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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