German Shorthaired Pointer vs Maltese: Which Suits Your Home?

A 3-7 lb Maltese could ride comfortably in a GSP's mouth. The numbers aren't close: 45-70 lbs versus 3-7, 21-25 inches versus 7-9. This isn't really a "which breed" question so much as a "what kind of dog do you want to live with" question — the physical experience of owning either one is entirely different.

The GSP demands very high exercise (5/5); the Maltese is content at low (2/5). A brisk walk and some indoor play satisfies a Maltese fully, while a GSP left at that level will become anxious and destructive. If your daily routine doesn't include serious outdoor time, the Maltese is the only realistic option of the two.

The GSP needs almost no grooming (2/5) and sheds moderately (3/5). The Maltese flips that: high grooming demand (4/5) for that long white coat, but very low shedding (1/5), which is why it's a popular pick for people with mild allergies. Expect regular brushing, bathing, and probably professional trims every few weeks if the Maltese wins your vote, plus daily attention to tear staining around the eyes.

The Maltese is built for small-space living, rating very high (5/5) for apartment suitability against the GSP's very low (1/5) — as wide a gap as this data shows. Barking is a tie at moderate (3/5), so the tiny dog isn't necessarily the quieter one, and some Maltese are prone to alert-barking at hallway noise. Both breeds tolerate being alone equally poorly (low, 2/5), so neither is a fit for an empty house all day.

The GSP trains slightly better (very high, 5/5, versus high, 4/5), but the first-time-owner gap runs the other way and runs wide: 2/5 for the GSP versus 4/5 for the Maltese. A toy breed's manageable size and lower exercise demands make it a far gentler learning curve for someone new to dogs, since the physical stakes of an untrained dog are much lower at 7 lbs than at 70.

This is one spot where the GSP actually leads: high (4/5) with kids versus the Maltese's moderate (3/5) — a Maltese's small, fragile frame doesn't hold up as well to rough play from young children. The Maltese pulls ahead with strangers (high, 4/5, versus moderate, 3/5), and the two tie with other dogs (high, 4/5).

The Maltese lives longer, typically 12-15 years against the GSP's 10-12. Their health profiles barely overlap — ear infections is about the only shared item. The GSP's risks run toward bloat and joint dysplasia; the Maltese's toward patellar luxation, dental disease, tear staining, and liver shunts, reflecting how differently their bodies are built despite both being generally healthy, well-established breeds.

Monthly costs sit close ($100-200 for the GSP, $100-180 for the Maltese), and both rate moderate overall on cost level despite the size gap — the Maltese's grooming bills offset what it saves on food. First-year totals run a bit lower for the Maltese ($1,400-2,300 versus $1,800-3,000), a modest gap given how different the two dogs are physically.