Living
Which one should I get?
In a small apartment with limited time for exercise, the Maltese's 5/5 apartment score and 2/5 exercise need fit better. With a yard and kids who play rough, the Labradoodle's size and 5/5 kid rating hold up better.
Labradoodle vs Maltese: Which Suits Your Home?
Labradoodle or Maltese? On paper they differ most on exercise need, and on the scales Labradoodle is the heavier at 15–65 lbs. Here is how the two compare on everything that shapes an ordinary week.
This is for someone already down to Labradoodle and Maltese and deciding between them. For this pair the decision usually turns on exercise need and apartment suitability, so those are covered first and in most detail. Anyone choosing from a flat has a clear answer here: Maltese rates 5/5 against 2/5. There is no origin story here — only what changes about your week.
Quick verdict
Between Labradoodle and Maltese, exercise need is what separates them, and Maltese is the lower-effort dog of the two to keep.
Choose labradoodle if...
Choose Labradoodle if there are young children at home, you want a dog that picks up training quickly and you want a dog that can keep up with an active routine.
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 | labradoodle | maltese | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size class | medium | small | Equal |
| Weight | 15–65 lbs | 3–7 lbs | Equal |
| Height | 14–24 in | 7–9 in | Equal |
| Lifespan | 12–14 years | 12–15 years | maltese |
| Exercise need | Very high (5/5) | Low (2/5) | maltese |
| Grooming need | High (4/5) | High (4/5) | Equal |
| Shedding | Low (2/5) | Very low (1/5) | maltese |
| Energy level | Very high (5/5) | Moderate (3/5) | Equal |
| Barking | Low (2/5) | Moderate (3/5) | labradoodle |
| Apartment suitability | Low (2/5) | 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) | labradoodle |
| Good with kids | Very high (5/5) | Moderate (3/5) | labradoodle |
| Good with other dogs | High (4/5) | High (4/5) | Equal |
| Friendly to strangers | High (4/5) | High (4/5) | Equal |
| Cost level | High (4/5) | Moderate (3/5) | maltese |
| Coat | Wavy to curly | Long, silky, white | Equal |
| Origin | Australia | Malta | Equal |
| Typical monthly cost | $120–$220 | $100–$180 | Equal |
| Typical first-year cost | $1,800–$3,200 | $1,400–$2,300 | Equal |
Deep dive
Size and build
There's no subtlety in this comparison. The Labradoodle spans 15-65 lbs and 14-24 inches; the Maltese runs 3-7 lbs and 7-9 inches. At the top of its range, a Labradoodle can outweigh a Maltese by close to twenty times. If you're set on the Maltese for its size alone, know that a mini Labradoodle line still won't get anywhere close to matching it.
Energy and exercise
The Labradoodle's exercise need rates 5/5, very high, while the Maltese sits at 2/5, low. That gap should carry real weight in the decision: a Labradoodle wants daily runs and real activity, while a Maltese is content with short walks and indoor play. Neither dog's energy label matches what its lap-dog looks suggest, but the exercise number tells the real story.
Grooming and shedding
Both breeds tie at 4/5 for grooming need, so don't assume the tiny dog is the low-maintenance one. The Maltese's long white coat mats without regular brushing, and the Labradoodle's curls need similar upkeep. Shedding is low for both, 2/5 for the Labradoodle and 1/5 for the Maltese, which is why both get marketed as allergy-friendlier options, though neither is truly non-shedding.
Apartment living, noise and time alone
The Maltese wins this one clearly, 5/5 apartment suitability against the Labradoodle's 2/5. Barking runs slightly higher for the Maltese, 3/5 versus 2/5, so it's not silent, but its small size and modest exercise needs make it the far easier fit for a small space. Both breeds tolerate being alone poorly, tying at 2/5, so a full-time office job is a poor match for either.
Training and owner experience
Both breeds are rated equally good for first-time owners, 4/5. Trainability tilts toward the Labradoodle, 5/5 versus the Maltese's 4/5, which tracks with the Poodle influence in its genetics. Neither is a difficult dog to train; the Labradoodle just has a slight edge in how quickly it picks things up, especially on multi-step commands and retrieval games it was originally bred to perform.
Kids, other dogs and visitors
The Labradoodle is the stronger pick for a house with kids, 5/5 versus the Maltese's 3/5, largely a function of size and resilience during rough play. Good with other dogs and friendly to strangers both tie at 4/5, so sociability isn't the deciding factor here; durability around small children is, particularly with toddlers who haven't learned gentle handling yet and can accidentally hurt a toy-sized dog.
Health and lifespan
The Maltese edges ahead on lifespan, 12-15 years against the Labradoodle's 12-14. The two health lists barely overlap, sharing only ear infections and allergies. The Labradoodle's risks lean toward joint and orthopedic issues from its larger frame, while the Maltese's list includes tear staining and liver shunts, both more common in small toy breeds with delicate builds and faster metabolisms.
Cost to keep
Cost level favors the Maltese, 3/5 against the Labradoodle's 4/5, and the dollar ranges agree: $100-180 monthly for the Maltese versus $120-220 for the Labradoodle. First-year costs run $1,400-2,300 for the Maltese against $1,800-3,200 for the Labradoodle. A bigger dog simply costs more to feed and medicate, and that adds up over a decade-plus lifespan of routine vet visits and food bills.
Labradoodle vs Maltese at a glance
Labradoodle weighs 15–65 lbs and lives 12–14 years; Maltese weighs 3–7 lbs and lives 12–15 years. The two diverge most on exercise need, apartment suitability and energy level and 1 other rated axes. They are level on tolerates being alone, good with other dogs and good for first-time owners, so those cannot decide it. Where the table declares a winner it means less work for the owner, nothing more; descriptive rows are left as ties on purpose. The value here is in the differences between the two columns; treat any single score as approximate.
Frequently asked questions
Why compare a Labradoodle to a Maltese at all?
Both get recommended for allergy-conscious households because of their low-shedding coats, which is often the actual reason people end up weighing them against each other despite the huge size gap. Once shedding is off the table as a factor, size and exercise need become the real deciding questions.
Which is better for an apartment?
The Maltese, by a wide margin, 5/5 apartment suitability against the Labradoodle's 2/5. The Labradoodle's very high exercise need just doesn't fit small-space living the way the Maltese's low exercise need does.
Does the tiny dog need less grooming?
No, that's a common assumption worth correcting. Both breeds tie at 4/5 grooming need; the Maltese's long coat mats just as readily as the Labradoodle's curls without regular brushing.
Which is better with kids?
The Labradoodle, 5/5 against the Maltese's 3/5. Size and sturdiness matter here: a Labradoodle can handle more physical play from small children than a 3-7 lb Maltese can safely tolerate.
Which costs less to keep?
The Maltese, at $100-180 a month against $120-220 for the Labradoodle. First-year costs follow the same pattern, $1,400-2,300 versus $1,800-3,200, mostly a function of the size difference in food and medication.
Do they share health risks?
Only lightly. Ear infections and allergies show up on both lists. Beyond that the Labradoodle skews toward joint and orthopedic conditions tied to its larger frame, while the Maltese's risks, like tear staining and liver shunts, are more typical of small toy breeds.
Which lives longer?
The Maltese, slightly, at 12-15 years against the Labradoodle's 12-14. It's a modest edge, not a dramatic one, but smaller dogs do tend to outlast larger ones.
Quick answers
View more answersCosts
What's the monthly cost?
$100-180 for a Maltese versus $120-220 for a Labradoodle, a gap driven mostly by the size difference in food and vet care.
Behavior
How much exercise does each need?
The Labradoodle rates 5/5, very high, and needs real daily activity. The Maltese rates 2/5, low, and is fine with short walks.
Health
Which lives longer?
The Maltese, at 12-15 years against the Labradoodle's 12-14, though both are relatively long-lived compared to giant breeds.
Related DogBreedCompass guides
- Labradoodle breed guide – Readers comparing the two usually want the full profile of Labradoodle before deciding.
- Maltese breed guide – The same for Maltese, so the comparison can be checked against the detail.
- Labradoodle vs Bernedoodle – Bernedoodle is the closest breed to Labradoodle 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 Labradoodle 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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