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Maltese vs Old English Sheepdog: Which Suits Your Home?

Maltese or Old English Sheepdog? On paper they differ most on apartment suitability, and on the scales Old English Sheepdog is the heavier at 60–100 lbs. Here is how the two compare on everything that shapes an ordinary week.

This is for someone already down to Maltese and Old English Sheepdog and deciding between them. For this pair the decision usually turns on apartment suitability and shedding, 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. Breed history is left out; what follows is what you will actually live with.

Quick verdict

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

Choose maltese if...

Choose Maltese if you are in a flat or a smaller home, this is your first dog and you do not want a standing grooming appointment.

Choose old english sheepdog if...

Choose Old English Sheepdog if there are young children at home and you want a dog that can keep up with an active routine.

Head-to-head comparison

Feature	maltese	old english sheepdog	Winner
Size class	small	large	Equal
Weight	3–7 lbs	60–100 lbs	Equal
Height	7–9 in	20–24 in	Equal
Lifespan	12–15 years	10–12 years	maltese
Exercise need	Low (2/5)	Moderate (3/5)	maltese
Grooming need	High (4/5)	Very high (5/5)	maltese
Shedding	Very low (1/5)	High (4/5)	maltese
Energy level	Moderate (3/5)	Moderate (3/5)	Equal
Barking	Moderate (3/5)	Moderate (3/5)	Equal
Apartment suitability	Very high (5/5)	Low (2/5)	maltese
Good for first-time owners	High (4/5)	Low (2/5)	maltese
Tolerates being alone	Low (2/5)	Low (2/5)	Equal
Trainability	High (4/5)	Moderate (3/5)	maltese
Good with kids	Moderate (3/5)	Very high (5/5)	old english sheepdog
Good with other dogs	High (4/5)	High (4/5)	Equal
Friendly to strangers	High (4/5)	High (4/5)	Equal
Cost level	Moderate (3/5)	High (4/5)	maltese
Coat	Long, silky, white	Long, shaggy double coat	Equal
Origin	Malta	Various	Equal
Typical monthly cost	$100–$180	$110–$240	Equal
Typical first-year cost	$1,400–$2,300	$1,700–$3,200	Equal

Deep dive

Size and build

The Old English Sheepdog dwarfs the Maltese, 60 to 100 pounds and 20 to 24 inches tall, against the Maltese's 3 to 7 pounds and 7 to 9 inches. This is a large, shaggy herding breed next to a toy companion breed, and the size difference alone will dictate a lot of practical decisions, from crate size to how much you're lifting into the car.

Energy and exercise

The Old English Sheepdog needs somewhat more activity than the Maltese, a moderate 3 out of 5 against the Maltese's low 2 out of 5, which tracks with its herding-dog roots. Neither breed is an extreme-exercise dog, but the OES benefits from having a job or at least a consistent daily routine, more so than the more contentedly low-key Maltese.

Grooming and shedding

Both breeds need serious coat care, 4 out of 5 for the Maltese, an even higher 5 out of 5 for the OES, but shedding tells a different story. The Maltese sheds almost nothing (1 out of 5), while the OES sheds heavily (4 out of 5) despite all that brushing. The OES asks for the most total coat-care commitment of any breed in this comparison, on both fronts at once.

Apartment living, noise and time alone

The Maltese is rated ideal for apartments (5 out of 5); the OES is a poor fit (2 out of 5), unsurprising given its size and moderate exercise needs. Barking ties at a moderate 3 out of 5 for both, so noise isn't the deciding factor here, space and shedding are. Both breeds also tie for tolerating time alone (2 out of 5), so neither is a great match for a household gone most of the day.

Training and owner experience

The Maltese is the stronger choice for first-time owners, rating high (4 out of 5) against the OES's low 2 out of 5, and it holds a modest trainability edge too (4 versus 3 out of 5). Old English Sheepdogs are intelligent herders with a playful, sometimes stubborn streak, and their sheer size means training lapses carry more real-world consequences than they would with a toy breed.

Kids, other dogs and visitors

The OES pulls ahead sharply with kids, 5 out of 5, very high, against the Maltese's moderate 3 out of 5, reflecting its long history as a family and herding companion. Everything else ties: both breeds score 4 out of 5 with other dogs and strangers. This comparison really comes down to two things, space, which favors the Maltese, and kid tolerance, which favors the OES.

Health and lifespan

The Maltese lives notably longer, 12 to 15 years against the OES's 10 to 12, a gap that widens the usual small-versus-large lifespan pattern by a couple of years. The OES's health list is short but serious: hip dysplasia, cataracts, hypothyroidism, primary ciliary dyskinesia, and bloat. The Maltese's longer list of ten conditions skews toward smaller-scale issues like tear staining and dental disease rather than more systemic risks.

Cost to keep

The OES costs more to keep, a high 4 out of 5 cost rating and $110 to $240 monthly, against the Maltese's moderate 3 out of 5 and $100 to $180. First-year totals follow the same pattern: $1,700 to $3,200 for the OES versus $1,400 to $2,300 for the Maltese, a gap that reflects both size and that heavier grooming commitment.

Maltese vs Old English Sheepdog at a glance

Maltese weighs 3–7 lbs and lives 12–15 years; Old English Sheepdog weighs 60–100 lbs and lives 10–12 years. The two diverge most on apartment suitability, shedding and good for first-time owners and 1 other rated axes. They are level on tolerates being alone, barking and good with other dogs, 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 different is their size?

Substantial, the OES runs 60 to 100 pounds against the Maltese's 3 to 7 pounds, roughly a fifteen-to-twenty-times difference in body weight.

Which sheds more?

The Maltese sheds almost nothing (1 out of 5); the OES sheds heavily (4 out of 5), and needs even more grooming time on top of that (5 out of 5, the maximum).

Is either good for a first-time owner?

The Maltese is the easier first-timer pick, rated 4 out of 5 against the OES's low 2 out of 5. The OES's size and grooming demands ask more of a new owner.

Which fits an apartment better?

The Maltese fits apartments well (5 out of 5); the OES doesn't (2 out of 5), its size and moderate exercise needs make small-space living a real stretch.

What will either cost me monthly?

The OES runs more expensive, $110 to $240 monthly against the Maltese's $100 to $180, with a similar gap across first-year totals.

Do they share health risks?

There's no direct overlap in the listed conditions. The OES's list centers on hip dysplasia and bloat, more typical of a large working breed, while the Maltese's list is longer and leans toward smaller-scale eye and dental issues.

Which is better with kids?

The OES, clearly, 5 out of 5 against the Maltese's moderate 3 out of 5, consistent with its long reputation as a patient family and herding dog.

Quick answers

View more answers

Living

Which is the better overall choice?

Go Maltese for apartment living, an easier first-timer experience, and lower overall cost. Go OES if you have space, want a dog that's especially good with kids, and can commit to serious grooming time.

Costs

What's the monthly cost?

The Maltese runs $100-$180 a month; the OES runs $110-$240, moderately more expensive.

Behavior

How much exercise is needed?

Modest on both sides, 2 out of 5 for the Maltese, 3 out of 5 for the OES. Neither is a high-exercise breed.

Health

Which breed lives longer?

The Maltese, by two to three years, 12 to 15 years against the OES's 10 to 12.

Related DogBreedCompass guides

Maltese breed guide – Readers comparing the two usually want the full profile of Maltese before deciding.
Old English Sheepdog breed guide – The same for Old English Sheepdog, so the comparison can be checked against the detail.
Maltese vs Bichon Frise – Bichon Frise is the closest breed to Maltese on the measured axes, so it is the natural next comparison.
Old English Sheepdog vs Alaskan Malamute – Alaskan Malamute sits closest to Old English Sheepdog, which makes it the alternative worth ruling out.
What Maltese costs to keep – Anyone weighing these two is usually also pricing them, and the cost pages carry city-level figures.
Old English Sheepdog health problems – The health pages set out what each breed is actually screened for.

Related guides

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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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