Maltese or Poodle? On paper they differ most on apartment suitability, and on the scales Poodle is the heavier at 6–70 lbs. Here is how the two compare on everything that shapes an ordinary week.
This is for someone already down to Maltese and Poodle and deciding between them. For this pair the decision usually turns on apartment suitability and trainability, so those are covered first and in most detail. Anyone choosing from a flat has a clear answer here: Maltese rates 5/5 against 0/5. There is no origin story here — only what changes about your week.
Between Maltese and Poodle, apartment suitability is what separates them, and Maltese is the lower-effort dog of the two to keep.
Choose Maltese if you are in a flat or a smaller home, you do not want a standing grooming appointment and you already have another dog.
Choose Poodle if this is your first dog, shedding is a problem in your house and your walking routine is modest.
| Feature | maltese | poodle | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size class | small | small | Equal |
| Weight | 3–7 lbs | 6–70 lbs | Equal |
| Height | 7–9 in | 0–0 in | Equal |
| Lifespan | 12–15 years | 12–15 years | Equal |
| Exercise need | Low (2/5) | — (0/5) | poodle |
| Grooming need | High (4/5) | Very high (5/5) | maltese |
| Shedding | Very low (1/5) | — (0/5) | poodle |
| Energy level | Moderate (3/5) | High (4/5) | Equal |
| Barking | Moderate (3/5) | — (0/5) | poodle |
| Apartment suitability | Very high (5/5) | — (0/5) | maltese |
| Good for first-time owners | High (4/5) | Very high (5/5) | poodle |
| Tolerates being alone | Low (2/5) | — (0/5) | maltese |
| Trainability | High (4/5) | — (0/5) | maltese |
| Good with kids | Moderate (3/5) | Very high (5/5) | poodle |
| Good with other dogs | High (4/5) | — (0/5) | maltese |
| Friendly to strangers | High (4/5) | — (0/5) | maltese |
| Cost level | Moderate (3/5) | Moderate (3/5) | Equal |
| Coat | Long, silky, white | Curly, dense single coat | Equal |
| Origin | Malta | — | Equal |
| Typical monthly cost | $100–$180 | $0–$0 | Equal |
| Typical first-year cost | $1,400–$2,300 | $0–$0 | Equal |
This comparison is tricky because "Poodle" here isn't split by size — Toy, Miniature and Standard are lumped together, which is why the weight range spans an enormous 6-70 lbs. The Maltese, by contrast, is a fixed target at 3-7 lbs and 7-9 inches. If you're comparing against a Toy or Mini Poodle the two are closer in scale than the numbers suggest; against a Standard, not close at all. Know which Poodle size you actually mean before leaning on this page.
The Maltese rates a clear Low (2/5) on exercise need. The general Poodle entry doesn't carry a specific rating here, which tracks with how much exercise needs vary by Poodle size — a Toy is closer to the Maltese's pace, a Standard needs considerably more daily activity. Don't assume "Poodle" tells you much about exercise without knowing which size you're getting.
Both breeds are grooming-intensive, and the data actually favors the Maltese slightly here: High (4/5) versus the Poodle's Very High (5/5). Neither coat looks after itself — expect regular brushing and professional trims for both. The Maltese sheds almost nothing (1/5); the Poodle's shedding wasn't rated in this data set, though Poodles are broadly known as a low-shedding breed as well.
The Maltese rates Very High (5/5) for apartment life and Moderate (3/5) for barking — solid, known numbers. The Poodle's apartment and barking ratings aren't specified in this data, again because it swings on size: a Toy Poodle apartment-lives easily, a Standard needs more room to move. The Maltese tolerates being alone poorly (2/5); no comparable figure is given for the Poodle here.
Poodles have a strong general reputation for trainability, and this data backs it up loosely with a Very High (5/5) rating for first-time owners, ahead of the Maltese's still-solid High (4/5). A specific trainability score for the Poodle isn't listed, but the breed's intelligence is well documented across all three sizes. The Maltese trains at 4/5 — both are genuinely easy dogs to teach.
The Poodle rates Very High (5/5) with kids against the Maltese's Moderate (3/5) — a meaningful gap, though it's worth remembering a Toy Poodle is nearly as fragile around rough play as a Maltese is. Ratings for the Poodle's fit with other dogs and strangers aren't specified in this data set, so lean on the Maltese's known High (4/5) scores there as one half of the picture only.
Lifespan ties at 12-15 years for both. No health conditions are listed for the general Poodle entry in this data — that's a gap in the data, not a clean bill of health, and it likely reflects how much health risk varies across Toy, Mini and Standard lines. The Maltese's risks are well documented: patellar luxation, tear staining, liver shunts and several more. Ask a breeder or vet for size-specific Poodle health info before deciding.
Cost level ties at Moderate (3/5) for both, but the dollar figures for the Poodle read as $0-$0 in this data set — clearly a placeholder rather than a real number, again tied to the fact that a Toy and a Standard cost very differently to keep. The Maltese's numbers are concrete: $100-180 a month, $1,400-2,300 in year one. Budget for the Poodle using whichever specific size you're actually considering.
Maltese weighs 3–7 lbs and lives 12–15 years; Poodle weighs 6–70 lbs and lives 12–15 years. The two diverge most on apartment suitability, trainability and good with other dogs and 5 other rated axes. Almost every rated axis separates them at least slightly. 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.
Because this comparison uses a general "Poodle" entry that spans all three recognized sizes — Toy, Miniature and Standard — rather than one specific size. That's why weight runs 6-70 lbs; a real Poodle you're considering will sit at one point in that range, not all of it.
The Maltese has a documented Very Low (1/5) shedding rating. The Poodle's specific shedding figure isn't listed here, but Poodles are broadly regarded as low-shedding too, which is a big part of their popularity.
The data rates it Very High (5/5), a notch above the Maltese's High (4/5). Poodles across all sizes have a strong reputation for trainability and adaptability, which suits new owners.
That depends heavily on size — a Toy or Mini generally does, a Standard needs more space and exercise. This data set doesn't break out an apartment rating for the general Poodle entry, so check the size-specific comparison instead.
This data set shows $0-$0, which is a placeholder rather than a real figure — it reflects the fact that cost varies enormously by size. Compare against the Standard Poodle page for concrete monthly and first-year numbers.
No specific health conditions are listed for the general Poodle entry here, so a direct comparison isn't possible from this data. The Maltese carries known risks like patellar luxation and liver shunts; check a size-specific Poodle source for its own list.
They tie at 12-15 years in this data, making lifespan a non-factor between them.
It depends which Poodle size you mean — this page uses a generic Poodle entry with several fields unrated. For a real decision, compare the Maltese against the specific Poodle size (Toy, Mini or Standard) you're considering.
The Maltese runs $100-180 a month with real numbers behind it. The general Poodle entry here shows $0-$0, a placeholder — look up the specific size you want for an honest figure.
The Maltese needs Low (2/5) exercise, a known figure. The general Poodle entry has no exercise rating in this data, since it varies a lot by size.
Neither — both are rated 12-15 years in this data set, an even tie.
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.
Some links on this site are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you, and we only suggest products we believe are helpful for dog owners.
Match your lifestyle to the right dog.
Take quizNot sure which breed is right for you? Take our 2-minute quiz to find out.
Take the quiz