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Maltese vs Poodle (Standard): Which Suits Your Home?

Maltese or Poodle (Standard)? On paper they differ most on exercise need, and on the scales Poodle (Standard) is the heavier at 45–70 lbs. Here is how the two compare on everything that shapes an ordinary week.

This is for someone already down to Maltese and Poodle (Standard) 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 3/5. The focus throughout is on daily consequences rather than breed background.

Quick verdict

Between Maltese and Poodle (Standard), exercise need 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 poodle standard if...

Choose Poodle (Standard) 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.

Head-to-head comparison

Feature	maltese	poodle standard	Winner
Size class	small	large	Equal
Weight	3–7 lbs	45–70 lbs	Equal
Height	7–9 in	22–27 in	Equal
Lifespan	12–15 years	12–15 years	Equal
Exercise need	Low (2/5)	High (4/5)	maltese
Grooming need	High (4/5)	Very high (5/5)	maltese
Shedding	Very low (1/5)	Very low (1/5)	Equal
Energy level	Moderate (3/5)	High (4/5)	Equal
Barking	Moderate (3/5)	Moderate (3/5)	Equal
Apartment suitability	Very high (5/5)	Moderate (3/5)	maltese
Good for first-time owners	High (4/5)	Moderate (3/5)	maltese
Tolerates being alone	Low (2/5)	Low (2/5)	Equal
Trainability	High (4/5)	Very high (5/5)	poodle standard
Good with kids	Moderate (3/5)	High (4/5)	poodle standard
Good with other dogs	High (4/5)	High (4/5)	Equal
Friendly to strangers	High (4/5)	Moderate (3/5)	maltese
Cost level	Moderate (3/5)	High (4/5)	maltese
Coat	Long, silky, white	Curly, non-shedding	Equal
Origin	Malta	Germany/France	Equal
Typical monthly cost	$100–$180	$150–$300	Equal
Typical first-year cost	$1,400–$2,300	$2,000–$4,000	Equal

Deep dive

Size and build

This is one of the bigger size mismatches you'll find on this site. A Maltese weighs 3-7 lbs and stands 7-9 inches; a Standard Poodle runs 45-70 lbs and stands 22-27 inches — roughly ten times the weight and triple the height. The Maltese is officially "small," the Standard Poodle "large." If you want a dog you can tuck under an arm, only one of these qualifies.

Energy and exercise

Standard Poodles were originally water retrievers, and it shows in the 4/5 exercise rating against the Maltese's 2/5. This isn't a couch-companion breed at this size — it wants daily runs, swims or long walks to stay settled. The Maltese is genuinely happy with short indoor sessions. Underexercise a Standard Poodle and you'll likely see it in destructive or restless behavior.

Grooming and shedding

Both are grooming-heavy breeds, but the Standard Poodle edges out even the Maltese at Very High (5/5) versus High (4/5) — that curly coat needs professional clipping every few weeks to avoid matting. The upside for both: shedding is Very Low (1/5) across the board, making this a genuinely allergy-friendlier pairing than most on this site, size difference aside.

Apartment living, noise and time alone

The Maltese comfortably outscores the Standard Poodle on apartment life, 5/5 versus 3/5 — a 50-70 lb dog needs room to move that a one-bedroom rarely offers. Barking rates the same for both (3/5, Moderate). Neither tolerates being left alone especially well (2/5 each), so a Standard Poodle in a small space with long solo hours is the harder combination to make work.

Training and owner experience

Standard Poodles are famously trainable, rating Very High (5/5) against the Maltese's already-strong 4/5 — this is one of the more intelligent breeds you'll compare on this site. Oddly, the Maltese scores higher for first-time owners overall (4/5 vs 3/5), likely because the Poodle's size and exercise needs demand more consistent daily management even when the dog itself learns fast.

Kids, other dogs and visitors

The Standard Poodle rates better with kids (High vs Moderate) — its size and steady temperament handle boisterous play more comfortably than a fragile Maltese can. Both get along well with other dogs. Strangers flip the other way: the Maltese is friendlier to new people (High vs Moderate), while the Poodle tends to be a touch more reserved on first meeting.

Health and lifespan

Lifespan ties at 12-15 years, unusual for such a size gap — Standard Poodles are long-lived for a large breed. Health risks diverge: the Maltese's list is mostly small-dog issues like liver shunts and tear staining, while the Poodle's includes bloat, Addison's disease and cancer — all conditions more common in larger, deeper-chested dogs. Neither list overlaps meaningfully with the other.

Cost to keep

The Standard Poodle costs noticeably more to keep: $150-300 a month against the Maltese's $100-180, and $2,000-4,000 in year one versus $1,400-2,300. More food, larger-dog vet pricing, and frequent professional grooming for that coat all add up. If budget is a firm constraint, the Maltese is the cheaper commitment by a real margin, not just a token one.

Maltese vs Poodle (Standard) at a glance

Maltese weighs 3–7 lbs and lives 12–15 years; Poodle (Standard) weighs 45–70 lbs and lives 12–15 years. The two diverge most on exercise need and apartment suitability. They are level on tolerates being alone, barking and good with other dogs, 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 bigger is a Standard Poodle than a Maltese?

Considerably — 45-70 lbs versus 3-7 lbs, and 22-27 inches tall versus 7-9 inches. The Standard Poodle is classed as a large breed, the Maltese as small, so this is a genuine size mismatch, not a close call.

Are both low-shedding?

Yes, both rate Very Low (1/5) on shedding, making this an unusually allergy-friendly matchup on either side. The difference is grooming effort, not shedding — both need regular brushing and clipping to keep the coat manageable.

Which is easier for a first-time owner?

The Maltese, rated High (4/5) against the Poodle's Moderate (3/5), mainly because the Poodle's size and exercise needs ask more of a new owner's daily routine even though it's highly trainable.

Can a Standard Poodle live in an apartment?

It can, but it rates only Moderate (3/5) here versus the Maltese's Very High (5/5). A Standard Poodle in a small space needs a serious daily exercise commitment to stay balanced.

What's the cost difference?

Meaningful. The Poodle runs $150-300 a month and $2,000-4,000 in year one, versus the Maltese's $100-180 and $1,400-2,300 — roughly 50-70% more across the board.

Do they share health risks?

Barely. The Maltese's issues are mostly small-dog concerns like liver shunts and dental disease; the Poodle's include bloat, Addison's disease and cancer, all more associated with larger breeds. Check both lists with a vet.

Which is more trainable?

The Standard Poodle, rated Very High (5/5) against the Maltese's High (4/5). It's one of the most trainable breeds in general, though that doesn't automatically make it the easier day-to-day dog for a beginner.

Quick answers

View more answers

Living

Which breed should most people pick?

If space and exercise time are limited, the Maltese. If you have room for a large, athletic, non-shedding dog and want top-tier trainability, the Standard Poodle.

Costs

What's the monthly cost difference?

The Poodle runs $150-300 versus the Maltese's $100-180 — the larger dog costs noticeably more to feed and groom professionally.

Training

How much exercise does each need?

The Standard Poodle needs High (4/5) daily exercise, a real commitment. The Maltese needs Low (2/5) — short walks are enough.

Health

Which lives longer?

Neither — both tie at 12-15 years, which is notably long for a dog the Poodle's size.

Related DogBreedCompass guides

Maltese breed guide – Readers comparing the two usually want the full profile of Maltese before deciding.
Poodle (Standard) breed guide – The same for Poodle (Standard), 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.
Poodle (Standard) vs Poodle (All Sizes) – Poodle (All Sizes) sits closest to Poodle (Standard), 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.
Poodle (Standard) health problems – The health pages set out what each breed is actually screened for.

Related guides

Cost

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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