Maltese vs Welsh Springer Spaniel: Which Suits Your Home?

The gap here is smaller than in other Maltese match-ups but still wide: 35-55 lbs and 17-19 inches for the Welsh Springer Spaniel against 3-7 lbs and 7-9 inches for the Maltese. This is a medium sporting dog versus a toy breed, not the giant-versus-toy pairing you see elsewhere, but the difference still shapes everything from crate size to vet dosing.

The Welsh Springer needs meaningfully more activity, 4/5 exercise need against the Maltese's 2/5, and its energy level rates high (4/5) versus the Maltese's moderate (3/5). It's a working spaniel bred to flush and retrieve, so daily exercise isn't optional the way it can feel with a toy breed, and a bored Springer tends to get vocal or destructive.

Grooming tips slightly toward the Welsh Springer, 3/5 against the Maltese's 4/5; the Maltese's long white coat is more labor-intensive than the Springer's medium, water-resistant coat. Shedding runs the other way, Maltese 1/5, Springer a moderate 3/5. If you want minimal vacuuming, the Maltese is still the better pick despite the extra brushing time it demands each week.

Both breeds bark at a moderate 3/5, so expect some noise either way. Apartment suitability favors the Maltese clearly, 5/5 versus the Springer's low 2/5, driven mostly by that higher exercise requirement. Neither tolerates being alone well; both score a low 2/5, so long solo days are a problem regardless of which one you pick.

Trainability is identical at 4/5 for both breeds, so neither is a struggle to teach basic obedience. First-time-owner suitability slightly favors the Maltese, 4/5 versus the Springer's moderate 3/5, a small gap, and the Welsh Springer's even-tempered nature makes it a reasonably approachable choice for someone stepping up from a toy breed to something larger.

The Welsh Springer rates higher with kids, 4/5 against the Maltese's 3/5, holding up well with more physical family play. It matches the Maltese for compatibility with other dogs (4/5 each). The Maltese is friendlier to strangers (4/5 versus 3/5); the Springer's temperament list includes reserved with strangers, which tracks with that lower number.

Lifespan is a dead tie: 12-15 years for both breeds, unusual for a comparison this size-mismatched. Ear infections appear on both health lists, the one shared risk; otherwise the Maltese's concerns run toward patellar luxation and liver shunts while the Welsh Springer's include hip dysplasia, epilepsy, and glaucoma instead.

Costs track closely: $100-180 monthly for the Maltese, $100-200 for the Welsh Springer, both rated moderate (3/5) overall. First-year costs run $1,400-2,300 versus $1,400-2,900, a wider spread at the top end that reflects the Springer's larger size and higher food and vet costs.