Dog breed
Maltese
The Maltese is one of the smallest companion dogs, weighing just 3–4 kg and covered in a long, silky, snow-white coat. Its ancestors lived in the ports of the central Mediterranean since ancient times. It is affectionate, bright and lively, and it hardly sheds, which draws many people with allergies.
- Low shedding
- FCI Group IX · Companion dogs · standard no. 65
- Weight
- 3–4 kg
- Height
- 20–25 cm
- Lifespan
- 12–15 years
- Origin
- Mediterranean basin, Italian patronage
Temperament
The Maltese is deeply attached to its owner and quickly learns how to get what it wants. Lively and playful at home and curious on walks, it can be wary of strangers and will alertly bark at every visitor. In a small apartment building, that is a trait to work on from puppyhood. Despite its tiny size, there is nothing timid about it; it may even square up to a much bigger dog, which can be dangerous for the Maltese itself. It usually lives peacefully with other pets. It can be too fragile for young children: a fall from someone's arms or off the couch can end in a broken leg, and a Maltese doesn't tolerate rough handling well. It is happiest in a home where someone is around for most of the day.
- Energy
- calmvery energetic
- Affection
- independentvelcro pet
- With children
- not idealgreat
- With other pets
- difficultgreat
- Trainability
- stubborneager to learn
- For first-time owners
- for experienced ownersyes
- With strangers
- waryoutgoing
- Playfulness
- dignifiedeternal puppy
- Shedding
- minimalheavy
- Grooming
- easydemanding
- Being left alone
- strugglescopes well
- Apartment living
- needs a house and yardgreat in a flat
- Barking
- quietvocal
- With other dogs
- difficultgreat
- Protectiveness
- lowhigh
- Drooling
- hardly anya lot
- Cold tolerance
- feels the coldexcellent
- Heat tolerance
- strugglescopes well
Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits
Who is the Maltese for?
The Maltese is a good fit for a city dweller, a senior, someone who works from home or a family with teenagers. It takes patience with daily grooming and consistency in teaching it to be quiet, but it repays you with many years of close companionship. It is a poorer fit for a family with small children, people who are away from home for long stretches or someone looking for a dog for sports.
Pros
- very small and light
- hardly sheds
- does well in an apartment
- long-lived
Challenges
- coat needs daily combing
- tends to bark
- fragile and easily injured
- copes badly with long periods alone
Size and looks
| Height at the withers | males 21–25 cm, females 20–23 cm |
|---|---|
| Weight | males 3–4 kg, females 3–4 kg |
| Lifespan | 12–15 years |
| Coat | long |
| Colors | white, white with an ivory tinge |
| Country of origin | Mediterranean basin, Italian patronage |
| Classification | Group IX: Companion and Toy dogs |
| Also known as | Bichon Maltais |
Care and exercise
The Maltese has modest exercise needs: two or three walks a day of 10–20 minutes plus play at home are plenty, and on a rainy day it can get by on indoor activity alone. The real work is the coat. The long single coat has no undercoat and needs combing every day, or it quickly mats; pet dogs are often clipped short every few weeks. The white hair around the eyes and mouth easily turns brown from tears and saliva, so wipe those areas daily. Ideally brush the teeth every day with dog toothpaste. Training goes well with short sessions and rewards, because a Maltese gets bored with repetition quickly. Watch the extra snacks: at 3 kg, every slice of deli meat counts.
How much should the Maltese eat?The calculator starts from this breed’s typical weight: calories and grams a day.Health and breed-related conditions
The Maltese is considered a healthy, long-lived breed; a 2024 UK study found a median lifespan of 13.1 years. The American breed club recommends screening the parents for luxating patella and heart defects, especially patent ductus arteriosus. Puppies are worth checking with a bile acid test, which can detect a congenital portosystemic shunt or hepatic microvascular dysplasia. Cases of brain inflammation (GME) have also been recorded in the breed, and there is no screening test for it yet. As with most toy breeds, teeth are a major problem, so daily oral hygiene and regular vet checkups truly extend life.
- luxating patellaA common problem in small breeds; the parents should have their knees checked.
- patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)A congenital heart defect usually found in puppies when the vet listens to the heart.
- portosystemic shunt and hepatic microvascular dysplasiaCongenital circulation disorders in the liver; the breed club recommends a bile acid test for puppies.
- granulomatous meningoencephalitis (GME)Rare but serious; there is no screening test yet.
- dental diseaseThe tiny jaw encourages tartar; the teeth should be brushed, ideally every day.
Health tests to ask the breeder about
- patella exam
- cardiac exam
- eye exam (ECVO)
- bile acid test for puppies
This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.
Breed history
The breed's name is misleading. According to the FCI standard, the adjective "Maltese" comes from a Semitic word meaning refuge or harbor, which appears in the names of many coastal towns, not just Malta. The Maltese's ancestors caught mice and rats in port warehouses and ships' holds across the central Mediterranean. Small dogs called "canes melitenses" were mentioned as early as the time of Aristotle, and in ancient Rome they were favorites of wealthy matrons. In paintings by Renaissance masters, Maltese dogs sit beside elegant ladies. Today Italy holds patronage over the breed standard.
Fun facts
- The Maltese has no undercoat, so it doesn't shed seasonally like double-coated dogs.
- The FCI standard treats pale orange shading only as an undesirable imperfection.
- Dogs called "canes melitenses" were described as early as the 4th century BC.
- The American standard prefers dogs weighing 4–6 pounds, or about 1.8–2.7 kg.
Frequently asked questions
Do Maltese shed?
Very little. They have no undercoat, and loose hairs stay in the coat and come out when you comb. Many people with allergies tolerate a Maltese better than other breeds, but no dog is completely hypoallergenic, because dander and saliva also cause reactions.
How long do Maltese dogs live?
Most often 12–15 years, and many dogs live even longer. A 2024 UK study calculated a median of 13.1 years. The condition of the teeth and keeping the dog at a healthy, very low weight have a big effect on lifespan.
How big does a Maltese get?
The FCI standard gives 3–4 kg, with a height of 21–25 cm for males and 20–23 cm for females. Dogs that are clearly heavier are usually just overweight or not purebred. Steer clear of "mini" and "teacup" offers, since extremely small dogs get sick more often.
Do Maltese bark a lot?
They can be alert and are quick to announce footsteps in the stairwell or the doorbell. Work on this habit from puppyhood by rewarding calm behavior. A Maltese that gets enough exercise and isn't bored barks much less.
This breed also appears in
Sources
- 1FCI – wzorzec nr 65 Maltesefci.be
- 2AKC – Malteseakc.org
- 3The Kennel Club – Maltesethekennelclub.org.uk
- 4McMillan i in. 2024, Longevity of companion dog breeds, Scientific Reportsnature.com
Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
