Maltese Breed Guide

Contents: 

• Maltese at a Glance 
• History of the Maltese
• Maltese Characteristics & Traits
• Maltese Life Stages
• Caring for a Maltese
• Common Maltese Health Conditions
• Cost of Owning a Maltese
• Maltese Name Ideas

The Maltese at a Glance

• Breed size: Mini (3-4kg) 
• Life expectancy: 13-15 years 
• Exercise needs: Low to moderate. Around 30 minutes of daily exercise, combined with opportunities for play and mental enrichment
• Space needs: Well-suited to apartments, townhouses and larger homes, provided they receive daily companionship and exercise
• Grooming needs: High. Their silky coat requires frequent brushing and regular grooming, with many owners choosing professional grooming every 6-8 weeks
• Shedding: Low
• Hypoallergenic? No breed is truly hypoallergenic; however, the Maltese’s low shedding coat may be better tolerated by some people with mild dog allergies  
• Barking tendency: Moderate to High. Alert and vocal. Maltese often bark to let their family know when visitors or unfamiliar sounds are nearby
• Trainability: High. Intelligent and eager to learn, though they may sometimes display an independent streak
• People-friendly? Very people-oriented and typically happiest when included in family life
• Other pets? Can live happily alongside other pets, particularly when introduced gradually and socialised from a young age
• Family-friendly? Yes. Many Maltese enjoy family life, though their small size means interactions with young children should always be supervised
• Suitable for first-time dog owners? Yes. Their affectionate nature, manageable size and relatively low exercise needs can make them a good choice for many first-time owners who are prepared to invest time in grooming, training and companionship
• Best suited to: Individuals, couples, families and apartment dwellers looking for an affectionate companion who enjoys spending plenty of time with their people

Remember that every Maltese is an individual with their own personality and behaviours that may differ from the breed’s stereotypical characteristics.

What people love about the Maltese

There are many reasons why the Maltese has remained one of the world’s most beloved companion breeds:

• Deeply devoted to their families, many Maltese love being involved in everyday life and are happiest when spending time alongside their favourite people.
• Their compact size and relatively modest exercise needs make them well suited to a wide variety of homes, from apartments to larger family households, as well as an easily transportable companion for travel and everyday outings.
• The breed's silky, low-shedding coat may be better suited to some people with mild dog allergies, although no dog is truly hypoallergenic.
• Playful and affectionate, Maltese often retain their fun-loving personality well into adulthood and enjoy interactive games, gentle walks and plenty of one-on-one attention.
• Despite their small stature, they are naturally alert and quick to let their owners know when visitors arrive or something unusual catches their attention.

Important things to consider

Maltese can make wonderful companions in the right home, but it’s important to consider the following before bringing one home:

• Their beautiful low-shedding coat requires regular brushing and ongoing grooming to help prevent tangles, mats and skin issues.
• Early socialisation, Puppy School and consistent positive training can help build confidence and encourage polite behaviour around people, dogs and unfamiliar situations.
• Because Maltese form such close bonds with their people, they may find long periods alone challenging and potentially anxiety-inducing unless independence is gradually encouraged from puppyhood.
• Their delicate size means interactions with young children and larger dogs should always be supervised to help prevent accidental injuries.

History & Origins of the Maltese

The Maltese is one of the world's oldest companion dog breeds, with a history that stretches back thousands of years. While their exact origins remain uncertain, the breed is widely associated with the Mediterranean island of Malta, where they were prized for their elegant appearance and affectionate nature.

Ancient artwork, pottery and written records suggest dogs resembling today's Maltese were admired by civilisations including the Greeks, Romans and Egyptians. Over the centuries, their gentle temperament and close bond with people helped establish them as treasured companions among wealthy households and nobility throughout Europe.

By the 1500s, the Maltese had become especially popular with British aristocracy and royalty, where they continued their long-standing role as devoted lapdogs. Although modern Maltese now enjoy life as much-loved family pets, their affectionate, people-focused personality remains one of the breed's defining characteristics.

Common Traits & Characteristics of Maltese

Physical Appearance

The Maltese is a compact toy breed recognised for its elegant appearance and distinctive silky white coat. Their dark, round, expressive eyes and black nose create a striking contrast against their bright coat, while their feathered tail curves gracefully over their back.

Although many people picture the flowing floor-length coat seen in show dogs, many companion Maltese are kept in a shorter clip that's easier to maintain while still showcasing the breed's charming appearance.

Size

The Maltese is classified as a toy breed, prized for its small size and suitability for a wide range of living environments.

Height (to withers)	20-25cm
Weight	3-4kg

Coat

Coat Trait	Details
Colours	White. Some may have light lemon or tan shading, particularly on the ears.
Coat Type	Silky and fine, typically straight, though slight wave may occasionally occur.
Coat Length	Long naturally, although many pet Maltese are kept in a shorter clip for easier maintenance.
Hypoallergenic?	No dog is truly hypoallergenic, but Maltese are considered allergy-friendly.
Shedding Level	Low

Personality and Temperament

Affectionate, gentle and deeply devoted to their families, the Maltese has spent centuries being bred as a companion dog. Many thrive on close relationships with their people and are happiest when included in everyday routines, whether that's relaxing on the lounge, following their owner around the house or joining in on daily outings.

Despite their elegant appearance, Maltese often have a confident and playful side. Many seem blissfully unaware of their tiny size and approach life with surprising confidence, retaining their youthful enthusiasm well into adulthood. Whether they’re playing games, exploring their surroundings or seeking out attention, their lively personalities are often much bigger than their small stature suggests.

Although they often form especially strong bonds with their family, many Maltese also have an alert nature and are quick to notice unfamiliar sights or sounds around the home. Once they feel comfortable and secure, their affectionate and friendly temperament usually shines through.

Trainability and Behaviour

The Maltese is an intelligent breed that generally enjoys learning, particularly when training feels rewarding and engaging. Positive reinforcement using treats, praise and play often produces the best results, while short, varied training sessions help keep their attention.

Like many clever little dogs, Maltese can occasionally display an independent streak and test boundaries if training is inconsistent. Remaining patient, clear and consistent helps establish good habits from an early age, whether you’re toilet training a puppy or teaching new skills.

Common behavioural challenges that may be seen in Maltese include:

• Barking at unfamiliar people or sounds
• Becoming overly attached to their owners if independence isn’t gradually encouraged
• Wariness around unfamiliar people or animals
• House training taking a little longer than some larger breeds, as their small bladders may require more frequent toilet breaks and extra patience during training
• Anxious behaviours if they become distressed when left alone or overwhelmed by unfamiliar situations

Sociability

Although many Maltese form especially close bonds with their family, positive socialisation from an early age plays an important role in helping them feel comfortable around unfamiliar people, dogs and new environments. Experiences such as Puppy School, supervised play and gentle introductions to everyday situations can help build confidence during puppyhood.

While many Maltese are friendly and affectionate once they feel at ease, some may initially be reserved or vocal around unfamiliar people or animals. Patient introductions and positive experiences help encourage calm, confident interactions while supporting the development of good social skills.

Continued positive exposure throughout adolescence and adulthood can further strengthen your Maltese's confidence in different environments, around new people and during everyday experiences. With appropriate socialisation and ongoing training, many grow into adaptable companions that are comfortable in a wide variety of situations.

Do Maltese get along with...

Children?

Their affectionate nature means they often enjoy being part of family life and can form close bonds with children in their household. Older children who understand how to interact gently with small dogs are often a good match. Because of their small size, interactions with young children should always be supervised to help prevent accidental injuries and ensure positive experiences for everyone.

Other dogs?

With early socialisation and gradual introductions, this breed can live happily alongside other dogs. Extra care should be taken when introducing a Maltese to much larger dogs, as their delicate size can increase the risk of accidental injury during play.

Cats and other pets?

Growing up alongside cats and other household pets often helps encourage positive relationships, although gradual introductions can also be successful later in life. Patience, supervision, and positive reinforcement help support peaceful multi-pet households.

Strangers?

Although some individuals may initially be cautious or vocal when meeting unfamiliar people, they often become friendly once they realise there is no threat. Positive socialisation from puppyhood helps build confidence and encourages comfortable interactions with visitors throughout adulthood.

What to Expect as Your Maltese Grows

Like all dogs, Maltese experience several life stages, each bringing new milestones, behaviours and care requirements. Understanding what to expect as your dog grows can help you support their health and wellbeing every step of the way.

Puppyhood (0-12 months)

The first year of a Maltese’s life is filled with rapid physical, social and behavioural development. During this stage, you and your Maltese may experience:

• Rapid growth
• Socialisation opportunities
• Obedience training foundations
• Teething behaviours
• Toilet training challenges
• Beginning to form strong bonds with family 

This is the ideal time to build confidence through Puppy School, positive socialisation and reward-based training. Introducing your puppy to different people, dogs, environments and everyday experiences helps lay the foundation for a confident, well-adjusted adult.

As your Maltese approaches adolescence, you may notice them testing boundaries or seeming to forget previously learned behaviours. This is a normal part of development, so staying patient, consistent and positive will help reinforce good habits.

Adulthood (1-7 years)

By around 10-12 months of age, most Maltese have reached their adult height and begin settling into adulthood. During this stage, you may notice your Maltese:

• Grow in confidence
• Settle into their adult personality
• Form even stronger bonds with family
• Continue to benefit from daily exercise and mental enrichment

These are often the years when your Maltese’s affectionate and playful personality is fully established. Continuing regular exercise, enrichment, grooming and preventative veterinary care helps support their health and wellbeing throughout adulthood.

Senior Years (8+ years)

Miniature breeds such as the Maltese are generally considered seniors from around eight years of age. During these golden years, you may notice:

• More time spent resting
• A slower pace during play and exercise
• Changes in mobility, including increased stiffness
• Lower tolerance for hot or cold weather
• Changes in sight and hearing
• More frequent veterinary visits

Although your Maltese may begin to slow down, gentle daily exercise, appropriate nutrition and regular veterinary care remain important for maintaining their quality of life. Small adjustments around the home, such as providing ramps to favourite resting spots or supportive bedding, can also help keep them comfortable as they age.

Caring for a Maltese

Food & Nutrition

Maltese should be fed a complete and balanced diet that's appropriate for small or toy breed dogs and matched to their life stage. These diets are specially formulated with appropriately sized kibble and nutrients that help support the unique needs of smaller dogs. Because toy breeds have small mouths, choosing appropriately sized kibble can also make eating easier, and more comfortable.

Maintaining a healthy body weight is important throughout your Maltese's life, as excess weight can place additional strain on their joints and overall health. Like many toy breeds, Maltese can also be more prone to dental disease, making a balanced diet, appropriate dental care and regular veterinary dental checks an important part of their ongoing wellbeing.

Maltese Age	What to Feed
Weaning to 11 months	Mini or small breed puppy food
1-7 years	Mini or small breed adult dog food
8+ years	Mini or small breed senior dog food

Exercise & Mental Stimulation

Although Maltese don't require as much exercise as many larger breeds, regular opportunities to move, play and engage their mind remain important for their overall wellbeing. Around 30 minutes of daily exercise, combined with interactive play and enrichment activities, is often enough to help keep a Maltese happy, healthy and mentally engaged.

Because Maltese enjoy spending time with their family, activities that combine companionship with gentle exercise are often especially rewarding. Short walks, games, puzzle toys and reward-based training sessions all provide valuable mental stimulation while strengthening the bond you share together.

A balanced routine that combines physical activity, mental enrichment i.e. trick training, scent games and interactive feeders – and plenty of quality time with their people helps support a happy, confident and well-adjusted companion.

Space Requirements

Thanks to their compact size and relatively modest exercise needs, Maltese adapt well to a wide range of living environments, including apartments, townhouses and larger homes.

While they don't require a large backyard, they do thrive when given regular opportunities for exercise, play and companionship. Whether you live in a city apartment or a house with a yard, spending quality time together each day is just as important as the amount of space available.

Grooming Needs

The Maltese's beautiful silky coat requires regular care to keep it looking and feeling its best. Whether your dog wears the long flowing coat seen in show dogs or a shorter pet clip, consistent grooming helps prevent tangles, mats and skin irritation while providing an opportunity to monitor their overall health.

A typical Maltese grooming routine may include:

• Brushing daily or several times each week, depending on coat length
• Regular bathing as required
• Tear straining can be common, so regular gentle eye cleaning can help keep their face clean and comfortable
• Coat trims every 6–8 weeks, which many Maltese owners get done by a professional groomer
• Routine nail trims
• Regular ear checks and cleaning when needed
• Daily dental care where possible

Introducing grooming from puppyhood helps create positive associations and can make brushing, bathing and nail trims much easier throughout adulthood.

Common Health Conditions in Maltese Dogs

With appropriate care, many Maltese enjoy long, happy and healthy lives. Like all breeds, however, they may be predisposed to certain health conditions. Being familiar with the signs of common health concerns and maintaining regular veterinary care can help support early diagnosis and treatment.

• Dental disease: Toy breeds can be more prone to plaque and tartar build-up, which may lead to bad breath, discomfort, difficulty eating and gum disease if left untreated.
• Luxating patella: A condition where the kneecap slips out of place, sometimes causing an intermittent skipping gait, limping or discomfort.
• Gastrointestinal disorders: Digestive issues may occur for a variety of reasons and can present as vomiting, diarrhoea, reduced appetite or weight loss.
• Skin allergies: May cause itching, redness, licking, chewing or hair loss. Allergies can have a range of underlying causes that require veterinary assessment.
• Ear infections: Can result in redness, irritation, unpleasant odour, discharge or frequent head shaking.
• Heart disease: Some Maltese may develop heart conditions as they age, with signs including coughing, reduced exercise tolerance or changes in breathing.
• Hypothyroidism: An underactive thyroid gland that may contribute to weight gain, lethargy and changes to the skin or coat.
• Collapsing trachea: A weakness in cartilage of the trachea commonly seen in toy breeds. Can result in a cough, exercise intolerance and difficulty breathing.

These are not the only health conditions a Maltese may experience, and many illnesses are not breed-specific. Becoming familiar with the common signs of pain and illness in dogs and knowing when to seek veterinary advice can help support your dog's long-term health.

Routine veterinary check-ups, preventative healthcare and monitoring changes in your dog's appetite, behaviour, mobility, skin, ears or eyes can all help identify potential health concerns early.

How Much Does a Maltese Cost?

If you’re thinking about welcoming a Maltese into your home, it’s important to understand both the up-front and ongoing costs involved in caring for a dog so you’re prepared for the present and the future.

Initial Costs

• Purchase or adoption fee: Whether you choose to buy from a reputable Maltese breeder or adopt from a shelter or rescue organisation, the initial cost can vary considerably. Adoption fees are often lower and help support animal welfare organisations.
• Desexing: If your Maltese hasn’t already been desexed, this is an important one-off expense to consider during their first year. 
• Microchipping: A legal requirement in many areas. Your breeder or rescue organisation may have already arranged this before your puppy comes home. Remember to transfer the registration into your name and keep your contact details up to date.
• Vaccinations: Help protect against common infectious diseases. Following the initial puppy vaccination course, booster vaccinations become an ongoing part of preventative healthcare.
• Basic supplies: Including a bed, crate or playpen, food and water bowls, lead, harness, toys and grooming tools. Some items will need replacing as your dog grows or wears them out over time.

Ongoing Costs

• Food: Maltese require a complete and balanced toy or small breed diet that’s appropriate for their life stage. Their compact size generally means lower food costs than larger breeds but investing in quality nutrition remains an important part of supporting their long-term health.
• Health care: Routine veterinary check-ups, vaccinations, parasite prevention, dental care and unexpected illnesses or injuries all contribute to your dog's ongoing healthcare costs.
• Grooming: Maintaining a Maltese’s silky coat requires regular brushing, and many owners choose professional dog grooming every 6-8 weeks to help keep the coat healthy and manageable.
• Training and enrichment: Puppy School, ongoing training, toys and enrichment activities help build confidence, encourage positive behaviours and provide valuable mental stimulation throughout life.
• Pet insurance: Highly recommended to help manage unexpected veterinary expenses throughout your dog's life.
• Registration: Many councils require you to register your dog and pay an annual registration fee. Check your local council’s website for details.

Best Names for a Maltese

When choosing the perfect name for your Maltese, you might like to take inspiration from their:

• Distinctive white coat
• Elegant appearance and graceful nature
• Playful, affectionate personality
• Tiny size and larger-than-life confidence
• Mediterranean heritage and long history

Find Everything Your Maltese Needs from Puppyhood to their Golden Years

Whether you're already sharing your home with an affectionate Maltese or preparing to welcome one into your family, understanding their unique needs is the first step towards supporting a long, happy and healthy life together.

From premium nutrition and grooming essentials to toys, training supplies and everyday care, Petbarn has everything you need to help your Maltese thrive through every stage of life.