Maltese
Maltés
- Sizevery small (toy)
- Weightup to 3.2 kg
- Lives12–14 years
- Popularity in Mexico★★★★
Character
Maltese temperament
A very small (toy) dog from the companion (toy) group, in twelve traits from 1 to 5:
- Energymiddle of the road
- Affection with familyglued to you
- With kidsmiddle of the road
- With other dogsmiddle of the road
- With strangersmiddle of the road
- Playfulnessmiddle of the road
- Guarding instinctborn guardian
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Trainabilitymiddle of the road
- Barkingmiddle of the road
- Mental stimulation it needsmiddle of the road
- Prey driveno data yet
Distinguishing features
Maltese characteristics
- Ears
- drop
- Height
- 23–25 cm
- Weight
- up to 3.2 kg
- Muzzle
- medium
- Coat
- silky
- Coat length
- long
- Colors
- white
- Life expectancy
- 12–14 years
- Sheddingbarely sheds
- Coat caredaily brushing
Life expectancy
How long does a Maltese live?
12–14 years
The breed sets the range; how long each dog lives depends on its weight, its exercise, its teeth and its check-ups with the vet.
The long profile
Long profile, in Spanish for now
The long version of this breed — character, care and origins, in Lord Chucho's voice — exists in Spanish and hasn't been translated yet. The hard data on this page (traits, features, lifespan) is the same in both languages.
Buying guides
What to buy for a Maltese
What to buy, by what it needs:
What we'd give Choco
For a dog like this one
Affiliate links: it costs you the same. How they work (in Spanish)
AI image: the real product may vary Flat 2-meter leash
Two meters: enough to sniff with dignity, enough to keep it close when it matters. Neither retractable nor 50 cm.
AI image: the real product may vary Small donut bed
Small dogs sleep curled up with a wall around them: the donut is their castle. Washable, because it will smell like dog. It's the law.
AI image: the real product may vary Hard-sided carrier
The hard carrier works for the car, the vet and moving house. Buy it for the ADULT dog's size, not the puppy you have today.
AI image: the real product may vary Soft training treats
Tiny, soft and heavenly-smelling: in training you pay fast and often, not with a five-minute biscuit.
What people ask
Frequently asked questions about the Maltese
How big does a Maltese get?
An adult Maltese stands 23–25 cm at the withers and weighs up to 3.2 kg.
Does the Maltese need a lot of exercise?
The Maltese scores 3 out of 5 on “Energy”: right in the middle of the scale. On that scale, 1 is “couch potato” and 5 is “marathoner”.
Is the Maltese good with kids?
The Maltese scores 3 out of 5 on “With kids”: right in the middle of the scale. On that scale, 1 is “better without kids” and 5 is “excellent”. Even with a 5, no dog should be left alone with small children: supervising them is the adult's job.
Does the Maltese get along with other dogs?
The Maltese scores 3 out of 5 on “With other dogs”: right in the middle of the scale. On that scale, 1 is “lone wolf” and 5 is “life of the dog park”.
Is the Maltese easy to train?
The Maltese scores 3 out of 5 on “Trainability”: right in the middle of the scale. On that scale, 1 is “negotiates every command” and 5 is “learns on the fly”.
Does the Maltese bark a lot?
The Maltese scores 3 out of 5 on “Barking”: right in the middle of the scale. On that scale, 1 is “nearly silent” and 5 is “reports everything”.
Is the Maltese a good guard dog?
The Maltese scores 4 out of 5 on “Guarding instinct”: born guardian. On that scale, 1 is “not a guardian” and 5 is “born guardian”.
Does the Maltese shed a lot?
The Maltese scores 1 out of 5 on “Shedding”: barely sheds. On that scale, 1 is “barely sheds” and 5 is “hair everywhere”.
Can a Maltese live in an apartment?
The Maltese scores 4 out of 5 on “Adaptability”: settles anywhere. On that scale, 1 is “needs its space and routine” and 5 is “settles anywhere”. An apartment is fine, being shut in is not: every dog needs to get out every day.
Health
We only publish each breed's health topics after reviewing them carefully. We guide you, but we're not your vet: if something about your dog worries you, the internet doesn't replace a visit to the vet.