Bichon Frise vs Maltese: a curly white performer against a straight coated ancient companion

This is the defining difference between the two. The Bichon Frise has a double coat with a soft undercoat and a coarser, corkscrew curled outer coat that stands away from the body in a rounded shape, needing careful line brushing to avoid a fluffy surface hiding mats beneath. The Maltese has a single layer of long, straight, silky hair with no undercoat at all, which sheds even less than the Bichon but tangles just as readily without daily attention.

Both breeds are white, but the Maltese standard allows only pure white or white with a light ivory tinge, while the Bichon standard permits white with cream, apricot or buff shadings, giving it slightly more color variation.

The Bichon Frise is the sturdier of the two, weighing 5 to 8 kg (11 to 18 lb) and standing 23 to 29 cm, with a solid, compact body under all that curly coat. The Maltese is noticeably lighter and more delicate, weighing only 2 to 4 kg (4 to 9 lb) and standing 20 to 25 cm, closer in scale to many toy breeds than to the Bichon's sturdier non-sporting build.

That size gap makes the Bichon the more forgiving choice around ordinary family handling, while the lighter Maltese needs more careful management around young children, since even a well meaning hug from a toddler can bruise or injure a dog this small.

Both breeds are outgoing, playful and welcoming to strangers, but the Bichon carries a bit more physical energy, famous for the sudden high speed laps around the house known as the Bichon blitz. The Maltese is just as lively in short bursts and just as devoted to its people, though many owners describe it as a touch more content to settle onto a lap between games.

Both breeds get along well with other dogs and generally welcome visitors, making either a good fit for a sociable household with regular guests and children's friends coming and going through the week.

Both breeds are quick to learn tricks and respond well to cheerful, reward-based sessions, reflecting a shared history that includes stints as circus and street performers for the Bichon and centuries as an attentive companion for the Maltese. Both bark readily at the door and at unfamiliar sounds, and both benefit from early training on a quiet cue rather than being shouted at, which tends to be read as encouragement by small, alert breeds like these.

House training takes patience with either breed, often stretching several months longer than with larger dogs, so a consistent schedule matters for both.

The Bichon Frise is known for allergies and itchy skin, bladder stones, slipping kneecaps and cataracts, typically living 14 to 16 years. The Maltese shares slipping kneecaps and dental disease as common concerns but is also linked to portosystemic liver shunts and a tremor condition called white shaker syndrome, with a similar typical lifespan of 12 to 15 years.

Bichon buyers should specifically ask breeders about any history of bladder stones in the line, given the breed's known tendency toward them, while Maltese buyers should ask about liver function testing on puppies, a step many responsible breeders now take routinely.

A 6 kg Bichon Frise eats about 90 to 110 g of dry food a day, more than a lighter 3 kg Maltese's typical 50 to 70 g, reflecting the Bichon's sturdier build.

Grooming costs run comparably high for both, with a professional trim needed every four to eight weeks and brushing several times a week at home to prevent mats from forming behind the ears and under the collar. Both rate at the top for apartment suitability and fit small city homes well, provided grooming and companionship needs are met consistently through the year.