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AKC: Maltese breed overview

Toy group · Central Mediterranean (Malta and Italy)

Maltese

Also called Bichon Maltais, Maltese Dog

A tiny white companion with a bold, cheerful personality and a silky coat that asks for daily attention.

The Maltese has been a lapdog for well over two thousand years and still does the job brilliantly. It weighs about 3 kg (under 7 lb), sheds very little and adapts easily to apartments, but its silky coat needs either daily brushing or a regular short trim. Expect a lively, affectionate dog that dislikes being left alone.

Original AI-generated breed illustration

Weight

2 to 4 kg

4 to 9 lb

Height

20 to 25 cm

at the shoulder

Life expectancy

12 to 15 yrs

Activity estimate

60 to 90 min

editorial daily planning range

Adult-size estimate

12 months

approximate model input

Life with a Maltese

Most breeds were shaped for a job such as herding, hunting or guarding. The Maltese was shaped for company, and it has been at that job for a very long time. Small white dogs linked to Malta and the busy trading ports of the Mediterranean were prized by wealthy Greeks and Romans, and later by European nobility. The modern breed is associated with both Malta and Italy, and the FCI lists Italy as its country of patronage.

What you get today is a dog of about 3 kg (under 7 lb) with a surprising amount of self-belief. Maltese are playful, curious and quick to make friends, and many keep a puppyish enthusiasm for games past their tenth birthday. They are also watchful little alarm systems that bark at footsteps in the corridor unless you teach them otherwise.

The coat defines life with this breed. It grows long and straight with no undercoat, and on show dogs it sweeps the floor. That single silky layer is why Maltese shed so little, but it also mats easily, collects leaves and crumbs and shows every stain. Many owners keep a short puppy cut instead, which turns daily care from 15 minutes of work into a quick once-over.

What stands out

Grooming

For a full coat, brush and comb every day, working in layers down to the skin with a pin brush and a fine metal comb, and bathe every one to two weeks with a conditioner to reduce tangles. Tie the topknot up so hair stays out of the eyes. A puppy clip trimmed every 6 to 8 weeks by a groomer drops the daily work to a few minutes, and it is what most pet owners choose.

Read the full grooming guide

Illustrative grooming schedule based on our editorial coat-care score. Adjust it to the individual coat and professional advice.

Brushing
Daily
Bathing
Every 3 to 6 weeks
Shedding
Minimal
Nail trim
Every 3 to 4 weeks

A great match for

apartment and city living
people who are home most of the day
owners happy to brush daily or book regular grooming
adult households or calm older children

Think twice if

mats form within days without brushing
dental disease is very common
can be slow to house-train
fragile around toddlers and large dogs
may bark at every sound in the hallway

Personality and needs at a glance

Living together

Good with children

Good with other dogs

Open with strangers

Apartment friendly

Copes with alone time

Energy and character

Energy level

Playfulness

Easy to train

Barking

5 means very vocal

Care and climate

Grooming needs

Shedding

Drooling

Handles cold

Handles heat

How much a Maltese eats

Illustrative calculations for neutered adults at midpoint breed weights, with food at 370 kcal per 100 g and 100 g per cup. These are not measured breed requirements. Use actual weight, the food label and veterinary body-condition advice.

Dog	Weight	Calories	Dry food
Female, relaxed lifestyle	3 kg	220 kcal	60 g (0.5 cups)
Female, typical pet	3 kg	260 kcal	70 g (0.8 cups)
Male, typical pet	4 kg	290 kcal	75 g (0.8 cups)
Male, very active	4 kg	360 kcal	95 g (1 cups)

Full Maltese feeding guide Calculate for my dog

Care guides for the Maltese

FeedingA 3 kg adult usually needs only about 50 to 70 g of a small-breed dry food a day, roughly half to two-thirds of a cup, split into two meals. Because portions are so small, a few treats or a bite of your toast can add 20 percent to the day's calories.Read more Puppy growthMaltese puppies are born weighing roughly 100 to 150 g, and most reach adult weight between 9 and 12 months. The fastest gains happen in the first four to five months; after that, weekly changes become small.Read more ExerciseTwo walks of 15 to 20 minutes plus indoor play covers most adults. Maltese love chasing a soft toy down the hallway, short training games and exploring new places, and many enjoy trick training or beginner agility with lowered jumps.Read more TrainingMaltese learn quickly when training feels like a game. Short sessions with tiny, soft treats and plenty of praise work well, and they shine at tricks such as spin, wave and go to bed.Read more HealthThe Maltese is a long-lived breed, often reaching 12 to 15 years, but it has known weak points. Dental disease is the most common, followed by luxating patellas (slipping kneecaps).Read more

Things owners are often surprised by

1Small white dogs believed to be its ancestors appear on ancient Greek pottery
2Has no undercoat, so shedding is minimal, though no dog is truly allergen free
3Adults usually weigh 3 to 4 kg (6.5 to 9 lb)
4The coat is pure white, which makes tear and beard staining show quickly
5Often lives into its mid teens

Maltese questions

Are Maltese hypoallergenic?

No dog is fully hypoallergenic, because allergens come from skin, saliva and urine as well as hair. The Maltese sheds very little and has no undercoat, so some people with mild allergies react less to it than to heavy shedders. If allergies are a worry, spend a few hours with adult Maltese before committing, ideally in someone's home rather than at a busy show.

Why do Maltese get red stains under their eyes?

The reddish brown color comes from natural pigments in tears and saliva that stain white hair when it stays damp. Shallow eye sockets, hair touching the eyes and teething in puppies all make it worse. Daily wiping and drying, trimming the hair near the eyes and cleaning the face after meals reduce it. If staining appears suddenly with squinting or discharge, ask your vet to examine the eyes.

Can a Maltese be left alone during the working day?

Not comfortably for eight or nine hours. The breed was developed purely as a companion, and many Maltese become anxious, noisy or destructive when regularly left for long stretches. Around four hours is a more realistic limit for most adults. If you work full-time away from home, a midday dog walker, a small-dog daycare or a trusted neighbor makes a big difference.

What is the difference between a Maltese and a Bichon Frise?

Both are small white Mediterranean companions, but their coats differ. The Maltese has a long, straight, silky single coat that lies flat, while the Bichon has a dense, curly double coat that stands away from the body. The Bichon is sturdier, typically 5 to 8 kg, while the Maltese is lighter and more delicate. Both need regular grooming and both are prone to tear staining.

Is a Maltese good with children?

With calm, gentle children over about seven, often yes. With toddlers the danger usually runs the other way: a 3 kg dog is easily dropped, stepped on or squeezed, and a frightened Maltese may snap. If you have young children, supervise every interaction and teach them to sit on the floor for cuddles rather than carrying the dog around.

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