How much exercise does a Maltese need?
Daily exercise minutes, the activities a Maltese enjoys and signs of too much or too little.
Two 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.
Too little activity shows up as barking, nuisance chewing and frantic laps of the living room at bedtime. Too much shows up as lagging, sitting down mid-walk or reluctance to go out next time. Their low body mass means they chill quickly, so a coat is sensible in wet or freezing weather, and a harness is kinder to the small windpipe than a collar.
Maltese exercise in numbers
Activity ranges are editorial planning estimates. The five-minutes-per-month puppy rule lacks scientific evidence. Adapt activity to the individual and seek advice for pain or exercise difficulty. PDSA puppy exercise guidance.
Editorial activity estimate
60 to 90 min
Puppy activity
Individual plan
adapt to age, health and development
Senior activity
Individual plan
adapt to comfort and ability
Size
toy
2 to 4 kg
Energy level
Playfulness
Handles heat
Handles cold