Toy group · Small · Malta
Maltese
Also known as: Maltese Lion Dog
The Maltese has been a luxury lap dog for well over two thousand years, and the modern version is exactly what the ancients ordered: tiny, silky-white, gentle, and utterly devoted. The honest headline is fragility and neediness — this is a 5-pound dog that thinks it's your shadow, and it needs a household that's careful and mostly home.
Height
7-9 in
Weight
4-7 lbs
Lifespan
12-15 years
Coat
Long, silky, white single coat
Exercise
30+ min/day
Puppy price
$1,500-$3,500
AKC popularity
#37
Best for
Adults and gentle households who want a tiny, low-shedding, devoted lap companion and can give it plenty of together-time.
Trait Scores
What owners love
- +One of the most affectionate lap dogs alive — a Maltese's life goal is physical contact with you
- +Single silky coat sheds almost nothing, one of the top picks for allergy-conscious homes
- +Truly tiny and portable: fits airline cabins, bike baskets, and any apartment ever built
- +Playful and surprisingly fearless personality wrapped in a stuffed-animal body
- +Low real exercise needs — indoor zoomies plus short walks keep them happy
- +Long-lived, commonly reaching 14-15 with good dental care
What owners warn about
- −Genuinely fragile: a jump off the couch or a stepped-on paw can mean broken bones, so toddler households are a bad match
- −Velcro dependency means separation anxiety is common — this is not an 8-hours-alone breed
- −That white coat means tear staining and near-daily face maintenance, plus regular brushing or monthly grooming
- −Dental disease is rampant in tiny mouths; daily brushing and paid cleanings are part of the deal
- −Alert barking is a lifestyle — many Maltese narrate every hallway noise
- −House-training a bladder the size of a walnut takes months of unglamorous consistency
Common Health Issues
How the Maltese Compares
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Maltese good with kids?+
With calm older kids, lovely; with toddlers, risky for the dog. At 4-7 pounds a Maltese can be seriously injured by normal small-child clumsiness, and many breeders won't place puppies in homes with kids under 8-10. If you want a small white fluff for a young family, a Bichon Frise is sturdier and built for the chaos.
Do Maltese have separation anxiety?+
It's one of the breed's most common behavioral complaints — they were bred exclusively for companionship and it shows the moment you pick up your keys. Build alone-time tolerance from day one, use puzzle feeders, and be honest about your schedule. A Maltese in a mostly-empty house tends to become a barking, distressed Maltese.
How do I deal with Maltese tear staining?+
Daily face wiping, keeping the eye-corner hair trimmed short, and using filtered water help most dogs; some improve with diet changes. Rule out actual eye problems (blocked tear ducts, ingrown lashes) with your vet if staining is heavy. Whitening shampoos manage the cosmetics, but consistency beats products.
Maltese coat: long show coat or short cut?+
Nearly all pet owners keep a 'puppy cut' trimmed every 4-6 weeks, which reduces home brushing to a few quick sessions a week. The floor-length show coat is gorgeous and a legitimate part-time job — daily careful brushing, wrapping, and constant vigilance against mats. Short cut, happier dog, happier you.