Maltese: temperament, size, care and health

About the Maltese

The Maltese is a very small, compact dog covered in a mantle of straight, silky white hair that can reach the ground when left long. Under the hair is a sturdy little body with a rounded skull, drop ears, a black nose and dark round eyes that give a sweet, alert expression. The tail is carried over the back and falls to one side in a plume.

The breed is one of the oldest toy breeds, and its only job has been to keep company. People choose it for its small size, its tiny shedding load and its keen devotion.

Temperament and family life

A Maltese is lively, loving and more fearless than its size suggests. It enjoys its family, follows its owner and loves lap time and attention. Most are friendly, but some bark at visitors and passing noises, and they can be possessive of their favorite person.

The breed is fragile and is best with adults or considerate older children, since a small child can easily injure it, and a startled Maltese may snap. It generally gets on well with other pets, but it can be oblivious to its size around bigger dogs. Separation anxiety is common, and a spoiled Maltese may become demanding and noisy.

Exercise and training

A Maltese is active indoors and enjoys short walks and games of chase and fetch. Daily outings of twenty to thirty minutes and indoor play are enough, and it is easily exercised in a small space. It feels extremes of weather quickly, so it needs protection in the cold and shade in the heat.

The breed is intelligent and can learn tricks and manners, but it is sometimes stubborn, and house training is a common challenge. Crate or pen training, a fixed schedule and rewards are valuable. Teaching a quiet signal early helps reduce habitual barking, and firm gentle rules prevent small-dog syndrome.

Grooming and shedding

The long white coat is the main commitment. It sheds almost nothing but tangles easily, and a dog in full coat needs brushing and combing down to the skin daily, with a bath every one to three weeks. Many owners choose a shorter puppy cut that is easier to maintain, with professional grooming every month or so.

The hair on the face often becomes stained with tears and food, so daily wiping is useful. Keep the topknot clear of the eyes, clean the ears, and brush the teeth often, since small jaws and tartar go together.

Health

Maltese are among the longer-lived breeds, but they have known issues. Patellar luxation and dental disease are very common. Some have portosystemic shunt, an abnormal vessel that bypasses the liver. Others have tracheal collapse, heart disease, low blood sugar in puppies, eye problems including dry eye and a tremor condition called white shaker dog syndrome. Their fragile skulls have a soft spot that can persist.

Responsible breeders examine knees and hearts, test bile acids for shunts where indicated and check the eyes. This is general information about the Maltese, and a veterinarian is the person to ask about a particular dog.

History

The link between the modern Maltese and ancient small dogs is not known, and the connection with the island of Malta is traditional though debated. Small dogs appear on Greek vases and are described by Roman writers as Melitaean dogs. The modern breed took shape in the Victorian era, when breeders in Britain made an all-white coat the requirement and refined its length. The American Kennel Club recognized the Maltese in 1888.

Is the Maltese right for you?

A Maltese suits an adult or senior household in a small home that wants a small, devoted, low-shedding dog and accepts routine grooming. It is a good apartment companion for someone who is at home most of the day.

It is a poor choice for houses with small children, for owners who want a sturdy active dog or for those unwilling to brush daily. The Bichon Frise is a bit more robust and sociable, the Havanese has a more flexible temperament and the Yorkshire Terrier shares a silky coat with more terrier attitude.