Anyone who has ever looked into the black, loyal button eyes of a Maltese is hooked. The lively, small companion dog playfully wraps animal-loving people around his finger with his cheerful and lively nature. The Maltese is enterprising, playful and fond of children. He loves to romp around passionately – both with other dogs of the same species and with his family. Within his own four walls, he is cuddly, alert and affectionate.

Intelligent charmer with noble ancestors

The Maltese is one of the oldest dog breeds in the world – it was already known in ancient times. It originally comes from the Mediterranean region; however, not from the island of Malta, as one might conclude from the name. In all likelihood, the word Maltese goes back to the word “màlat”, which comes from the Semitic language family, meaning “harbour” or “refuge”. The ancestors of the little whirlwind were therefore at home in the ports on the Mediterranean. There they roamed between the ships and warehouses, always in search of mice, rats or other delicacies. As early as Ancient Rome, the Maltese became the companion dog of noble ladies. In the Renaissance, the clever dogs finally conquered the heart of the nobility and henceforth lived on their big paws. They can be found in numerous illustrations from that time.

Appearance of the Maltese

The Maltese is one of the most popular dog breeds in Germany and is assigned by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale to Group 9 “Society and Companion Dogs”, Section 1 Bichons and Related Breeds.
Maltese appear very elegant to many people due to their physique and long hair: they are small, their bodies are elongated and are covered by long, white fur. Their eyes are large, their gaze lively and attentive.

How big and how heavy do Maltese get?

Maltese belong to the small dog breeds: adult males reach a height at the withers of 21 to 25 centimetres, a height at the withers of 20 to 23 centimetres. Depending on the size, a Maltese can weigh three to four kilograms.

How old do Maltese get?

Small dogs such as the Maltese have a higher life expectancy on average than large dog breeds. Studies suggest that growth in puppyhood plays a decisive role in this. A Maltese usually lives to be 12 to 15 years old.

Through loving care, high-quality food and regular exercise, you can support your four-legged friend’s health and contribute to a long, happy life. Would you like to know how old your Maltese is in dog years? With the help of our table, you can easily find out how to convert dog years into human years.

The character: Is a Maltese a yapper?

Some people are concerned that Maltese are among the so-called “yappers”. However, Maltese usually do not bark excessively much and are therefore generally not considered “yappers”.
Basically, frequent barking is not only due to the breed of dog, but has very individual causes. You can find out more about this in our guide article Dog barks – too often, too loudly, too long.

The Maltese is a dog breed with a lively temperament. The small white balls of wool are self-confident, intelligent, playful, cheerful and alert. Occasionally, Maltese can also be stubborn, but this dog breed is usually very sociable. They would like to accompany their family everywhere, which is fortunately rarely a problem due to their small size. If you train your Maltese accordingly and practice with him sufficiently, you can usually take him with you without any problems, e.g. on public transport such as a bus. However, the small dogs are rather shy towards strangers at the beginning. After getting to know them, however, this usually changes quickly.

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Education and husbandry: For whom is a Maltese suitable?

If he does not enjoy a good upbringing, the Maltese will easily dance around on your nose. You should therefore deal with him decisively and consistently as a puppy. With patience and calmness, you can teach your puppy the most important commands and rules at an early age, because he is very eager, willing to learn and willing to cooperate. The better a Maltese is behaved, the easier his attitude in everyday life. If you are still inexperienced with dogs, you should attend a dog school with your four-legged friend: Under the guidance of a trainer, you will acquire the necessary educational knowledge and strengthen the relationship with your dog at the same time.

Early socialization with conspecifics in dog meadows or puppy playgroups is also recommended and makes it easier for you to meet dogs later on: If your Maltese is used to meeting other dogs, he will meet them confidently and with respect.

A Maltese is also suitable as a companion dog for people without much dog experience or for older people, as long as species-appropriate husbandry is guaranteed.

Is the Maltese a beginner dog?

The Maltese is not only suitable for experienced dog owners, but can also be kept well by beginners. However, it is important that you thoroughly deal with the dog breed and its upbringing if you want to buy a Maltese. You can get advice on education and keeping from the breeder or a dog school, for example.

Is a Maltese a good family dog?

Due to its cheerful, playful nature, the Maltese is ideal as a family dog. Of course, as with other dog breeds, the prerequisite is that he has enjoyed a good upbringing and has been well socialized. It is also important that you make sure that children are not too stormy with the small dog.

Can you leave a Maltese alone?

The Maltese is an affectionate dog that builds a close bond with its family. It loves to accompany you everywhere if possible and does not like to be alone. Nevertheless, you can also get a Maltese used to being alone. Whether and how long you can leave your four-legged friend alone ultimately always depends on the individual character of your dog. You can find out how to train staying alone with your Maltese in the guide article “Leave the dog alone – overcome separation anxiety and loss of control”.

How much exercise does a Maltese need?

The enterprising and courageous Maltese are always in the mood to play and need enough exercise to feel comfortable: Most conspecifics are always up for extended playtime, agility or dog dancing. Once the spirited Maltese has really exhausted himself, he prefers to lie very close to his loved ones and enjoy cuddles. However, if the Maltese is not mentally and/or physically exhausted, he can become stubborn and “cheeky”.

Care and health of the Malteser

The Maltese’s soft long coat needs regular grooming – ideally daily, otherwise it will quickly become matted. Especially the coat between the forelimbs and hind limbs as well as on the elbows tends to matt quickly if you don’t care for it regularly. It is therefore best to get your four-legged friend used to the daily brushing ritual as a puppy. If the silky shiny coat becomes too long and hangs down to the floor, it is time for the dog groomer. This is usually the case after two to three months. Incidentally, the Maltese is also well suited for allergy sufferers.

Common diseases of the Maltese

Typical diseases of Maltese include conjunctivitis and eye irritation caused by too long fur. Therefore, the hair should be shortened over the eyes or tied with a rubber band so that it does not fall into the eyes.

Maltese horses that are used for breeding are also examined for a disease of the knee joint that leads to a patellar dislocation (patellar luxation). The kneecap (patella) is a small, flat bone that lies in front of the knee joint in a sliding groove. In patellar luxation, the disc-shaped bone slips out of the sliding groove, which can be very painful for the dog. As a result, he can no longer put his leg on the floor normally and suddenly holds it up when walking. One possible cause of a patellar luxation is a sliding groove that is too shallow from birth. Then the disease is genetically determined. To determine a patellar luxation, the veterinarian examines the affected knee joint and, if necessary, takes an X-ray. Whether the patellar luxation needs surgery or can be treated without surgery, i.e. conservatively, depends on its severity and the dog’s symptoms. Such breed-typical diseases can also occur in a Maltese mix.

How much does a Maltese cost?

For a purebred Maltese, you can expect a purchase price starting at around 1,500 euros. Maltese hybrids such as the Maltipoo also cost about the same amount. The price depends, among other things, on the breeding facility and the pedigree. A reputable breeder ensures that his Maltese puppies are healthy and socialized in a species-appropriate environment.
If necessary, you can also find what you are looking for in the animal shelter and give a Maltese or Maltese mix a new home from there. Here you will only be charged a nominal fee, which is lower.

What should you consider before buying a Malteser?

If you want to buy a Maltese, you should make sure that you get the dog from a reputable source (e.g. from a recognized breeder). An experienced breeder can also advise you on questions about the breed and its keeping, if necessary even long after the purchase. Often there is also the possibility that you can visit your future companion at the breeder a few times before you take him home with you. This has the great advantage that your Maltese puppy can get used to you early on and you are no longer a complete stranger to him when he moves in with you.

Before you buy your Maltese, you should also examine its parents if possible. They should be free of kneecap problems (keyword patellar luxation) and have healthy eyes and a healthy heart. Buying puppies that come from so-called breeding breeds is strongly discouraged.

Many already small dog breeds – such as the Maltese – sometimes offer particularly small mini versions. Mini Maltese are smaller and lighter than the original, weighing less than 3 kg. However, such mini breeds can be associated with serious health problems for the dogs. In addition, so-called Teacup dogs are not considered a recognized dog breed. For example, responsible breeders do not allow tiny specimens of a breed to continue breeding in the first place, as the risk of health restrictions and diseases is too high. The breeding regulations of the Association for the German Canine Society (VDH) as of 2018 also prohibit the breeding of Teacup dogs and stipulate that only dogs weighing at least two kilograms may be bred. So if you are offered a Mini Maltese, you should question what exactly is meant by that.

Video: “All about the Malteser”

Rasseportrait Maltese

Pure white fur, intelligent and playful – the Maltese is a bright little dog that is also well suited for allergy sufferers. Here you can find out everything about the origin, character and care of this dog breed.

You might also like these other small dog breeds:

• Havanese: At first glance, the Havanese with its silky soft fur and hair clip over its eyes looks like a somewhat boring sofa dog. At second glance, however, it reveals a robust small dog that enchants with its clever, playful and watchful nature.
• Russkiy Toy: The Russkiy Toy is a pretty, somewhat deer pinscher-like small dog and a companion full of character. The Russkiy Toy is an excellent choice for dog owners who want a friendly and clever four-legged friend in a “handy” format.
• Prague Rattler: Once highly valued as a hard-working rat hunter and exclusive companion of Bohemian kings and nobles, the Prague Rattler is now a popular companion dog. The tiny creature impresses with its self-confidence and loves the closeness of its humans.
• Pug: “A life without a pug is possible. But pointless,” said Loriot. With good reason: The pug is a lively charmer and loyal companion, yet loving and affectionate. You can’t resist his crumpled face and his big eyes.
• Maltipoo: The Maltipoo combines the kindness of the Maltese with the intelligence of the poodle. The mixture results in an attentive, cheerful and playful family dog that is easy to train and lead in everyday life.
• Chihuahua: Small, but mighty! The Mexican Chihuahua is the smallest dog breed in the world. The size of the Chihuahua is between 15 and 35 centimeters shoulder height. With a maximum of three kilos, the weight of the Chihuahua is also handy.