Breeds / Toy
Maltese puppies
The Maltese is gentle mannered and affectionate, eager and sprightly in action, and despite their size has the vigour of a satisfactory companion.
The facts
- Size class Toy
- Country of origin Central Mediterranean Basin
- Adult weight Up to 3.2 kg
- Adult weight in pounds Up to 7 lb
- Adult height 18 to 23 cm
- Energy level Moderate
- Grooming High
- Coat type Long silky
- Shedding Low
- Typical lifespan 12 to 15 years
- Good with children Fine with supervision
- Good with other dogs Fine with supervision
About the Maltese
The Maltese is one of the oldest of the European toy breeds, a lapdog of the central Mediterranean basin that Greek and Roman writers already knew about and that has been bred for nothing but company ever since. They stand 18 to 23 cm and weigh under 3.2 kg, carrying a coat of long, straight, pure white hair that hangs to the ground. Underneath it is a lively, confident little dog, playful well into old age and firmly attached to the people they live with.
The coat is the work: gentle daily brushing and combing right down to the skin, regular baths and conditioning, or it mats, and many owners keep it in a short trim instead. Exercise is modest, a daily walk or a run around indoors. Teeth need brushing daily and routine cleaning at the vet, since toy breeds lose them early. They rate in the middle with children, so supervise and socialise. Behaviour nobody would accept from a large dog is no more charming in a small one, so set the same rules.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Maltese puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A toy breed puppy at eight weeks is small enough to be genuinely fragile. They can be hurt by a jump off a sofa and by being stepped on, and toy breeds are prone to low blood sugar, so they need frequent small meals rather than two big ones. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming needs are high. Start daily brushing and short, positive handling sessions at eight weeks, well before the adult coat arrives, or the first professional groom will be traumatic. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Patellar luxation, with a patella evaluation recommended by the national breed club
- Cardiac disease, with a cardiac exam recommended by the national breed club
- Liver shunt, screened for with a serum bile acids test
Your Maltese puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Toy for a Maltese.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the Up to 3.2 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Kit sizes: crate 22 inch (22 x 14 x 16 in, 56 x 36 x 41 cm) for an adult of up to 3.2 kg; chew toys made for small breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.
Buying guides for this
Other toy breeds
More on the Maltese
Previous: Malshi · Next: Maltipoo
Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.
Sources
- akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
- fci.be for country of origin
- Health notes from Maltese breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/maltese/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Photo: Alfredo Borba, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.