Maltese
Breed Dog Canis lupus familiaris
Written with AI assistance, not yet checked by a person. Treat the details as a starting point and confirm important decisions with a vet or a breeder.
Overview
A small white companion dog of about 3-4 kg with a long, silky coat that does not shed much but needs daily care. Affectionate, alert and happy in a flat, but sensitive to rough handling and to long hours alone.
Small white dogs of this type have been kept around the central Mediterranean for a very long time; the island of Malta gave the breed its name. The FCI places it in group 9 (companion and toy dogs), with Italy as the patron country of the standard.
Recognised by: FCI.
- Care difficulty
- Beginner
- Coat type
- Silky
- Colours and markings
- Pure white; a light ivory tint is tolerated.
- FCI group
- 9
- Original purpose
- Companion and lap dog.
- Adult weight
- 3–4 kg
- Adult height (shoulder/withers)
- 雌性 20–23 cm 雄性 21–25 cm
- Friendliness
- Affection towards owner
- Energy level
- Trainability
- Noise level
- Shedding
- Grooming need
- Good with children
- Good with other pets
- Suitable for apartment living
- Tolerance of being alone
- Prey drive
- Temperament
- Lively, affectionate and attached to its people; can be wary of strangers and bark at noises. Needs gentle, consistent training; house training can take longer than in larger dogs.
- Exercise needed per day
- 30–60 min
- Guarding instinct
- Friendliness to strangers
- Drooling
Health and common problems
These are common issues for this animal, not a diagnosis. If you are worried about your animal, see a vet.
- Hypoallergenic (low allergen)
- 否
- Heat tolerance
- Cold tolerance
Collapsing trachea
Frequency: Uncommon Serious Starts from 4 年 to 12 年 Typical vet cost €100–€600
The cartilage rings of the windpipe are weak and flatten, so the airway narrows. It is typical of toy breeds and often worsens with age, excess weight and pulling on a collar.
- Signs to look for
- A dry, honking cough, especially with excitement or pulling on the lead; noisy breathing; tiring quickly.
- How to handle it
- A vet can prescribe cough and airway medication; severe cases may need a procedure.
- Prevention
- Walk on a harness, not a collar, and keep the dog slim.
- When to see a vet
- When the cough becomes frequent, and at once if the gums turn bluish or the dog struggles to breathe.
- First aid
- Use a harness instead of a collar, keep the dog slim and calm during coughing fits, and avoid smoke.
Mitral valve disease
Frequency: Uncommon Serious Starts from 7 年 to 15 年 Typical vet cost €200–€1,000
The heart valve between two chambers wears out and leaks. It is common in older small dogs and can lead to heart failure.
- Signs to look for
- A new cough, faster breathing at rest, tiring on walks, fainting.
- Screening tests (ask your breeder)
- Listening for a heart murmur at every check-up from middle age.
- When to see a vet
- At the first cough or faster resting breathing; regular check-ups find a murmur early.
- First aid
- Keep the dog calm and count its breaths at rest while asleep; report a rising rate.
Portosystemic (liver) shunt
Frequency: Uncommon Serious Starts from 2 个月 to 2 年 Typical vet cost €500–€4,000
An abnormal blood vessel lets blood from the gut bypass the liver, so toxins are not filtered out. Most cases are present from birth and are more common in some small breeds.
- Signs to look for
- A puppy that grows poorly, seems dull or disoriented after meals, presses its head against walls, drinks and urinates a lot, or has seizures.
- How to handle it
- Diagnosed with blood tests and imaging; many dogs are treated with surgery, others with a special diet and medication.
- Screening tests (ask your breeder)
- Bile acid blood test in puppies from affected lines.
- When to see a vet
- As soon as a young dog shows odd behaviour after eating, poor growth or seizures. Blood tests (bile acids) and imaging confirm it.
- First aid
- There is no home treatment. Note when the symptoms appear in relation to meals.
White shaker syndrome
Frequency: Uncommon 中等 Starts from 9 个月 to 3 年 Typical vet cost €200–€800
A mild inflammation of the brain or its nerves that causes whole-body tremors. It was first described in small white dogs such as the Maltese, but other colours can be affected. It usually starts in young adults.
- Signs to look for
- Fine shaking of the whole body that gets worse with excitement, wobbly walk, unusual eye movements.
- How to handle it
- Treated by a vet with anti-inflammatory medication; most dogs improve within weeks.
- When to see a vet
- At the first episode of shaking that does not stop when the dog is warm and calm. It usually responds well to treatment.
- First aid
- Keep the dog calm and safe from falls. Tremors also have other causes (cold, low blood sugar, poisoning), so do not assume.
Patellar luxation
Frequency: Common 中等 Starts from 6 个月 to 4 年 Typical vet cost €50–€2,500
The kneecap slips out of its groove. It is common in small breeds and ranges from occasional skipping to a permanently dislocated knee.
- Signs to look for
- Sudden skipping on a hind leg, holding a leg up for a few steps, then walking normally again.
- How to handle it
- Mild grades are often managed with weight control and muscle-building exercise; higher grades may need surgery. A vet grades the knee.
- Prevention
- Keep the dog slim, use ramps or steps to furniture and limit jumping from heights.
- Screening tests (ask your breeder)
- Breeding dogs should have their knees examined and graded by a vet.
- When to see a vet
- When skipping happens regularly, the dog limps for a day or more, or cries out.
- First aid
- Keep the dog calm and do not try to push the kneecap back yourself.
Tear staining (epiphora)
Frequency: Common 轻微 Typical vet cost €30–€120
Tears overflow onto the face and leave reddish-brown stains, which show most on white coats. Causes include narrow tear ducts, hair touching the eye, allergies and eye irritation.
- Signs to look for
- Wet fur and brown streaks below the inner corner of the eyes, a smell from the damp fur.
- How to handle it
- A vet checks for blocked tear ducts, inturned lashes or allergy before treating the cause.
- Prevention
- Keep the hair around the eyes trimmed and wipe the area daily.
- When to see a vet
- If the eye is red, squinted or cloudy, the discharge is yellow or green, or the staining appears suddenly.
- First aid
- Wipe the area gently with clean water once or twice a day and keep the hair around the eyes short.
Dental disease
Frequency: Very common 中等 Starts from 2 年 to 8 年 Typical vet cost €150–€500
Plaque and tartar build up and inflame the gums, which can loosen teeth and let bacteria enter the blood. It is one of the most common health problems in dogs, cats and small mammals.
- Signs to look for
- Bad breath, red or bleeding gums, drooling, dropping food, chewing on one side, pawing at the mouth.
- How to handle it
- Professional cleaning under anaesthesia when tartar or gum disease is present; loose teeth are removed by the vet.
- Prevention
- Brush the teeth daily from puppyhood with dog toothpaste; small mouths crowd the teeth and tartar builds up fast.
- When to see a vet
- If you see loose or broken teeth, swollen cheeks, or the animal stops eating normally.
- First aid
- Gentle tooth brushing with pet toothpaste and suitable chews help prevention. Do not use human toothpaste.
Care and maintenance
-
Brush and comb the coat
every day
Brush in layers down to the skin and finish with a metal comb; check behind the ears and under the legs for knots.
-
Wipe the eyes
every day
Wipe the corners of the eyes with a soft cloth and clean water.
-
Brush the teeth
every day
Use a small dog toothbrush and dog toothpaste.
登录 to add these tasks to your reminders for your Maltese.
Who it gets along with
Worked out from the traits of this animal. Individual animals differ, and introductions should always be slow and supervised.
Usually good with
-
Cats
Based on the typical temperament of Maltese (4/5). -
Dogs
Based on the typical temperament of Maltese (4/5). -
Small pets
Based on the typical temperament of Maltese (4/5). -
Birds
Based on the typical temperament of Maltese (4/5). -
Fish
Based on the typical temperament of Maltese (4/5). -
Seniors
Based on the typical temperament of Maltese (4/5).
Be careful with
-
Children
Fine with calm, older children; small children can drop or hurt it. -
Strangers
Based on the typical temperament of Maltese (3/5).
Set-up and food
食物
- Complete dry food for small breeds – Follow the pack guide for the dog's weight; small portions twice a day.
Never feed: Chocolate, Cooked bones, Grapes and raisins, Onion and garlic, Xylitol (sweetener in gum and sweets). Full toxic foods checker
法律信息
Check your local law. Rules about keeping, importing and selling animals differ between countries and regions and change often. What is written here may be out of date; ask your local authority before you buy or adopt.
No specific legal rules are recorded for this animal.
Family tree
Varieties and crosses of Maltese
- Maltipoo cross
General information, not veterinary advice. Every animal is an individual. Typical values and costs are estimates. Talk to a vet, a breeder or a shelter before you decide, and see a vet if your animal is unwell.