Maltese: Breed Guide

One of the oldest and most refined toy breeds, the Maltese is a small, silky-white dog that humans have prized as a companion from antiquity onward. Ancient Greek and Roman art depicts them, Aristotle described them in his writings and aristocrats across multiple civilizations kept them for over two thousand years.

In a modern home, it brings grace, affection and a personality of surprising liveliness into a compact, low-shedding package.

Origins: The Ancient Mediterranean

Maltese dogs carry a heritage spanning the Mediterranean basin for centuries. While debate surrounds the origin of their breed name, Malta is the most cited source and archaeological and artistic finds from the island do show small white companion dogs from an early time. Yet similar small white dogs appear in ancient Phoenician, Greek and Egyptian art, which suggests a wider Mediterranean origin or dispersal pattern rather than a single place of origin.

The Greek philosopher Aristotle mentioned the breed circa 350 BCE, describing a small dog called Melitaie, a name that refers to the ancient Greek name for Malta (Melita). Greek and Roman women of wealthy families kept these dogs as companions, sometimes allowing them to share beds and meals. Their small size and white coat made them symbols of luxury and delicacy.

Roman times saw the Maltese appear prominently in mosaic art and literature. The Roman governor Publius, based on Malta in the 1st century CE, is described in an epigram by the poet Martial as keeping a Maltese-type dog named Issa that he loved with exceptional devotion. The breed appears consistently in European aristocratic households throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

Physical Characteristics

The Maltese's appearance is defined above all by its coat, a long, pure white, silky, flat coat that hangs to the ground when fully grown. Unlike most dogs, the Maltese has a single-layer coat with no undercoat, which is the source of its well-known low-shedding characteristic. The breed's small, compact body, black eyes and black nose create a striking visual contrast with the white coat.

Physical Characteristic	Measurement
Height	20-25 cm (8-10 in)
Weight	Under 3.2 kg (7 lbs); show standard typically 2-3 kg
Build	Compact, fine-boned
Head	Rounded; black nose; low-set, heavily coated ears
Eyes	Dark, round, black-rimmed
Coat	Long, straight, silky, pure white; single layer, no undercoat
Tail	Carried over the back
Lifespan	12-15 years

The show-standard Maltese coat requires extraordinary grooming commitment to maintain in full show condition, a floor-length, continuously growing white coat that mats easily and requires daily care. Most pet owners choose a "puppy cut" a short, practical trim that dramatically reduces grooming demands while preserving the dog's essential character.

Temperament: Gentle, Playful, Devoted

The Maltese's temperament combines qualities that have made it a treasured companion for millennia: gentleness, affection, playfulness and a lively intelligence that belies its toy size. These are not passive lap dogs that simply sit and look beautiful, they are alert, curious and engaged dogs that participate actively in family life.

Maltese are generally good with older children and with other pets when socialized appropriately. They can be cautious with very young children because of their small size and fragility, a young child can accidentally injure a Maltese through rough handling or dropping. They tend to be devoted to their primary family and can be somewhat reserved with strangers initially.

Their small size and moderate exercise needs make them excellent apartment dogs, see Best Dogs for Apartments.

Health: Patellar Luxation and Orthopedic Issues

Patellar luxation, dislocation of the kneecap from the femoral groove, is common in Maltese and in toy breeds generally. Many Maltese carry grade I or II patellar luxation that is subclinical or causes only occasional skipping. Grade III-IV luxation requires surgical correction.

OFA patellar evaluation of breeding stock is recommended.

Health Condition	Prevalence/Notes	Screening
Patellar luxation	Very common in toy breeds	OFA examination
Dental disease	Very common	Regular dental exams
Tracheal collapse	Common in toy breeds	Radiographs
Portal systemic shunts (liver)	Reported in breed	Bile acids test
Tear staining (epiphora)	Very common	Ophthalmological exam
Hypoglycemia	Puppies and small adults	Blood glucose monitoring
Heart disease (mitral valve)	Common in older toy dogs	Cardiac auscultation

Health: Tear Staining

The characteristic reddish-brown staining around the eyes of white-coated Maltese, known as tear staining or epiphora, is among the most visible and commonly discussed management challenges in the breed. The staining is caused by porphyrins, iron-containing compounds that are natural waste products of red blood cell breakdown, excreted in tears, saliva and other secretions. Porphyrins are colorless in fresh form but oxidize to red-brown when exposed to air and light.

In Maltese, several factors contribute to tear staining: the white coat makes staining maximally visible, their facial anatomy predisposes to increased tear production, and some dogs have conformational issues (rolled inward lower eyelid, narrow tear ducts) that cause excessive tearing.

Management includes daily cleaning of the face with warm water or specialized pet eye wipes, keeping the hair around the eyes trimmed and veterinary evaluation to rule out treatable underlying causes (entropion, blocked tear ducts, ocular surface disease).

Health: Liver Shunts

Portal systemic shunting (portosystemic shunts, or PSS), an abnormal vascular connection that allows blood from the intestines to bypass the liver and enter the general circulation, occurs in Maltese at rates higher than in many other breeds. Maltese with liver shunts often present with stunted growth, neurological signs (head pressing, circling, seizures, known as hepatic encephalopathy), and gastrointestinal signs.

Liver shunts in toy breeds are typically single, extrahepatic (outside the liver tissue) shunts that are often amenable to surgical correction. Untreated, they cause progressive liver disease and neurological deterioration. Diagnosis involves measurement of bile acids (pre- and post-prandial), ammonia levels and imaging (ultrasound or scintigraphy).

Health: Dental Disease

Like all toy breeds, Maltese are prone to significant dental disease resulting from the crowding of 42 adult teeth into a very small jaw. Periodontal disease progresses rapidly without preventive care. Daily brushing, appropriate dental chews and regular professional dental cleaning under anesthesia are essential maintenance.

For comprehensive guidance see Dog Dental Care Complete Guide. For comparison with related small breeds see Yorkshire Terrier and Havanese.

Grooming: The White Coat Challenge

The Maltese coat requires more attention than almost any other breed for owners choosing to maintain the full-length show coat. Daily brushing with a soft pin brush and comb is essential to prevent matting, the fine, silky coat tangles at contact points (armpits, behind ears, under the chest). Show-dog owners typically wrap the coat in papers or rollers to prevent breakage.

Most pet owners choose a short "puppy trim" that dramatically reduces daily maintenance while leaving the dog comfortable and charming. Professional grooming every 4-6 weeks is typical for pet Maltese in puppy trim.

The white coat shows soiling readily, post-walk feet wiping and regular face cleaning are daily requirements. Bathing frequency (every 1-3 weeks for pets) is higher than for many other breeds because of the white coat's visibility.

Exercise and Training

The Maltese's exercise needs are modest, consistent with its history as an exclusively companion breed. Thirty minutes of moderate exercise daily is typically sufficient: a walk or two, indoor play and mental engagement through training. They are agile enough to enjoy learning tricks and participating in low-impact dog sports.

Training the Maltese is generally pleasant. They are intelligent, food-motivated and responsive to gentle, positive reinforcement approaches. Housetraining can be a challenge in toy breeds generally, patience, consistency and a regular schedule are more effective than frustration. Many Maltese owners use indoor pee pads as a supplement to outdoor toilet training.

Summary

The Maltese is a breed of extraordinary historical significance, genuine beauty and appealing temperament. Its long history as a human companion is a testament to the qualities that make it enduringly appealing: gentleness, affection, playfulness and remarkable longevity.

Patellar luxation, dental disease and liver shunts rank as key health priorities, with liver shunts in particular requiring vigilance in puppies from lines where the condition has appeared. Owners prepared to meet the grooming needs will find the Maltese to be a graceful and devoted companion.