Maltese

Breed Group: Toy

"Goldilocks wishes she had hair as good as mine!"

Hypoallergenic

Breed Profile

The Maltese, with their long hair and dark round eyes, have a unique appearance. A sociable breed they often befriend other pets and will warm up to strangers given enough time and interaction

Behavior

Maltese are friendly, energetic, fearless dogs who love to play. They don’t bark at random things, but they will alert their owners to anything they deem suspicious, making them great watchdogs. The Maltese loves to cuddle and does not shed, which is easy on both your allergies and your wardrobe. They do need watched in hot or cold weather since they don’t adjust easily to either. They're generally sensitive pups, so encouragement should be used during training rather than lashing out harshly.

Coat

Maltese have a distinctive long, white, silky coat with no undercoat. Some may have cream or lemon-colored ears. They do require daily brushing to remove dead hair and require periodic dental care since they do sometimes have problems with their teeth.

Lifestyle

The Maltese, with their loving personalities and playful attitudes, are great around older children. They are definitely companion dogs who also get along well with other pets. This breed can adapt to a rural lifestyle but does best as an indoor dog.

Activity

The Maltese does not require an abundance of activity , but they do love to play chase and enjoy occasional walks. So strap up your tennis shoes and provide plenty of catch-toys for this toy breed!

Characteristics

Space Needs
Activity Needs
Intelligence
Playfulness
Grooming Needs
Trainability
Watchdog Ability
Affection
Barking
Cat-friendliness
Dog-friendliness
Child-friendliness