About The Maltese

Maltese are affectionate toy dogs weighing less than seven pounds, covered by a long, straight, silky coat. Beneath the all-white mantle is a compact body moving with a smooth and effortless gait. The overall picture depicts free-flowing elegance and balance. The irresistible Maltese face-with its big, dark eyes and black gumdrop nose and conquer the most jaded sensibility.

Despite their aristocratic bearing, Maltese are hardy and adoptable pets. They make alert watchdogs who are fearless in a charming toy-dog way, and they are game little athletes on the agility course. Maltese are low-shedding, long-lived, and happy to make new friends of all ages. Sometimes stubborn and willful, they respond well to rewards-based training.

• Life expectancy: 12 – 15 years
• Origin: Mediterranean Basin
• Color: White
• Temperament: Docile, Easygoing, Affectionate, Intelligent, Lively, Fearless, Sweet-Tempered, 
• Height: Male: 21–25 cm, Female: 20–23 cm
• Weight: Male: 3–4 kg, Female: 3–4 kg

Temperament

Despite their small size, the Maltese are extremely brave in a small, toy dog kind of way. They are very trusting of strangers and respond very positively to affection. The Maltese are a lap dog, plain and simple. They enjoy affection from anyone and everyone. The Maltese also has good manners. They are gentle and typically do not engage in aggressive activities like some other small dogs. They can also be lively and very playful. Like many other dogs, they enjoy a good game of fetch! These dogs are sturdy and can keep up with dogs twice their size. They enjoy playing with other dogs and are usually unaggressive. Unlike many other small dogs, however, this liveliness does mean that they require regular exercise. Without it, the typically well-mannered Maltese can become destructive. These dogs can still function quite well in apartments, but care should be taken to exercise them at least once a day