Meet the Maltese: a Dog Breed Guide

Anyone who's pet a Maltese dog know it's a special experience — this diminutive dog breed is known for its thick, silky white fur, and running your hands through it is downright luxurious. Of course, there's a lot more to these pups than just their gorgeous coats. Let's dive in!

9 fun facts about the Maltese

1. Maltese are believed to be the oldest toy dog breed, with artwork depicting similar small white dogs as far back as 500 B.C. They were beloved by the Ancient Greeks as well as the Ancient Romans as companions.
2. In accordance with the dogs' ancient origins, Aristotle wrote about a lap dog many believe to be the Maltese, comparing its size to a type of weasel.
3. Despite its long length, Maltese hair does not curl (though soft waves may be seen). It tends to be silky with a nice sheen and falls heavily along the dogs' bodies. There is no undercoat.
4. Though Maltese are known for their pure white coats, the breed is occasionally seen with light brown spots.
5. Maltese do not shed and are considered hypoallergenic dogs.
6. Weighing between 4 to 7 pounds and standing about 8 to 10 inches tall at the shoulder, Maltese are compact but larger than some other toy dogs.
7. A Maltese named Trouble was one of the richest dogs in the world. She inherited $12 million when her owner Leona Helmsley passed away. A judge later reduced the inheritance to just $2 million. Trouble lived in luxury until her death in 2011.
8. Lucky Diamond, a Maltese, achieved the Guinness World Record for being the animal with the most photographs with celebrities. Due to Lucky’s separation anxiety, her owner took her along to lunches and meetings where she met stars like Betty White, Bill Clinton, and Snoop Dog.
9. In the United States, Maltese were often referred to as ‘Cokie’ starting in the 1960s, although no one quite knows how they earned this nickname.

Get to know the Maltese

The Maltese is a small, active dog who serves well as both a lapdog and playful companion. It is a distinctive pup with its long, silky white coat. This coat can be trimmed to any desirable length (scroll down for grooming tips), but if left to grow long and properly cared for, it can flow down to the dog's feet.

Unique Personality

The Maltese seems to understand its place in history as an ancient symbol of luxury and its role as a comforting lapdog. With an exuberant and loving personality, Maltese have a bit of “diva” in them and can train their humans quite well — something made easier by their big dark eyes and black button nose. Who can resist spoiling these adorable dogs? While pampered, they’re still spunky and love to be active and engaged with their families. They love to strut their stuff when they’re out on the town. They’re also not afraid to make their opinions known and make wonderful alert dogs.

Similar breeds to the Maltese

• Yorkshire Terrier
• Bichon Frise
• Lhasa Apso
• Shih Tzu
• Coton de Tulear
• Silky Terrier

History of the Maltese

The Maltese breed is often said to be an ancient one, believed to have been around for more than 2,000 years. It is believed to be from the island of Malta, off the coast of Italy, was an important seaport for every Mediterranean empire and surrounding civilizations. As legend goes, this small dog breed became a favorite lapdog and companion to the aristocrats and wealthy merchants. We’re talking mentions by Aristotle, Greek tombs erected for the dogs, and depictions in Egyptian and Roman art. While useful rodent catchers, they were also often seen in the sleeves and laps of wealthy Roman matrons, leading to the nickname “Roman Ladies’ Dog”. The Romans further refined the breed, choosing puppies with the whitest coats to continue the line, as they saw white as the color of divinity.

While this history is impressive and quite the story for these little dogs, it may not actually have much to do with the modern Maltese. Historians and experts in canine genealogy maintain that there's not sufficient evidence to show that these small white dogs praised in ancient times are the same as today's Maltese. Instead, the modern breed can be traced firmly back to 18th Century Europe. These dogs were likely the result of crossing other popular breeds like the Poodle and small spaniels. Unsurprisingly, creating a set breed standard proved difficult until the early 1900s. Maltese with two-colored coats or solid non-white coats were allowed to be shown in England until 1913, and in Australia until 1950.

When did the Maltese get to North America?

The Maltese breed made its way to the United States in the mid-1800s and was at the first Westminster dog show in 1877, shown as the Maltese Lion Dog, a nod to the breed's lengthy fur (that can be trimmed into a lion's mane shape if desired). In 1888 the Maltese was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club and has been a constant figure in the most popular breed lists since.

Maltese behavior and training

The Maltese was bred as a companion dog to warm the laps of its owner, but still have enough energy to walk around town and keep up with family activities. It’s also believed the breed was used to help control rodents and other pests, which explains their love of chasing toys (or squirrels … or birds).

Socialization

While the Maltese is a sociable breed, they need proper proactive exposure to new sights, sounds, people, dogs, and other animals as a young puppy to prevent any future fear. They don’t seem to realize how small they are, so if they are unsure or frightened, they will often bark and act like they can take on the threat. By having lots of positive exposure as a puppy, they’ll learn that new people, places, and other animals aren’t anything to be worried about.

Due to their small size, care must be taken to ensure their safety around children. They will do well with children if they are socialized from puppyhood, and the children are respectful in their handling of the dog. Young children and dogs should always be supervised, and it’s helpful for a dog to have their own “safe space” where they can go when they need some quiet time.

A Maltese can do well with other animals when properly introduced and socialized from a young age. Since they don’t understand how small they really are, it’s important to supervise any play with other dogs to make sure they don’t inadvertently get hurt or overreact if they get overwhelmed.

Exercise and mental enrichment

For their small size, Maltese seem to have boundless energy. Fortunately, that same small size makes it easy to give them the exercise they need with simple walks. Most Maltese prefer indoor play to being outside, so playing with their people is often enough to satisfy their exercise needs and build the human-canine bond.

Their petite size means they shouldn’t be jumping from heights such as furniture or out of the car, as it’s easy for them to injure themselves. Maltese can even be seriously injured in jumps or a fall from their owner’s arms. They’ll appreciate easier access to their favorite couch nesting spots with a ramp or dog stairs, and should be lifted in and out of cars and on and off furniture.

Maltese love to be entertained, and providing mental enrichment and brain games will prevent unwanted behaviors. Keep their brain sharp by teaching new tricks, attending obedience classes, joining a dog sport, and providing dog puzzles and interactive toys. Change out the toys and puzzles periodically to keep them on their toes and provide variety for these intelligent dogs.

Common behavioral issues

Maltese are known to be on the yappier side — they can bark a lot! This makes them great alert dogs for hearing-impaired owners. To avoid potential problems, they simply need to be taught what to do instead of barking (being quiet, or a nice sit-stay) when someone, for example, comes to the door. Their sharp intellect makes this type of training fairly easy.

Though some owners don’t initially see the need for training a small dog, all dogs benefit from training programs and practices to help build good habits and establish bonds with their humans. Positive reinforcement training is crucial for a well-adjusted and happy Maltese!

Activities for the Maltese

Maltese excel in a variety of size-appropriate activities and sports:

• Small dog agility
• Trick training
• Canine freestyle
• Rally obedience

Health and care tips

The Maltese generally enjoys good health with a lifespan of 12-15 years. However, they may be more prone to specific issues — this is true of all dog breeds, and common health conditions vary greatly by both genetic ancestry and lifestyle. As far as the Maltese goes, dental problems are common, necessitating regular brushing and veterinary cleanings to prevent periodontal disease. Luxating patella, where the kneecap dislocates, is also a more prevalent issue and can cause pain and mobility issues.

Other issues known to be more common in Maltese dogs include progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), a genetic condition leading to blindness (ensure regular eye check-ups are part of vet visits!), liver issues, heart disease hypoglycemia, and White Dog Shaker Syndrome. This is a neurological disorder common in white dog breeds (though it can technically affect dogs of any appearance) and can result in head and body tremors. Fortunately, it is manageable with medication.

Skin and coat issues (and grooming tips)

Skin allergies are another concern in Maltese, often causing itchy skin and secondary infections. The good news is that regular grooming helps manage skin and ear infections, the latter being common due to their floppy ears. Ensuring a Maltese's health involves diligent care, regular vet visits, and choosing breeders who test for genetic conditions.

Maltese coats are white, luxurious, and silky smooth. Because there’s no undercoat, they have minimal shedding. If allowed to grow to the floor, as seen in show dogs, it falls straight and is beautiful to watch when they run. In some cases, they might have some wave or curl, or slight shading of lemon or tan on the ears.

If a Maltese coat is allowed to grow long, it requires thorough daily combing to prevent matting and tangles. Many Maltese owners opt to have their dog groomed in the popular “puppy cut” (a short length all over the body). Professional grooming should be done every 4 to 6 weeks, depending on the owner’s preference for coat length. By introducing your Maltese puppy to positive grooming experiences early, you can help make lifelong grooming easy and stress-free.

The breed is also prone to brown discoloration of tear staining that’s easily visible on their bright white face. Tear staining happens when there is either an overproduction of tears from the eyes and/or a problem with the drainage of tears from the eyes. Both of these problems can be caused by a variety of underlying conditions, like allergies or abnormal hairs around the eyes. The chronic wetness from the tears on the skin below the eyes creates the perfect environment for bacteria and/or yeast to overgrow and establish an infection, which further contributes to the brown discoloration of “tear staining.”

Best Brush for a Maltese: Pin comb, Slicker brush

Maltese in pop culture

Even if you don't have a Maltese, you've likely seen this distinctive dog in the media over the years!

Famous pet owners

• Tony Bennett (Singer)
• Jennie Garth (Actress)
• Eva Longoria (Actress/Producer)
• Halle Berry (Actress)
• Liberace (Musician)
• Anna Nicole Smith (Model)
• Elizabeth Taylor (Actress)
• Jennie Garth (Actress)
• Kristin Chenoweth (Actress)
• Marilyn Monroe (Actress)

Famous Maltese

Trouble

Trouble was one of the richest dogs ever. He gained fame after his owner, hotel owner Leona Helmsley, passed away and left him a $12 million dollar trust fund. After living for four years being known as the wealthiest pup in the world, Trouble passed away himself in 2011.

Lucky Diamond

Living from 1997 to 2012, Lucky Diamond or "Lucky" had a full and busy life for a small dog. The pet of Wendy Diamond, media personality and founder of Animal Fair Media, Lucky became famous for being photographed with celebrities. As of 2024, she still holds the Guinness World Record for "animal photographed with the most famous people." According to the official count, she was photographed with a total of 363 different famous individuals throughout her lifetime.