Maltese

The Maltese is a toy companion breed carrying a single, straight coat of long white hair that lies close to the body. Fully grown dogs weigh under 3.2 kg (7 lb) and stand around 20 to 25 cm (8 to 10 in) at the shoulder. That places it among the smallest breeds in the toy group. Small as it is, the Maltese moves with a light, confident gait and is sturdier on its feet than its dainty looks suggest.

Companionship has been the breed's job for centuries, and the temperament still shows it. A well-bred Maltese is affectionate, gentle and playful, and forms a close attachment to its own household. It stays alert to its surroundings too, and most will bark at the door to let you know someone has arrived, even though there is no guarding instinct behind it.

Because the coat is more like human hair than dense fur, and keeps growing rather than shedding heavily, the Maltese suits owners who want a small dog that doesn't leave hair all over the couch. That coat demands upkeep in return, so the breed is best suited to households prepared for daily brushing or a low-maintenance clip.

Who it suits

The Maltese suits an owner who wants a small indoor companion and who is around enough to give it daily attention. It's a solid choice for an apartment or a unit, since its exercise needs are light, and it can suit older adults or first-time dog owners who are willing to stay on top of coat care and dental hygiene. In households with very young children, supervise play closely: the Maltese's small frame injures easily if handling gets too rough.

The Maltese ranks among the oldest of the toy breeds, with roots reaching back to the central Mediterranean. Small white lapdogs from the region turn up in Greek and Roman writing and artwork, and Malta is the traditional source of the name, though nothing from before the classical era is documented well enough to fix an exact starting point, so earlier claims are best read as tradition rather than fact.

Throughout antiquity these dogs were kept purely as companions. Roman authors described a small Melitaean dog, and the type shows up on pottery and in accounts of lapdogs kept by wealthy households. That role as an indoor companion has carried through the breed's whole history without much change.

By the Renaissance the Maltese was a favourite among European nobility and turns up in portraits of the period, often curled on the lap of an aristocratic owner. That patronage kept the small white type going even as fashions in dogs shifted around it.

The breed reached England and then North America during the nineteenth century, where it was exhibited and bred to a written standard. Kennel clubs recognised the Maltese in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and in Australia the breed is registered today with Dogs Australia (formerly the ANKC). The modern Maltese stays close in size and purpose to its historical ancestors.

The Maltese has a balanced, slightly square outline, a level topline and a tail carried up over the back. The head sits in proportion to the body, with a moderate stop, a black nose and dark, round eyes that give the breed its alert expression. The ears are set low and drop close to the head, covered in long hair that blends into the rest of the coat. Overall the dog reads as refined rather than fragile on the move.

Coat and colour

The defining feature is a single coat of long, straight hair with no undercoat, parted down the centre and, on a dog kept in full show coat, long enough to reach the ground. The standard colour is pure white; slight lemon or light tan markings on the ears are tolerated under some standards but not preferred. Because it's hair rather than dense fur, the Maltese sheds very little, but it tangles and mats quickly without regular brushing. Plenty of pet owners keep the coat clipped short to cut down on daily maintenance while keeping the soft texture around the face and feet.

The Maltese is a people-focused companion that would rather be near its owners than off on its own for most of the day. Around family it's affectionate and gentle, often trailing its people from room to room, and many keep a playful streak well into adulthood, happy with a short game or a favourite toy.

With strangers the breed is generally friendly once introduced, though it tends to bark at new arrivals and unfamiliar noises. That alertness makes it a decent noise alarm, but its size rules out any real guarding ability. Early socialisation goes a long way toward curbing nuisance barking and nervous behaviour.

The Maltese usually gets along with other pets when raised together, cats included, and with other small dogs. Take care around much larger dogs given the size gap. The breed can also be prone to separation-related stress, so it suits a household where it isn't left alone for long stretches.

Grooming

• Brush the coat daily to stop mats and tangles forming, especially behind the ears and under the legs.
• Bathe every one to three weeks with a gentle dog shampoo, and dry the coat fully afterwards to keep it lying straight.
• Wipe around the eyes daily to keep tear staining off the white coat.
• Trim or tie back the hair over the eyes so vision stays clear.
• Brush the teeth several times a week, as small breeds are prone to dental disease.
• Trim nails every few weeks and check the ears for wax and debris.

Exercise

• Aim for about 20 to 30 minutes of activity a day through short walks and play.
• Indoor games and a gentle game of fetch cover most of the dog's needs.
• Skip long or strenuous outings; the breed tires quickly and overheats fast, which matters through a typical Australian summer of hot, dry days.
• Protect the dog from cold and wet weather too, since the single coat gives little insulation.

Environment

The Maltese is an indoor dog that suits an apartment or a smaller home just as well as a house. It's sensitive to temperature extremes and belongs inside with its family rather than out in the yard. A draft-free bed, a few safe toys and a set of steps or a ramp up onto the couch all help protect the small frame from jumping injuries.

A Maltese does best on a complete and balanced diet formulated for small or toy breeds. Smaller kibble is easier to chew and better for dental health. Because the breed is small and can put on weight easily, portions should be measured out rather than left down all day, with treats kept to a small share of the daily total. Fresh water should always be on offer.

Treats and supplements

Stick to small, low-calorie treats for training, and count them into the day's total. Most Maltese on a good complete commercial diet don't need extra supplements, though a vet might suggest dental chews or a joint or coat supplement in particular cases. Toy-breed puppies can develop low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) if a meal is missed, so puppies need small meals on a regular schedule.

The Maltese is a generally healthy breed with a typical lifespan of 12 to 15 years, and plenty of individuals go on longer with good care. As with most toy breeds, the main concerns come down to size: crowded teeth, fine bones and joints that can slip out of place. Buying from a breeder who screens for known conditions, and keeping up routine vet visits, both help cut the risk.

Preventive care

In tick-prone parts of Australia, paralysis tick prevention is worth discussing with your vet alongside the routine care below.

• Book annual vet check-ups, moving to twice yearly once the dog is a senior.
• Keep vaccinations and parasite prevention up to date.
• Brush the teeth regularly and arrange professional cleans as advised.
• Walk the dog on a harness to protect the windpipe.
• Keep the dog at a lean weight to ease strain on the knees and joints.
• Ask the breeder about patella and, where relevant, liver screening in the parents.

The Maltese is bright and attentive, and generally enjoys training when sessions stay short and upbeat. It responds to praise, food rewards and play far better than to harsh correction, which can easily make a sensitive dog anxious. Toilet training often takes patience, since a small dog has a small bladder and can be slow to catch on, so a consistent routine and indoor puppy pads can help in the meantime. Early exposure to people, sounds and handling cuts down on shyness and the urge to bark at anything new.

Basics

1. Start with name recognition and a reliable recall in a quiet room.
2. Teach sit, drop and stay using small treats and a calm voice.
3. Set a fixed toilet schedule and reward the dog straight away for going in the right spot.
4. Get the dog used to gentle handling for grooming, including brushing, paws and the face.
5. Socialise the puppy to a range of people, surfaces and noises during the first few months.
6. Run short, frequent sessions of a few minutes rather than long drawn-out ones.

Breeding a Maltese takes extra care because of the breed's small size. Females are usually not bred until they're physically mature, generally around 18 to 24 months, even though they can come into season earlier than that. Litters tend to be small, often just one to four puppies, with gestation running about 63 days from conception. Because the puppies are tiny at birth, whelping carries a higher risk of complications, and some smaller bitches need veterinary support or a caesarean.

Newborn pups are vulnerable to chilling and to low blood sugar, so the whelping area needs to stay warm, with puppies checked for steady nursing and weight gain. Weaning usually starts around three to four weeks, and puppies are typically ready to go to new homes at eight to twelve weeks, once they're eating well and have had some early socialisation. Responsible breeders screen their breeding stock for patella and liver problems and avoid pairing dogs that carry the same faults.

How to register a Maltese in Australia

Rangers and shelters can only call the number the scan hands them. Give your Maltese a free United Pet Club profile and that number is yours: dog registration takes a few minutes, costs nothing for his lifetime, and works with or without a chip in place.

The vet does the implant and not one thing more; the register entry is yours. Register the microchip free on the lifetime plan: every brand an Aussie vet reaches for qualifies, moving house costs nothing to record, and the number stays searchable round the clock. Create your free account and sort the lot in one go.