How to recognise a Maltese dog
A Maltese is a toy dog in pure white, with a long, straight, silky coat, round dark eyes and a black nose. Upload a photo for a free breed check, then compare the details below.
Also known as: Maltese dog, Bichon Maltais, Maltese Terrier
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About the Maltese
The Maltese is one of the oldest European toy breeds, linked to the central Mediterranean and long kept purely as a companion. The FCI places it among the bichon-type breeds with Italy as its country of patronage, while the AKC and the Kennel Club list it in their Toy groups. It is gentle, playful and affectionate, and often quite fearless for its size. Maltese bond closely with their people and usually prefer company to long hours alone. They suit flats and quieter homes, and enjoy short walks and indoor games.
At a glance
- Type
- Pedigree breed
- Size
- Toy
- Adult weight
- 1.8–3.2 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12–15 years
- Exercise
- Low
How to recognise a Maltese
- Pure white coat; a light ivory tinge is tolerated, but other colours or patches point to another breed or a mix.
- Single coat with no undercoat: long, straight, silky and heavy, falling flat to the ground in show coat. Pet trims are often short all over.
- Round, dark eyes with black rims and a black nose, which stand out sharply against the white.
- Drop ears set fairly high and covered in long hair that blends into the coat.
- Tail carried over the back, with long hair falling to one side.
- Small body, clearly longer than tall, with a level back; under the coat the dog is light and fine-boned.
Photo tip. Take a close, eye-level photo in daylight that shows the coat texture. Straight silky hair versus curls or cotton tufts is what separates a Maltese from a Bichon or Coton.
Maltese or look-alike?
Bichon Frise
The Bichon has a curly, springy coat that stands away from the body and is usually trimmed into a rounded head. A Maltese coat is straight and silky and lies flat.
Coton de Tuléar
Cotton-textured, slightly wavy coat that looks fluffy rather than silky, sometimes with light grey or lemon shading on the ears. Cotons are also a little larger and longer in the leg.
Bolognese
Also white and of Italian patronage, but the coat forms loose, fluffy flocks rather than straight silky strands, and the body looks square instead of long.
Shih Tzu
A white or mostly white Shih Tzu has a much shorter, flatter face with a pronounced stop, a broader head and a denser double coat. Most Shih Tzus also carry some coloured patches.
Maltese mixes
The Maltese is a favourite parent for small designer crosses: the Maltipoo (with a Poodle), the Morkie (with a Yorkshire Terrier), the Malshi (with a Shih Tzu) and Maltese × Bichon dogs. The white colour, dark eyes and silky texture often pass on, but a Poodle parent adds waves or curls and a Yorkie adds tan and steel tones. For these dogs the identifier usually names Maltese alongside the other parent breed it recognises. A DNA test gives real percentages if you want them.
Health and care
- Slipping kneecaps are common in the Maltese. Ask the breeder for patella checks on both parents, and notice any skipping step or held-up hind leg.
- Dental disease is very common in such a small mouth. Brush the teeth daily and start the routine while your Maltese is young.
- A heart defect (patent ductus arteriosus) and liver shunts are known in the breed. Ask for cardiac results on the parents and whether the litter was screened for liver shunts.
- The long coat mats easily and needs brushing every day or two; many owners choose a short puppy trim. Wipe the eye corners daily to limit tear staining.
- Feed small, regular meals, especially to puppies, to avoid low blood sugar, and measure portions carefully: a dog this small is easy to overfeed.