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Animal register · DogIn the app

Maltese

Bichon Maltais, Maltese Terrier

The Maltese is a toy dog from the central Mediterranean, today under Italian patronage at the FCI. The FCI standard describes a small dog with a longish body, lively, affectionate, very calm and very intelligent, weighing 3–4 kg, with very long, dense, silky hair that falls heavily over the whole body. The coat has no undercoat, and pure white is the only colour (a pale ivory tinge is permitted). The Royal Kennel Club's Breed Watch lists no points of concern specific to the breed.

The Royal Kennel Club recommends up to 30 minutes of exercise a day and grooming every day, says the breed does not shed and gives its lifespan as over 12 years. PDSA describes a bright, friendly and affectionate dog that can be reserved with strangers but, with the right socialisation when young, can learn to be confident and sociable. PetMD warns that it can develop separation anxiety when left alone for too long, says interactions with young children must be supervised and advises brushing its teeth every day.

Available in the 12-week PetPrep Challenge (paid breed).

Updated:

Maltese — photo (AI)
AI-generated photo

At a glance

Size
small — The Royal Kennel Club S347
Adult weight
males 3–4 kg, females 3–4 kg — FCI S346
Daily exercise
up to 30 minutes a day — The Royal Kennel Club S347
Brushing
every day — The Royal Kennel Club S347
Shedding
does not shed (not the same as hypoallergenic) — The Royal Kennel Club S347
Lifespan
more than 12 years — The Royal Kennel Club S347

Key facts from the sources at the bottom of the page. Where sources differ, each value is listed.

Who it suits

Good for:

  • apartment livingS347
  • homes that prefer less sheddingS347

Keep in mind:

  • needs brushing several times a weekS347S348
  • loves company — best with someone home most of the dayS351

The same tags as in the app. Each tag is backed by the sources listed at the bottom of the page.

What it needs

From breed standards, kennel clubs, veterinary charities and studies. Where sources differ, each one is shown.

Exercise

  • Daily exercise: up to 30 minutes a day — The Royal Kennel Club S347

Coat and grooming

  • Coat: long — The Royal Kennel Club S347
  • Brushing: every day — The Royal Kennel Club S347
  • Shedding: does not shed (not the same as hypoallergenic) — The Royal Kennel Club S347

Meals

General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):

  • 8–12 weeks: 4 meals a day — ASPCA S18
  • 3–6 months: 3 meals a day — ASPCA S18
  • 6–12 months: 2 meals a day — ASPCA S18
  • Adult: at least 2 meals a day — VCA Animal Hospitals S19
  • Senior: 2–3 meals a day, smaller portions — Dogs Trust S14

Lifespan

  • Lifespan: more than 12 years — The Royal Kennel Club S347

Life stages

  • Reaches adult size at: about 8–12 months (guidance for its size class) — PetMD S10

General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):

  • Puppy: until about 6–9 months — AAHA S11
  • Young adult: until 3–4 years — AAHA S11
  • Senior: the last 25 % of the expected lifespan — AAHA S11

Size and weight

  • Size: small — The Royal Kennel Club S347
  • Height at the withers: males 21–25 cm, females 20–23 cm — FCI S346
  • Adult weight: males 3–4 kg, females 3–4 kg — FCI S346

Training

  • No. 59 in Stanley Coren's ranking of working and obedience intelligence. — Wikipedia S35
  • FCI standard no. 65, group 9 (companion and toy dogs); origin: Italy. — FCI S345

Questions and answers

Answered only from the sourced facts on this page; every answer names its sources.

How much exercise does a Maltese need?

According to our sources, the Maltese needs this much exercise: up to 30 minutes a day — The Royal Kennel Club S347.

How long does a Maltese live?

According to our sources, the lifespan of the Maltese is: more than 12 years — The Royal Kennel Club S347.

How big does a Maltese get and how much does it weigh?

Size and adult weight of the Maltese, according to our sources: Size: small — The Royal Kennel Club S347; Adult weight: males 3–4 kg, females 3–4 kg — FCI S346.

How much grooming does a Maltese need?

Coat and grooming of the Maltese, according to our sources: Brushing: every day — The Royal Kennel Club S347; Shedding: does not shed (not the same as hypoallergenic) — The Royal Kennel Club S347; Coat: long — The Royal Kennel Club S347.

Who is the Maltese a good fit for?

Our sources describe the Maltese as a good fit for: apartment living — The Royal Kennel Club S347; homes that prefer less shedding — The Royal Kennel Club S347. Keep in mind: needs brushing several times a week — The Royal Kennel Club, PDSA S347S348; loves company — best with someone home most of the day — PetMD S351.

Game rules, not veterinary advice

How PetPrep simulates it

In PetPrep one real week is one month of the pet's life. These are the rules the game uses for this breed. PetPrep chose them from the sources on this page; they are not care instructions for a real animal.

Life stageStartsMeals a dayDaily step goal
Puppyarrives at 2 months4; from month 3: 3; from month 6: 21,000 steps per month of age (2,000 on arrival), up to 3,000 from month 3
Young dogmonth 923,000 steps
Adultmonth 36 (3 years)23,000 steps
Seniormonth 108 (9 years)22,300 steps
  • Step goal = minutes of daily exercise × 100 steps: an adult gets 30 minutes, so 3,000 steps a day.
  • Learns commands more slowly than the mixed breed of the free plan (0.7× its speed).
  • Becomes a senior in month 108 (9 years) — the last quarter of the breed's expected lifespan.
  • Walks count real steps from Apple Health or Health Connect (with permission, read-only) and the phone's motion sensor — no GPS.
  • Combing 7 times a week.
  • Care: brushing the teeth every day — a task for the child.

Each game number is a PetPrep decision recorded with its sources. — PetMD, AAHA, Dogs Trust, ASPCA, VCA Animal Hospitals, The Royal Kennel Club, Purdue University Canine Welfare Science, Wikipedia, British Journal of Sports Medicine S10S11S14S18S19S21S24S35S45S347S351

Health

For information only, not vet-reviewed. Ask your vet about your own animal.

  • Luxating patellas, where the kneecap temporarily slips out of place, occur in the breed. — PDSA S348
  • A portosystemic (liver) shunt, where blood bypasses the liver, can occur in the breed. — PDSA S348
  • Heart disease can occur in the breed, including patent ductus arteriosus, a blood vessel near the heart that fails to close after birth; a vet can listen for it at the puppy's first check-up. — PDSA S348
  • Chiari-like malformation with syringomyelia, a painful condition with fluid-filled cavities in the spinal cord near the brain, can occur in the breed. — PDSA S348
  • Hydrocephalus, a build-up of fluid around the brain, can occur in the breed. — PDSA S348
  • Cataracts, which cloud the lens of the eye, and eyelids that turn inwards (entropion) can occur in the breed; ask for parents tested under the eye scheme. — PDSA S348
  • The breed is prone to gum (periodontal) disease, so brushing the teeth every day with a dog toothpaste is advised. — PetMD S351

Before you buy: what to check with the breeder

Questions to settle before you take a puppy home. The points are advice from vets, welfare charities and kennel clubs; each cites its source.

For every breed

  • See the puppy with its mother, where it was born. — PDSA, RSPCA K1K2
  • The puppy should not leave its mother before 8 weeks of age. — PDSA K1
  • Ask for the pedigree. Under FCI rules a pedigree may be issued for correct parentage only. — FCI K7
  • Ask to see the health-test results of both parents. Which tests matter depends on the breed. — PDSA, British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K1K9K10
  • National kennel clubs can set breeding rules that go beyond the FCI's — ask the breed club which tests the parents need. — FCI K7
  • Ask for a written sale contract that records the puppy's background and health. — British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K9K10

Laws on the minimum age, microchipping and vaccination differ by country — check the rules where you live.

Health tests of the parents for this breed

Further tests for best practice

  • Eye examination by a veterinary eye specialist (UK: BVA/KC/ISDS scheme; for some breeds with gonioscopy) — The Royal Kennel Club S347

These lists come from the UK's Royal Kennel Club and are an orientation; national kennel clubs can set their own, stricter rules. Ask the breed club and the breeder which tests the parents have done.

Similar breeds

Other dogs in the register with similar needs — each with sourced facts.

Sources

Every fact on this page cites one of these sources.

  1. S10PetMD — S. C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP, 2025-05-20 — When Do Dogs Stop Growing?https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/when-do-dogs-stop-growing
  2. S11AAHA — 2019 AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines — Canine life stage definitionshttps://www.aaha.org/resources/life-stage-canine-2019/canine-life-stage-definitions/
  3. S14Dogs Trust (UK) — Caring for an older doghttps://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/life-with-your-dog/at-home/looking-after-an-older-dog
  4. S18ASPCA — General Dog Carehttps://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/general-dog-care
  5. S19VCA Animal Hospitals (2025-02-21) — Feeding Times and Frequency for Your Doghttps://vcahospitals.com/pets-first/know-your-pet/feeding-times-and-frequency-for-your-dog
  6. S21The Royal Kennel Club (UK) — Puppy feeding tipshttps://www.royalkennelclub.com/health-and-dog-care/health-dog-care/health/health-and-care/a-z-of-health-and-care-issues/puppy-feeding-tips
  7. S24Purdue University Canine Welfare Science (content: Pet Leadership Council 2019, bedogsmart.com) — Dog Fitness and Exercise (PDF)https://caninewelfare.centers.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Dog-Fitness-and-Exercise.pdf
  8. S35Wikipedia — The Intelligence of Dogshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Intelligence_of_Dogs
  9. S45British Journal of Sports Medicine (2018) — Tudor-Locke C. et al. How fast is fast enough? Walking cadence (steps/min) as a practical estimate of intensity in adults. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2017-097628https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6029645
  10. S345FCI — FCI breeds nomenclature — MALTESE (65)https://fci.be/EN/nomenclature/BICHON-MALTAIS-65.html
  11. S346FCI — FCI-Standard N° 65 Maltese (PDF, English, 13.11.2015)https://WWW.FCI.BE/medias/065g09-en-20160101-2139.pdf
  12. S347The Royal Kennel Club — Maltese — breed information page (Breeds A to Z)https://thekennelclub.org.uk/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/toy/maltese
  13. S348PDSA — Maltese breed informationhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/small-dogs/maltese
  14. S351PetMD — Maltese Dog Breed Health and Care (updated Oct. 2, 2024)https://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds/maltese
  15. K1PDSA — Getting a puppyhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/getting-a-puppy
  16. K2RSPCA — Buying a puppyhttps://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/puppy
  17. K7FCI (copy hosted by Norsk Kennel Klub) — International Breeding Rules of the FCIhttps://nkk2023.stage22.coretrek.no/getfile.php/131987377-1520848467/Dokumenter/Registrering/FCIs%20avlsregler%202013.pdf
  18. K9British Veterinary Association — What should you consider when buying a puppy?https://www.bva.co.uk/news-and-blog/blog-article/what-should-you-consider-when-buying-a-puppy/
  19. K10FOUR PAWS UK — Questions to ask when buying a puppyhttps://www.four-paws.org.uk/our-stories/publications-guides/questions-to-ask-when-buying-a-puppy

PetPrep is a simulation for families. This page is not veterinary advice — for a real animal, ask a vet or the breed club.

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