Its name points to an island that may not be the intended one at all. According to the FCI standard, “maltais” derives from the Semitic word “màlat”, meaning refuge or harbour. The Maltese’s ancestors lived in central Mediterranean ports, hunting mice and rats in warehouses and ships’ holds. Today it weighs three to four kilos and wears a coat that falls to the floor.
| FCI | Group 9 (Companion and Toy Dogs), Section 1 Bichons and related breeds, Standard No. 65, without working trial |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Central Mediterranean region, patronage Italy |
| Height at the withers | Males 21 to 25 cm, females 20 to 23 cm |
| Weight | 3 to 4 kg |
| Life expectancy | Median 13,1 years in a British analysis of 584.734 dogs (McMillan et al. 2024) |
| Coat | Long, dense, glossy and silky, perfectly straight, without undercoat |
| Colours according to the standard | Pure white, a pale ivory tinge permitted; a pale orange shade tolerated but undesirable |
Origins
According to the standard, Aristotle already mentioned little dogs he called “canes malitenses”. In ancient Rome, the Maltese accompanied wealthy women; in Renaissance paintings, it sits in the salons of the time. The FCI places it among the Bichons, under Italian patronage.
Temperament
Lively, affectionate, very relaxed and very intelligent: these four terms sum up the standard’s description. It bonds closely with its people and enjoys learning when training stays kind and brief. Small does not mean exempt from training. A Maltese needs rules too, otherwise it takes charge of everyday life.
Exercise and activities
One or two enjoyable walks a day, indoor search games and small tricks keep it content. It likes coming along wherever you go. Many hours alone, however, do not suit such a people-oriented dog.
Grooming
This is where the real work lies. The standard requires the body coat to be longer than the height at the withers, falling straight to the ground. Without daily brushing, it mats. Many owners have it cut shorter, which greatly reduces the work. Keep the eye area clean and introduce tooth brushing early.
Health
With a median of 13,1 years, the Maltese is among the longer-lived breeds in the analysis by McMillan and colleagues. One concern still deserves attention: a study of 1.121 cases from 13 English referral hospitals found that Maltese had 20,5 times the odds of meningoencephalitis of unknown origin, inflammation of the brain and its membranes, compared with crossbreeds (Choi et al. 2025). High odds do not mean most Maltese develop it. Seizures, a head tilt or sudden changes in behaviour nevertheless need immediate veterinary attention.
Who does the Maltese suit?
People who spend plenty of time at home, want a small, affectionate companion and enjoy grooming as a shared ritual. First-time owners can manage well too.
Who should consider another breed?
Anyone who finds brushing a nuisance, and families with very young children not yet able to handle a three-kilo dog carefully.
Read how much time the coat really takes in our in-depth Maltese breed portrait. Find out whether it fits your everyday life with the breed quiz, or explore more thoroughly in our book “Welcher Hund passt WIRKLICH zu dir?” (book in German). For starting life with a puppy, there is the free Puppy Starter Pack. Find a picture of your Maltese among our dog portraits, perhaps as a poster in a wooden frame or as a digital artwork for instant download.
Further reading
- Maltese: plenty of character, with grooming as a full-time job
- Havanese: suitable for beginners does not mean undemanding
- Yorkshire Terrier: three kilos of terrier, no accessory
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: FCI-Standard Nr. 65 Malteser (fci.be, version dated 18.01.2018); McMillan KM et al., Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death, Scientific Reports 2024; Choi Y et al., Meningoencephalitis of unknown origin in dogs under veterinary referral care in England (2017-2021): a multicenter case control study, Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2025.
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