Maltese

The Maltese is a toy companion dog with a compact body, dark expressive eyes, hanging ears, and a long, silky white coat without a woolly undercoat. The feathered tail curves over the back, and the dog's movement should remain free and comfortable rather than being restricted by excessive coat.

The breed belongs to an ancient family of small companion dogs associated with the central Mediterranean. Although its name has long connected it with Malta, the exact development of these early dogs cannot be assigned with certainty to the modern island alone; the FCI records the Central Mediterranean Basin as the origin and Italy as the country of patronage.

Maltese were developed for companionship rather than as reduced versions of a larger working breed. Terms such as “teacup Maltese” do not identify a separately recognized variety, and breeding for extremely small size can increase fragility and health risk.

Maltese are commonly affectionate, lively, alert, and strongly interested in their people. Many are confident beyond what their size suggests and will readily investigate visitors, sounds, and new activities when properly socialized.

They are intelligent and can learn household manners, tricks, and dog sports, although inconsistency may encourage demanding behavior or excessive barking. Brief reward-based sessions, predictable routines, and early practice with calm separation are more effective than harsh correction.

Many Maltese can live well with considerate older children and compatible pets. Because the breed is physically delicate, interactions with young children, large dogs, or energetic playmates require close supervision regardless of how friendly the animals appear.

Daily walks, indoor play, training games, and opportunities to explore usually meet the exercise needs of a healthy Maltese. Small size does not eliminate the need for activity or socialization, but strenuous exercise and high jumps should be avoided when they exceed the individual dog's fitness or physical safety.

A full-length coat needs gentle daily combing to prevent tangles and mats, together with regular bathing and careful drying. A shorter companion trim reduces coat length but does not remove the need for brushing, nail care, ear checks, or attention to the hair around the eyes; persistent tearing, redness, odor, or discharge should be assessed rather than treated only as a cosmetic problem.

Dental care is especially important in this toy breed, including frequent tooth brushing and regular veterinary examinations. Maltese thrive on human contact and may struggle with long periods alone, so independence should be introduced gradually without making constant carrying or continuous attention the dog's only routine.

Important health concerns in Maltese include patellar luxation, congenital cardiac defects such as patent ductus arteriosus, portosystemic vascular anomalies or liver shunt, and microvascular dysplasia. Dental disease is common in small dogs, while eye disorders and inflammatory brain diseases such as granulomatous or necrotizing meningoencephalitis have also been reported.

The American Maltese Association's CHIC recommendations include patella and congenital cardiac evaluations, and the club recommends bile-acid testing, particularly for puppies, to help assess congenital liver concerns. The Royal Kennel Club also lists eye examination as a best-practice screening test; prospective owners should ask to see independently verifiable results rather than relying on a general statement that the parents are healthy.

Owners should maintain a healthy body condition, provide consistent dental care, and seek veterinary assessment for persistent limping, coughing, fainting, poor growth, recurrent digestive or neurologic signs, unusual disorientation, seizures, or sudden behavioral change. Screening improves breeding decisions but cannot guarantee that an individual dog will remain free of disease.

This information is for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment by a veterinarian.