Toy · Mediterranean
Maltesetemperament, daily life and costs
Tiny, lively and devoted. A Maltese fits small spaces easily, but the coat, teeth and need for company require steady care.
Origin & original purpose: The Maltese is one of the oldest toy companions in Europe, kept for centuries as a lap dog and treasured for its long white coat and its devotion to its person.
- They usually live
- 12–15 years
- Roughly, per year
- €1100–2000
Life with a Maltese
What people love about them
- Forms a meaningful bond with the right household
- Brings the original working character into everyday life
- Can thrive when its real needs are planned for
Things to weigh up honestly
- Small children cannot handle a fragile dog gently
- Daily coat or regular clipping is unrealistic
- Dental disease, kneecap problems, eye issues and liver shunts occur.
What they're like
Some breeds shed less than others, which people with allergies sometimes find easier to live with. But no dog is completely allergy-free, and reactions vary from person to person.
A typical day together
- 07:00
Morning Routine
A walk of 10–15 minutes before the day starts properly. Ten minutes of training or a scent game keeps their head busy.
- 12:00
Midday & Independence
Midday is the hard part — they'd rather not be left for long stretches, so most homes need a plan for it.
- 17:30
Evening Energy Burn
A longer outing later on — 20–30 minutes across the day in total — then settling down with you.
- 21:00
Decompression & Care
Brushing most days, plus a groomer every 6–8 weeks
Estimated daily active commitment: ~0.5 hours
What they ask of you
- Exercise
- 20–30 min a day
- Your time
- 4–6 hours a week
- Walks, training, coat care and play together
- Space
- Content in a flat, provided they get out often enough
- Coat care
- Brushing most days, plus a groomer every 6–8 weeks
- Typical yearly cost
- €1100–2000
- Food, insurance, routine vet care and grooming. Illness and emergencies come on top.
- Lifespan
- 12–15 years
- The whole of that time is the commitment, not just the puppy year.
What a year with this dog costs
An honest estimate, built from this breed's size and coat. Adjust the two things that really move the number, and you'll see the range change as you go.
Where you live
Insurance included
Professional grooming
- Food
- €215–€330
- Routine vet care and insurance
- €320–€490
- Grooming
- €340–€655
- Equipment and consumables
- €110–€195
- Buffer for the unexpected
- €120–€335
Your likely year
€1,105–€2,005
about €92–€167 a month
Real costs vary by country, by the size and appetite of your own dog, and by their health. Illness, dental work and emergencies can sit well above this range, which is why the buffer is here at all.
Best suited for
- Quieter homes and shorter, gentler walks
- First-time owners willing to put the early work in
- Flats and town living
- Anyone who wants a dog close by, most of the day
Important things to consider
- Coat care is ongoing and adds a real cost each year
- Vocal by nature, which matters where neighbours are close
- Finds long days alone genuinely hard
- Feels the cold, so winter needs a coat and shorter outings
Health considerations
Teeth, kneecaps and tear staining are commonly seen in small white-coated dogs, and the fine coat tangles quickly. A tiny dog also tires and chills quicker than you'd expect. Ask the breeder what health checks the parents had, and read the breed profile. General guidance, not a vet.
A poor match if…
- Daily brushing wouldn't fit your routine
- You'd like a dog that stays quiet when the doorbell goes
- Your dog would be alone for long stretches
Key trade-offs
- Tiny, gentle and very loyal, with a bark that's bigger than they are
- A coat that looks effortless and takes daily effort
Questions people ask before committing to a Maltese
- Is a Maltese good with children?
- Usually fine with children who have been shown how to behave around a dog. As with any breed, the mix of good manners and adult supervision matters more than the label.
- Can a Maltese live in an apartment?
- Yes — apartments suit a Maltese well. Give it a fixed resting spot and reliable walks and the space itself is rarely the problem.
- How much exercise does a Maltese need each day?
- Plan for around 30 minutes of real activity a day, split into more than one outing, plus something that uses its head — scent games, training, or a proper sniffing walk.
- Does a Maltese shed a lot?
- Very little loose hair around the home. Expect regular trips to a groomer instead — low shedding almost always means more coat care.
- Is a Maltese a good first dog?
- Yes — a Maltese is a forgiving first dog for most people who can give it time.
- How long can a Maltese be left alone?
- Around 1 hours at a stretch once fully grown and gradually trained for it. Longer days need a dog walker, day care or someone dropping in — and a puppy needs far shorter stretches at first.
- What does a Maltese cost per year?
- Budget roughly €1100–2000 a year for food, routine vet care, insurance, grooming and everyday kit. Country, size and individual health move that figure quite a bit, and a single unlucky year can cost more.
These answers come from the same trait numbers used everywhere on DoggMatch — no marketing, no guesswork.
Read more before you decide
The guides that matter most for this breed, written in plain language.
Compare with similar breeds
Side by side on exercise, coat, time alone and cost — the things that decide how the week actually feels.
- Maltese
Shih Tzu
Yorkshire Terrier
Toy Poodle
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