The Maltese dog breed (pronounced Mall-teez) is a lively, intelligent and playful breed. It is not as common in the UK as other long haired breeds, such as the shih tzu or the llasa apso, but nonetheless, has grown in popularity since its first introduction to the UK.
It is said that nobody ever ‘owns’ a Maltese, but rather this regal little dog owns the owner. Its pure white coat, when grown to its fullest, adds to its glamorous appearance but even when cut short this little dog retains its regality.
When purchasing a Maltese, it is not uncommon to see breeder’s advertisements stating ‘tiny’ or ‘toy Maltese’, ‘miniature Maltese’ or other such names that may imply a smaller and cuter Maltese but these should be ignored. Like any other breed, there are smaller and larger forms of the breed but they are no different to any other Maltese in any way.
Typical Maltese
Height: 8 – 10 inches
Weight: 6.5 – 9 lbs (3-4 kg)
Average Litter Size: Around 3 – 5 puppies
Life Expectancy: 11 – 14 years, has been known to live as long as 18 years
Good with Children: Yes if handled with care (see below)
Kennel Club Classification: Toy Group [read more]
