A possible best friend

Maltese

A playful, affectionate toy companion with a confident personality and long white coat. Maltese enjoy human company and can be surprisingly athletic learners.

Puppy

Grown up

Illustrated puppy and adult examples.

Personality at a glance

Affection with family: 3 out of 3; Higher tendency
Playfulness: 2 out of 3; Moderate tendency
Child-friendly tendency: 2 out of 3; Moderate tendency
Comfort with other dogs: 2 out of 3; Moderate tendency
Welcoming new people: 2 out of 3; Moderate tendency

Breed tendencies vary between dogs. Supervise children and dogs together. Cats and small pets need an individual compatibility assessment.

About these ratings

Our three levels group the AKC’s published five-point ratings: 1–2 becomes lower, 3 moderate, and 4–5 higher. The child rating describes young-child tendencies. These are general tendencies, not safety or compatibility guarantees.

AKC Maltese breed traits · Reviewed 8 October 2026

Meet connected mixes

Family connections

Maltipoo

Shared backgrounds, individual dogs. A mix name does not predict traits.

The beginning

Puppy days

Introduce combing and tooth handling in tiny, rewarding steps. Establish frequent toilet breaks and a quiet resting area, while keeping play with children gentle and supervised.

Your everyday

Adult life

Keep walks, indoor games and tricks in the day, alongside close companionship. Maintain consistent boundaries and gradually practised alone time rather than expecting long absences to be easy.

Everyday care

The long silky coat needs gentle daily brushing and combing, regular bathing and conditioning. Daily walks or play, frequent tooth brushing and weekly ear checks complete care.

Worth planning for: Low shedding still comes with substantial grooming; loneliness may lead to distress or excessive barking.

Sources & reading

Reviewed 8 October 2026. Breed tendencies and mixed-background possibilities describe a starting point, not a promise about an individual dog.