Choosing the Right Breed of Dog

Is a Maltese the right dog breed for your family?

Thinking about getting a Maltese dog and how perfect it would be for your family? Choosing the right breed of dog is something that should not be taken lightly. Before making this very important decision, find out more about the Maltese dog breed and how to go about finding the right dog breed for YOU.

Instead of just listing the characteristics of Maltese dogs, I surveyed thousands of real Maltese dog owners to get the scoop on what it's really like to have a Maltese dog in their family.

Already have a Maltese dog? Feel free to participate in these polls and let others know exactly what it's like bringing a Maltese into your family!

Maltese Dog Characteristics

Thousands of real Maltese dog owners were asked to describe their dogs with one word. Playful, friendly, and energetic topped the list followed by smart and loyal. If these are the characteristics you're looking for in a dog, you may be choosing the right breed of dog by getting a Maltese.

Since smart and energetic dogs can sometimes equal trouble, I'd advise you to take advantage of this dog obedience training course.

What words best describe your Maltese?

Answers
Graph
PercentageResponses
Energetic
 
14.6737
Sleepy
 
4.9250
Silly
 
8.9451
Smart
 
12.8649
Aggressive
 
2.1108
Friendly
 
14.9754
Playful
 
17.3876
Anxious
 
3.4171
Calm
 
4.9247
Jealous
 
3.6184
Loyal
 
12.5634
Total Number of Responses: 5061

What words best describe YOUR Maltese? Vote in this poll!

Maltese Dog Behavior Problems

According to real Maltese dog owners, potty accidents followed by barking top the list of common Maltese dog behavior problems.

Thinking of bringing a Maltese into your family? First decide how you will handle these potential problems. Of course all these problems can be fixed or completely avoided if you know what to do. Get started off on the right foot with these great Maltese puppy training resources.

What are your Maltese puppy's most frustrating behaviors?

Answers
Graph
PercentageResponses
Nipping and biting
 
17.2411
Jumping
 
6.7159
Not walking on a leash
 
5.9140
Barking
 
18.5441
Disobedience
 
6.5156
Whining
 
6.7160
Potty accidents
 
21.2506
Digging
 
3.072
Begging
 
8.0190
Chewing
 
6.2149
Total Number of Responses: 2384

What are YOUR Maltese puppy's frustrating behaviors? Vote in this poll!

Maltese Dog Health

When asked what their dogs' health, real Maltese dog owners have all agreed that eye stain is the most common of all Maltese health problems. A few have had dental problems, but most haven't had any health problems with their Maltese.

Before bringing a Maltese dog into your home, read up on Maltese eye stain and ways to effectively treat it for a happy and healthy Maltese.

Has your Maltese had any health problems?

Answers
Graph
PercentageResponses
Eye stain
 
37.8184
Patellar luxation
 
6.230
Deafness
 
2.110
Hypoglycemia
 
2.512
Hypothyroidism
 
1.05
Dental problems
 
8.039
Liver shunt
 
1.26
Shaker syndrome
 
3.115
Other
 
10.752
No health problems
 
27.5134
Total Number of Responses: 487

Has YOUR Maltese had any health problems? Vote in this poll!

Maltese Dog Weight

According to most Maltese dog owners, their full grown Maltese dogs weigh anywhere from 5-8lbs. This is close to the favored 4-6lb weight range of AKC Maltese champions. Although some tiny Maltese are under 5lbs, only a few are over 10lbs.

With this in mind, expect a small dog. Maltese are sometimes fragile and do best with older children. 

Currently have a puppy now? Find out how big your puppy is going to get using our puppy weight chart.

How much does your adult Maltese weigh?

Answers
Graph
PercentageResponses
under 5lbs
 
22.468
5-6lbs
 
29.389
7-8lbs
 
31.696
9-10lbs
 
16.851
10-12lbs▏0.00
Over 12lbs▏0.00
Total Number of Responses: 304

How much does YOUR adult Maltese weigh? Vote in this poll!

Maltese Dog Grooming

Maltese dogs need quite a bit of attention in the area of grooming. Most owners groom their Maltese once a day or at least twice weekly.

Their long, white hair needs brushing and trimming. Maltese also tend to have issues with dog eye stain, which can be remedied with daily grooming.

How often do you groom your Maltese?

Answers
Graph
PercentageResponses
Daily
 
34.2103
Twice per week
 
30.692
Weekly
 
15.045
Twice per month
 
7.322
Monthly▏0.00
Less often
 
13.039
Total Number of Responses: 301

How often do you groom YOUR Maltese? Vote in this poll!

Maltese Dog Exercise

Although Maltese do tend to need alot of attention with grooming and love, they are happy to just run around the house and don't necessarily need daily walks.

Running around the house or in a yard is what a majority of Maltese dogs owners do to give them exercise. This is perfect for people who are older or disabled, as they don't need to do much physically with a Maltese.

How mush exercise does your Maltese get?

Answers
Graph
PercentageResponses
Multiple walks daily
 
22.875
One walk daily
 
24.982
Run in fenced yard
 
18.561
Run around the house
 
33.7111
Total Number of Responses: 329

How much exercise does YOUR Maltese get? Vote in this poll!

Maltese Dog Bathing

By far, most Maltese owners bathe their dogs once per week. This should give you an idea of how often a Maltese needs to be groomed. Their hair is long and white, so Maltese dogs can get dirty pretty fast.

How often do you bathe your Maltese?

Answers
Graph
PercentageResponses
Daily
 
5.618
Weekly
 
76.5244
Monthly▏0.00
Every 6 weeks
 
8.527
Every 8 weeks
 
4.715
Less often
 
4.715
Total Number of Responses: 319

How often do you bathe YOUR Maltese dog? Vote in this poll!

Maltese Dog Food

Dry food is definitely the preference when it comes to feeding Maltese dogs. Close behind is the combination of wet and dry food.

Not many people feed their Maltese raw or homemade dog food, but if you have a little bit of extra time, it's easy to make your own dog food.

What type of food does your Maltese usually eat?

Answers
Graph
PercentageResponses
Dry food
 
52.6205
Wet food
 
5.622
Dry/Wet mix
 
32.3126
Homemade Cooked
 
7.730
Homemade Raw
 
1.87
Total Number of Responses: 390

What type of food does YOUR Maltese usually eat? Vote in this poll!

Maltese Dog Sleep

Can you believe that most Maltese dog owners let their dogs sleep in bed with them? I can! It's easy to see why... Maltese dogs are both small and cuddly, the perfect bedtime companion.

Some people utilize a crate for a good night's sleep for their Maltese. Only a few Maltese dogs are sleeping on the couch or floor. These are some pampered pups!

Where does your Maltese usually sleep at night?

Answers
Graph
PercentageResponses
In my bed
 
59.5153
In a dog bed
 
18.347
In a crate
 
15.640
On the couch
 
3.18
On the floor
 
3.59
Total Number of Responses: 257

Where does YOUR Maltese usually sleep at night? Vote in this poll!

Thinking a Maltese dog is a good fit for your family?

Read below to find out where to get your forever friend!

Maltese Dog Adoption

Most Maltese dog lovers get their Maltese from a private breeder. Some find their forever friends from Maltese dog rescues or even a pet store. 

Let's get those rescue numbers up! Would you please help me educate other dog lovers on finding their precious pets from rescues? There are lots of beautiful Maltese dogs for adoption and even Maltese puppies for adoption. 

Where did you get your Maltese?

Answers
Graph
PercentageResponses
Pet store
 
17.227
Private breeder
 
63.199
Rescue association
 
15.925
Found him/her
 
3.86
Total Number of Responses: 157

Where did you get YOUR Maltese dog? Vote in this poll!

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