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A white Maltese relaxing outdoors on green grass

Living with a Maltese

What day to day actually looks like, coat to bowl to vet visits.

The everyday version

Simpler than people expect, with one honest caveat

That long silky coat looks high-maintenance, and grooming does take real effort. The bigger thing to plan for is the size: at under 7 pounds, a Maltese is genuinely fragile as a puppy, and everyday handling needs to reflect that.

Close portrait of a Maltese dog's long silky white coat

Coat and grooming

The long, single coat mats easily if it is not brushed often, especially around the ears and legs. Many owners keep the classic long "show coat," which needs daily brushing, while others keep a shorter "puppy cut" that only needs brushing two or three times a week.

  • A pin brush and metal comb work through tangles better than a bristle brush alone.
  • Keep hair trimmed or tied up away from the eyes to prevent irritation and tear staining, a common cosmetic issue in this breed.
  • Nails, ears, and teeth: the same routine as any dog, roughly every two to three weeks for nails.
Small white Maltese puppy on a leash outdoors, showing its toy-breed size

Handling a genuinely small dog

Under 7 pounds is small enough that a fall from a couch or an accidental step can cause real injury, especially as a puppy. Kids should always sit on the floor to hold a Maltese rather than carrying one around standing up.

  • Supervise interactions with larger dogs and small children until everyone knows the ropes.
  • Puppy-proof stairs and furniture edges for the first several months.
  • A properly fitted harness, not a collar alone, protects the trachea on walks.
Playful white Maltese puppy on a park bench, healthy size and build

Diet

A high-quality diet sized to a toy breed supports the coat and keeps blood sugar stable. Small dogs, and Maltese puppies especially, are prone to hypoglycemia if meals are skipped or portions run too small.

  • Ask your breeder what the puppy has been eating and transition gradually over 7 to 10 days.
  • Feed small, frequent meals as a puppy rather than one or two large ones.
  • Fresh water daily, and keep a close eye on appetite and energy in the first weeks home.
Alert, healthy white Maltese outdoors on grass

Vet care

Beyond standard vaccinations and annual exams, ask your vet about periodic liver values, dental care, and patella checks, all common concerns for the breed. Small mouths crowd teeth easily, so dental cleanings matter more here than in larger dogs.

  • Keep vaccination and deworming on the schedule your vet recommends for puppies.
  • Spay or neuter timing: discuss with your vet, commonly done around 6 months.
  • Regular dental cleanings help prevent the tooth crowding common in small, toy breeds.

Meet the puppy you will do all this with

See available Maltese puppies from health-tested lines, ready for a home like yours.

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