Maltese Temperament
What's Good About 'Em,
What's Bad About 'Em

Maltese Temperament, Personality, Behavior, Traits, and Characteristics, by Michele Welton. Copyright © 2000-2012

Enjoy our site? You'll love our books. Everything you need to know about finding, training, and caring for a Maltese, by Michele Welton

One of the brightest and gentlest of the toys, the Maltese is exceedingly playful and enjoys clever games of dexterity such as "pull the hidden toy from under the cabinet with your paw."

This curious, quick-moving sprite doesn't need much outdoor exercise, but he does enjoy dashing around the (fenced!) yard and accompanying you for walks. Larger dogs may view him as a delicacy, so a Maltese must always be leashed or fenced for his own protection. Fences should be triple-checked for slight gaps through which he might wriggle.

Maltese are generally peaceful with the world, though some lines (and individuals) are more confident and outgoing, and some are more standoffish or cautious.

Training and socialization also play key roles in how a Maltese turns out. If you treat him like a helpless baby or spoil/indulge him, he is likely to end up overdependent, insecure, or bratty and yappy. Treating him like an intelligent little dog and requiring him to show the same good manners as a larger dog will encourage him to strut out into the world with self-confidence.

Very sensitive and responsive to nonforceful training, many Maltese excel in competitive obedience and agility. However, they are notoriously difficult to housebreak -- consider an indoor litterbox, or a doggy door leading outside to a small covered potty yard. Excessive barking may also need to be controlled.

If you want a dog who...

A Maltese may not be right for you.

But you can avoid or minimize some negative traits by (1) carefully choosing the right puppy from the right breeder; (2) raising and training your puppy in all the right ways; (3) choosing an adult dog who has already proven that he doesn't have negative traits. My books will help you.

If you'd rather consider a different breed, read more dog breed reviews.

More traits and characteristics of Maltese

If I was considering a Maltese, I would be most concerned about...

1. Grooming. Without frequent brushing and combing, Maltese become a matted mess. If you can't commit to the brushing, you have to commit to frequent trimming to keep the coat short, neat, and healthy. You can even shear the coat very short with clippers and then you won't need to brush it at all. Personally I love this sheared cut because it's so easy to care for and makes a Maltese look like a cute puppy throughout his life.
2. Fragility. Too many people acquire a toy breed puppy without understanding how incredibly fragile a toy breed is. You can seriously injure or kill a Maltese by stepping on him or by sitting on him when he's curled under a blanket or pillow, where he frequently likes to sleep. And Maltese can seriously injure or kill THEMSELVES by leaping from your arms or off the back of your sofa. A larger dog can grab a Maltese and break his neck with one quick shake. Owning a toy breed means constant supervision and surveillance of what's going on around your tiny dog. Maltese must always be kept on-leash -- they are just too easy to injure when not under your complete control.

   Maltese are NOT suited to young children, no matter how well-meaning the child. Children cannot help being clumsy, and that a child meant well is little solace to a Maltese who has been accidentally stepped on, sat on, rolled on, squeezed, or dropped onto the patio. Most Maltese feel overwhelmed by the loud voices and quick movements that children can't help making -- and stress and fearfulness (even defensive biting) may be the result.

3. Housebreaking issues. As a behavioral consultant, I would put the Maltese on my Top 5 List of "Hardest Breeds to Housebreak." If you live in a cold or rainy climate, housebreaking will be especially difficult, because Maltese hate both the cold and the rain. A COVERED potty area is strongly recommended. Sometimes a doggy door is necessary so your Maltese can run outside the moment he feels the urge in his tiny bladder. Read more on housebreaking your Maltese.
4. Separation anxiety. More than most other breeds, Maltese need a great deal of companionship and do not like being left alone for more than a few hours. They tend to express their unhappiness through destructive chewing and barking. My book (see below) provides a step by step guide for preventing separation anxiety.
5. Barking. Maltese are often too quick to sound the alarm at every new sight and sound. You have to be equally quick to stop them. If that training is to be successful, your Maltese needs to respect you so that he stops barking when you tell him to.
   
   

   You must teach your Maltese to respect you. A dog who respects you will do what you say and will stop what he's doing when you tell him "No." My book Teach Your Dog 100 English Words, gives you a unique vocabulary to use with your dog AND teaches my Respect Training Program. Your dog will look at you when you speak and do what you say. Not just when he's hungry for a treat or feels like it. But all the time. Because he respects you.

6. Finding a healthy one and keeping him healthy. Maltese often suffer from chronic allergies and itchy skin conditions, as well as knee problems that can require expensive surgery. Other health concerns in the breed include eye diseases, heart disease, epilepsy, and more. To avoid these problems, you need to buy your Maltese from a person who can pass the "14 Family Companion Guidelines" in my book, Dog Quest: Find The Dog Of Your Dreams. If they're not following these guidelines, it's a big risk to buy a puppy from them.

   Once you have your puppy home, you need to keep him healthy by following the 11-Step Health Care Program in 11 Things You Must Do Right To Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy.
   
   If you want your dog to live a long, healthy life and seldom need to visit the vet, this is the book for you. How to prepare healthy meals, getting only the right vaccinations (not the ones that are either useless or risky), preventing fleas, ticks, and heartworm safely, getting dangerous (to dogs) products out of your home, healing or improving current health issues, and much more. This is my best book, and bargain priced, too!

Copyright © 2000-2012 by Michele Welton. All rights reserved.
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