Maltese

No — low-shedding is not low-maintenance. The long single coat mats within days and needs daily brushing to the skin plus professional grooming every 4-6 weeks, or a short 'puppy cut' and brushing 2-3 times a week. Add lifelong teeth-brushing for a breed highly prone to dental disease. The Maltese is genuinely allergy-friendly and apartment-friendly, but the grooming and dental commitment is real; budget the time or the money before you commit.

Better with older, gentle children than with toddlers, and the reason is physical. At 4-7 lb a Maltese is easily injured by being dropped, stepped on, or handled roughly, and patellar luxation and fractures are real risks from falls and rough play. They can be wonderful with kids old enough to handle them carefully and supervised. For homes with toddlers or boisterous large dogs, a sturdier breed is the honest recommendation; if you have both, supervise every interaction.

Maltese are long-lived — typically 12-15 years, often longer. The most common avoidable lifespan and quality-of-life threats are untreated dental disease (painful and heart-straining), early-life liver shunt if not diagnosed and corrected, preventable injuries from falls, and heart valve disease in old age. Lifelong tooth-brushing, hazard-proofing against jumps, keeping the dog lean, buying from a breeder who screens for liver shunt, and routine vet checks for heart murmurs are what most extend its life.

Not comfortably for long full days. The Maltese was bred for thousands of years purely as a constant companion, so it bonds intensely and is prone to separation anxiety — excessive barking, house-soiling, and distress when left alone too long. It's a strong fit for people who are home often, retirees, or remote workers. If you're out 9+ hours daily, plan for a dog walker, daycare, or a companion arrangement, or reconsider whether this breed fits your schedule.

Because a tiny jaw crowds the teeth, the Maltese develops periodontal disease earlier and more severely than most dogs — leading to pain, tooth loss, and bacteria that strain the heart. It's the breed's most preventable serious problem. Brush teeth 3-7 times a week with canine toothpaste, feed dental-supportive food/chews, and budget professional cleanings every 1-2 years ($300-$800+, more if extractions are needed). Skipping this is the most common owner-side cause of a painful Maltese.

A breeder who health-tests should have a patellar luxation evaluation, a cardiac evaluation, and an ophthalmologist eye exam on the breeding dogs, plus liver-function screening (bile acids) because portosystemic shunt is over-represented in the breed. Ask to see certificates and meet the parents for temperament. A reputable breeder who health-tests or a breed-specific rescue is far cheaper across a 12-15 year lifespan than an untested pet-store or backyard puppy whose liver, knee, or dental problems surface later.