Maltese

The Maltese is an ancient toy companion breed — under 7 lb (typically 4-7 lb / 2-3 kg) and about 7-9 inches tall — bred for centuries for one purpose: to be a lap and companion dog. Unlike most breeds on this site it has no working job in its history, and that matters: its entire selection has been for closeness to people, which is exactly why it cannot tolerate being left alone for long days. The decision people get wrong is treating it as a low-effort accessory because it's tiny and doesn't shed much; the reality is a high-maintenance coat, real dental and orthopedic fragility, and a dog that bonds so hard it can develop separation anxiety. Get it right and the Maltese is a wonderful companion: affectionate, lively, surprisingly bold and playful, intelligent and trainable, lapdog-cuddly, apartment-perfect, and one of the better low-allergen, low-shedding choices. The trade-offs are concrete. The long white single coat mats within days without daily brushing and needs professional grooming every 4-6 weeks — most owners keep it in a short 'puppy cut' for sanity. It is physically delicate: jumps off furniture and rough handling cause fractures and luxating-kneecap flare-ups, making it a poor match for homes with toddlers or boisterous big dogs. It is prone to severe dental disease in its small crowded mouth. It bonds intensely and can bark and panic when left alone. And small-dog 'cute' misbehavior is often left untrained until it becomes snappy. The Maltese is right for adults, seniors, or families with older gentle children who want a devoted indoor companion and will commit to daily coat care (or regular grooming costs), lifelong teeth-brushing, and not leaving the dog alone all day for its long 12-15 year life. It is wrong for homes with toddlers or large rough dogs, owners gone long workdays, or anyone unwilling to handle the coat and dental commitment. Buy from a breeder who health-tests for liver shunt and patella issues.