Maltese Temperment

The Maltese have been described as the classical companion dog: graceful and lovable. This breed is indeed, gentle, loving, and devoted to their human family. Their affectionate responsiveness gives them great appeal.

A sensitive, trusting, and docile breed, the Maltese is not a good choice for young children. They are certainly among the gentlest mannered of all small dogs. However children too young or immature to understand that these little dogs can be seriously injured by anything but the gentlest handling, can cause them great harm.

Maltese are house dogs and they are quite active indoors. Their small size also makes them a good choice for apartment dwellers. They are able to get a lot of exercise indoors, but they love to play outdoors as well. Some Maltese owners even have reported that their little charges have a great affinity for mud puddles! The Maltese are sufficiently vigorous to enjoy long walks.

Although extremely loyal to their human family members, the Maltese have a very friendly, outgoing personality. They are spirited and lively, remaining playful throughout their long lives.

For their diminutive size, the Maltese have been described as seemingly without fear. They are alert and act boldly. They are especially quick to sound the alarm in the event of suspicious noises. For this reason, they make good watch dogs, but are, of course, an inappropriate choice for guard dog duties.

The Maltese are highly intelligent and able to learn quickly. Their problem solving capabilities are, likewise, quite good. Although they can be strong willed, they are basically easy to train. They are very good at learning tricks if they feel that they are being sufficiently rewarded for their efforts. The Maltese is a breed in which positive, gentle, reward-based training is absolutely
essential.

Some owners have reported some difficulty in house-breaking their Maltese. Again, gentle, reward-based training, coupled with persistence is the key to success. Because of their long flowing coats and small stature, paper-training as an added alternative to house-breaking is a very convenient option for rainy weather.

Maltese love to be petted and fondled. And, if introduced gently, they also enjoy being groomed. They are happy to be your companion - ready to play and go for walks, or to just curl up in your lap.