How long does a Maltese live?

The listed lifespan for a Maltese is 12–15 years.

How tall is a Maltese?

The listed height for a Maltese is 7–9 in.

Is a Maltese good with children?

The AKC good-with-children score for a Maltese is 3 out of 5.

When is a Maltese full grown?

The growth size band for a Maltese is 8–12 months.

Toy Group

Maltese

Maltese is a toy dog in the Toy Group. Adult weight is up to 7 lb, height is 7–9 in, and the listed lifespan is 12–15 years. AKC describes the temperament as Playful, Charming, Gentle.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Maltese dog — Photo: Alfredo Borba · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Lifespan12–15 years

Weightup to 7 lb

SizeToy GroupToy Group

Height

7–9 in

Energy

3 / 5

Shedding

1 / 5

Grooming

4 / 5

Trainability

3 / 5

Good with kids

3 / 5

The breed record

Across 21 single-size toy breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 13.5 years is about 0.6 years shorter than the 14.1-year average.

The listed origin is Malta. The coat is described as silky, long. The AKC energy score is 3 out of 5, 0.3 points below the group average of 3.3 for the Toy Group. Shedding scores 1 out of 5, so loose hair is limited. Grooming scores 4 out of 5, so a professional schedule is realistic. Trainability scores 3 out of 5. Good with children scores 3 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 3 out of 5. AKC ranked this breed number 37 in 2025.

Adult size is usually reached in 8–12 months (size-band statement (Salt et al. 2017): very small dogs reach maturity at 8-12 months). AKC parent-club recommended health screenings: Patella Evaluation, Cardiac Exam, and Serum Bile Acids. These are screening tests, not a list of diseases the breed is guaranteed to develop.

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