DogsLifeBreed profile
Maltese: size, sleep, exercise and care
The Maltese is a white, silky-coated toy dog of 3–4 kg that is playful indoors and happy on a short walk. Its small size shapes almost everything about daily care, from potty breaks to meal timing.
At a glance
- Size
- Toy
- Adult weight
- 3–4 kg
- Height at the shoulder
- 20–25 cm
- Life expectancy
- 12–15 years
- Exercise needs
- Low · 30 min per day
Sleep needs
Typical total sleep per 24 hours, including naps.
| Puppy | Adult | Senior |
|---|---|---|
| 18–20 h | 12–14 h | 12–15 h |
These are general life-stage ranges for dogs from the AKC and Hill's Pet Nutrition; no kennel club publishes sleep figures for the Maltese specifically. A Maltese puppy that is overtired often gets nippy and wild rather than sleepy, so short play sessions followed by a quiet nap in a crate or pen work well.
Exercise needs
The Royal Kennel Club puts the Maltese in its "up to 30 minutes a day" exercise band. That can be one walk or two short strolls plus indoor games. SKK notes the breed also enjoys a longer walk now and then, so a fit adult can join you for more if it is built up gradually.
Potty training
Toy breeds have tiny bladders, and the AKC notes that small dogs often take longer to become reliably house-trained. Expect a Maltese puppy to need many trips outside a day: after waking, after meals and drinks, after play and last thing at night.
Keep the routine strict and the rewards immediate. Some owners of toy dogs also teach an indoor option such as a pee pad or litter tray for bad weather, which the AKC mentions as a common approach for small breeds. A puppy potty schedule helps you keep the intervals short enough.
Puppy potty schedule calculator →
Feeding
Very small puppies can run low on blood sugar if they go too long between meals, especially when they are cold, stressed or very active (the AKC describes this as a typical risk for young toy puppies). Feed a young Maltese several small meals spread over the day and talk to your vet if the puppy seems weak, wobbly or unusually sleepy.
As an adult, two measured meals a day suit most Maltese. With a body weight of only 3–4 kg, treats add up quickly, so count them as part of the daily ration.
Frequently asked questions
How often does a Maltese puppy need to pee?
Often. A common rule of thumb is that a puppy can hold it for roughly as many hours as its age in months, but toy puppies tend to need breaks sooner, plus after every nap, meal and play session.
How much exercise does a Maltese need?
The Royal Kennel Club guideline is up to 30 minutes a day. Short walks and indoor play cover it for most adults.
Do Maltese puppies need extra meals?
Young toy puppies do best on several small meals a day, because long gaps between meals can lead to low blood sugar.
Sources
- Malteser – rasbeskrivning — Svenska Kennelklubben (SKK)
- Maltese dog breed information — American Kennel Club
- Maltese breed information — The Royal Kennel Club
- Hypoglycemia in Dogs — American Kennel Club
- How Much Do Puppies Sleep? — American Kennel Club
- How Much Should My Dog Sleep Per Day? — Hill's Pet Nutrition
- Can Senior Dogs Sleep Too Much? How Much Should Older Dogs Sleep? — American Kennel Club
- How to Potty Train a Puppy — American Kennel Club