Maltese Puppies for Sale in San Jose, CA

Maltese Characteristics

Notable for their iconic floor-length coat, Maltese are precocious, playful, and affectionate companions. Maltese are quite small, typically weighing less than seven pounds. Their long, straight coat sets them apart from other breeds and makes them look quite high fashion! Maltese are very alert and can make good watchdogs, and they are formidable athletes on the agility course.

Maltese are the quintessential "fancy dog." They typically weigh less than 7 pounds, and their 7-9 inches of stature is often completely covered in their iconic floor-length coat, which can come in brown, black, or white. However, their somewhat snooty appearance is easily balanced by their playful and loyal personalities. 

Believe it or not, Maltese are considered relatively low-shedding dogs. This, coupled with their compact size, makes them a perfect companion for condo and apartment living. Maltese are happy to make new friends of all ages. Sometimes stubborn and willful, they respond well to rewards-based training. This ability to be trained makes them fierce competitors in such dog sports as agility, obedience, rally, and tracking.

Although they look delicate and aristocratic, Maltese can have a lot of energy. Because they have a long history as companion dogs, Maltese require a lot of human attention and suffer from separation anxiety. If left alone for hours each day, they can bark and become destructive. Thirty minutes of exercise is the recommended daily minimum to keep these pups happy and healthy. 

These dogs also have a tendency to lack patience around small children and other dogs, especially if they have been pampered by their humans on a regular basis. Ensuring these dogs are socialized properly as puppies will allow them to play happily with others instead of becoming defensive and protective.