It all hangs on the haircut
A Maltese is not a low-maintenance dog, although the workload depends almost entirely on one decision: the haircut. Kept in the famous floor-length silky coat, a Maltese needs daily brushing and careful upkeep that rivals any breed in the toy group. Kept in a short puppy cut, the same dog becomes considerably more manageable — but the teeth, the tear staining and the fragility of a very small dog remain on your schedule either way.
Two coats, two workloads
The traditional Maltese coat is single, silky and floor-length, with no undercoat, and it tangles if it is not brushed through daily and kept clean; many owners wrap sections of coat to protect it, which is deep into committed-owner territory. The practical alternative is a short clip renewed every month or two, which turns grooming into a few short brushing sessions a week. Because the breed barely sheds, loose hair stays in the coat and must be brushed out whichever length you choose. White hair also shows tear stains beneath the eyes and staining on the beard, so a daily face wipe and keeping the hair out of the eyes is routine care, not vanity.
Teeth, bones and small-dog realities
Toy breeds pack a full set of teeth into small jaws, and the Maltese is no exception: crowding makes dental care a genuine maintenance item, and owners do best building tooth brushing into the daily routine from puppyhood. The breed is fine-boned for its size class, so jumping off high furniture is discouraged and ramps or steps are a common fixture in Maltese homes. Exercise needs are modest — short walks and indoor play cover most of it — but many Maltese are enthusiastic watchdogs whose barking needs channelling early if neighbours are close. They form intense attachments and generally want to be in the same room as their person at all times.
Living with the temperament
Underneath the glamour this is a bright, playful, sometimes surprisingly bold little dog that responds well to reward-based training and badly to being treated as an ornament. Housetraining small dogs fails most often because owners miss the signals in a big house, so supervision and routine matter. With reasonable care a Maltese commonly lives into its early-to-mid teens, which means the grooming and dental routines you set up are a decade-plus commitment. Cold weather bothers a dog this small and slight, so a coat for winter walks joins the equipment list.
Making the decision
A Maltese suits a home that wants a devoted, portable companion and accepts daily small rituals — face wipe, tooth brush, coat through with a brush — as the price of that floating white coat. It is a poor fit for rough-and-tumble households with toddlers, or for anyone picturing a dog that can be admired without being maintained. For the week-to-week reality behind that coat-length choice, put a follow-up question to KinsLe's Kinny; he answers using the KinsLe Answers library.