By Curious Tails · AVS licensed
The gentle Maltese, done honestly
Singapore's Maltese specialists. Pure white, purebred, and raised for a calm and present home. Real availability, an honest all-in price, and the tear-stain and grooming guidance no listing page gives you.
Maltese puppies
From $3,488, all-in
$3,488
All-in, everything included
50+
Maltese placed in Singapore
5.0★
41 Google reviews
HDB ✓
Approved small breed
What is a Maltese, and how do I get a healthy one in Singapore?
The Maltese is a small, pure-white toy companion dog: a gentle, affectionate lapdog that suits a calm, present home. In Singapore you can bring one home from Curious Tails, an AVS licensed pet shop. Every puppy is vet-checked, microchipped and purebred, from $3,488 all-in.
The gentle companion
A devoted little dog for a calm home
Of all the small breeds, the Maltese is the softest and most devoted. It is a low-energy, people-oriented lapdog that wants to be near you, which makes it a lovely family dog and a gentle choice for a first-time owner. The temperament is calm and affectionate rather than sporty, and its small toy size fits an apartment easily.
We are honest about the trade-offs. The long, silky white coat needs daily grooming, and the white face means tear stains are the one thing every owner learns to manage. A Maltese also bonds hard, so it does best with someone home for much of the day. Owners call it a velcro dog for a reason: it follows you from room to room and settles wherever you settle. If your household is out all day, we will say so and point you to a more independent breed instead.
That honesty matters because the Maltese is often bought on looks alone. The pure white coat and dark eyes are hard to resist, but the dog underneath is a commitment: a devoted, sensitive companion that repays a present home with fifteen years of quiet company. Retirees, WFH couples and quieter households tend to be the happiest Maltese owners we know. Read more about theMaltese temperament before you decide, not after.
What exactly is a Maltese?
The Maltese is an ancient Mediterranean toy breed, kept as a lapdog for well over two thousand years and recognised by the AKC in the Toy Group. It is a purebred, not a mix: the parent breed behind popular crosses like the Maltipoo. The AKC breed standarddescribes one colour only, pure white, and one coat type: long, silky and straight, a single coat with no undercoat. That single coat is why the breed is famously low-shedding, and why many allergy-sensitive owners shortlist it, though no dog is truly hypoallergenic.
There is one size, and only one. A full-grown Maltese weighs about 2 to 3kg(some up to 4kg) and stands 20 to 25cm at the shoulder. There is no mini, no standard, and no real "teacup". It is also one of the longest-lived toy breeds at 12 to 15 years; the leading health concern in later life is mitral valve heart disease, which is why an annual vet check with a heart listen matters from middle age. See our fulllifespan and health guide for the honest picture.
| Trait | The Maltese at a glance |
|---|---|
| Size | Toy. 2 to 3kg typical, 20 to 25cm tall. One size only. |
| Coat | Pure white, long, silky, straight. Single coat, low-shedding. |
| Temperament | Gentle, affectionate, calm, devoted. A true lapdog. |
| Energy | Low to moderate. Two short walks plus indoor play is enough. |
| Lifespan | 12 to 15 years. Long-lived for a small dog. |
| Care load | High: daily brushing, tear-stain routine, salon every 4 to 6 weeks. |
| HDB | Approved. Named on HDB's small-breed list, item 33. |
What "all-in" really includes
Our Maltese are $3,488–$5,988 all-in, and that price is not just the puppy. It includes the 30-item starter kit, free home delivery and playpen setup, a free first training lesson with an AVS-certified trainer, full vaccination and deworming on schedule, and licensing completed at purchase.
Cheaper listings quote a lower headline number and add the rest later. We would rather show the honest total and stand behind it with a 5-day bring-back-if-sick promise and ongoing care advice.
Where a puppy sits inside the range comes down to age, coat quality and lineage, and we will tell you plainly which factors apply to the one you are looking at. Thefull price guide breaks down every dollar, including the first-year costs most buyers forget to budget.
Licensed, healthy, and honest
Curious Tails is an AVS licensed pet shop (licence AS24J00046). Every Maltese is purebred, vet-checked, microchipped, and comes with its health and vaccination records.
We do not sell "teacup" Maltese, and we do not trade on paper certification. What matters for a companion pet is a genuine vet health check and honest breed identification. Prefer to adopt? We will happily point you to rescue options instead.
You do not have to take our word for the licence either. Check AS24J00046 yourself on the public registry of AVS licensed pet shops. Any shop that hesitates when you ask for its licence number is telling you something.
Living with a Maltese in Singapore
Start with the question every Singapore buyer asks first: HDB. The answer is a clean yes. The Maltese is named on the HDB approved small-breed listat item 33, so it can live in an HDB flat legally: one dog per flat, with a valid dog licence from AVS (a division of NParks). Condos and landed homes are even simpler. OurHDB guide walks through licensing step by step, and we complete the licence for you at purchase anyway.
The climate suits the breed better than most people expect. A single coat with no undercoat handles Singapore's heat and humidity reasonably well, but a toy dog still overheats faster than a person. Keep walks to morning and evening, carry water, and let air-conditioned rest do the rest. Indoors, a Maltese needs very little space: a corner for its playpen and a lap to return to. The real Singapore-specific consideration is time, not space. In a household where everyone is out from 8am to 8pm, this velcro breed struggles with separation, and no amount of toys fixes that. Be honest with yourself here; we will be honest with you.
From first WhatsApp to bringing your puppy home
The process is simple and unhurried. Message us on WhatsApp, tell us about your home and routine, and visit the shop at Balestier to meet the puppies in person. We would rather you sit on the floor with a puppy for half an hour than decide from photos. Puppies are vaccinated atweeks 6, 8 and 12 (with an optional week-16 dose), and most go home at aroundweek 9, once the vet has cleared them and the second vaccination has settled.
Handover is where a specialist shop earns its keep. We deliver the puppy to your door, set up the playpen, and coach you through the first-week routine: the daily brushing habit, the tear-stain wipe, feeding amounts and the toilet-training plan, plus a free first training lesson with an AVS-certified trainer. Aftercare does not stop at the door; owners message us months later about grooming, teething and food, and we answer. That is what 50+ Maltese placed in Singapore homes has taught us to do well.
Everything you wanted to know
Maltese.sg is built as a full owner's library, not a listing page. Every guide below is written from questions real Singapore buyers and owners have asked us, from money to daily care to how the breed compares with the Maltipoo, Poodle, Shih Tzu and Bichon Frise.
Maltese puppies available now
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Maltese in Singapore?
Our Maltese are $3,488–$5,988 all-in, which includes the starter kit, home delivery, first training lesson, licensing and aftercare.
Are Maltese HDB approved?
Yes. The Maltese is on HDB’s approved small-breed list, so you can keep one in an HDB flat with a valid AVS dog licence.
Do Maltese get tear stains?
Many do, because the white coat shows the reddish-brown marks clearly. They are managed with a daily cleaning routine, not cured by any single product.
Is there such a thing as a teacup Maltese?
No. Teacup is a marketing label, not a real size, and often signals a health risk. We place healthy, standard toy Maltese only.
Are Maltese good for first-time owners?
Yes, they are gentle and affectionate, but they need daily coat care and an owner who is around, as they can be a velcro dog.
How big does a Maltese get?
A full-grown Maltese is a single toy size, about 2 to 3kg and 20 to 25cm at the shoulder.
Do Maltese shed a lot?
They have a single silky coat and shed very little, which many allergy-sensitive owners find easier, though no dog is fully hypoallergenic.
Where are you located?
We are Curious Tails at 2 Balestier Road #01-701, Singapore 320002. Message us on WhatsApp to arrange a visit.
Meet your Maltese
Come say hello at Balestier
2 Balestier Road #01-701, Singapore 320002 · Weekdays 12pm–6pm · Weekends 10am–6pm. Or message us first: tell us about your home and routine, and we'll tell you honestly if a Maltese fits.
Still deciding?
Read the price guide first: every dollar explained, no surprises at the shop.
See the price guide