Comparison hub
The Maltese compared to similar small breeds
Deciding between the Maltese and another small companion? Here is the honest, one-page overview: a master table across all six breeds, a straight verdict on each pairing, and a decision guide that starts with your household, not the dog.
Nelson and Kim, Curious Tails · AVS licence AS24J00046
How does the Maltese compare to similar breeds?
The Maltese is a low-energy, gentle, pure-white companion with a straight silky single coat and high grooming needs. Compared to the Maltipoo it is straighter-coated and calmer; to the Toy Poodle, less active; to the Shih Tzu, finer and more heat-tolerant; to the Bichon Frise, smaller and quieter; and to the Yorkshire Terrier, far more mellow. All are HDB-suitable small breeds.
The Maltese in one line
Before any comparison makes sense, fix what the Maltese actually is. It is a purebred toy breed of about 2 to 4kg (most sit at 2 to 3kg) with a pure white, long, silky, straight single coat, never curly. Its temperament is the breed's real signature: a gentle, affectionate, velcro lapdog that wants to be wherever you are, with lower energy than most rivals and a long lifespan of 12 to 15 years. The trade-off is grooming: daily brushing, tear stains on the white face, and a salon visit every 4 to 6 weeks, which is why most Singapore owners keep a practical puppy cut.
That profile matches the official AKC breed standard and the American Maltese Association's description of the breed, and it is the yardstick for every row below. Read our full guide to the Maltese temperament if the breed itself is what you are weighing up.
The Maltese yardstick
- Pure white, silky, straight single coat (not curly)
- Gentle, devoted, velcro companion; low energy
- Small and delicate at 2 to 4kg
- High grooming load: daily brushing plus tear-stain care
- Named on HDB’s approved small-breed list (item 33)
Master table: the Maltese vs the small-breed field
Most Singapore buyers compare the Maltese against the same five rivals: the Maltipoo, the Toy Poodle, the Shih Tzu, the Bichon Frise and the Yorkshire Terrier. All six are low-shedding small companions that suit an apartment, so the real difference lives in coat type, energy, grooming load and exact HDB status. Here is the one-glance version, checked against the official HDB approved small-breed list published by NParks/AVS.
| Breed | Coat | Shedding | Adult size | Energy | Grooming load | HDB status | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maltese | Straight, silky, single, pure white | Very low | 2 to 4kg | Low | High: daily brushing + tear stains | Named, item 33 | Calm, present homes wanting a devoted lapdog |
| Maltipoo | Wavy to curly, many colours | Very low | 2.5 to 6kg | Low to moderate | High: curls mat without brushing | Small cross, allowed under HDB small-dog rules | Owners wanting Maltese softness plus curl and colour |
| Toy Poodle | Dense, curly, many colours | Very low | 3 to 5kg | Moderate to high | High: curls need clipping every 4 to 6 weeks | Toy and Miniature approved | Active owners who enjoy training and games |
| Shih Tzu | Long, dense double coat, many colours | Low | 4 to 7kg | Low | High: double coat, face folds | Named approved small breed | Relaxed homes wanting a sturdy, laid-back companion |
| Bichon Frise | Curly powder-puff double coat, white | Very low | 5 to 8kg | Moderate | High: curls need frequent full grooms | Approved small breed (verify current list) | Sociable families wanting a playful all-rounder |
| Yorkshire Terrier | Silky single coat, steel blue and tan | Very low | 2 to 3.5kg | Moderate to high | Moderate in a short trim | Named approved small breed | Owners who enjoy a bold, spirited terrier |
Maltese vs Maltipoo: purebred parent vs designer cross
The Maltipoo is not a rival breed so much as a descendant: it is a designer cross between the Maltese and the Toy Poodle, so it inherits half its character from the breed on this page. Expect a wavy-to-curly coat in colours from cream to apricot, a touch more energy and playfulness from the Poodle side, and less predictability than a purebred, since a cross can land anywhere between its parents in coat and temperament. The Maltese offers the known quantity: always white, always straight-coated, reliably the calmer of the two.
Choose the Maltese for the classic elegant white companion; consider the cross if you want curl and colour variety in a similar small package. The full Maltese vs Maltipoo guide covers coat genetics, grooming and price side by side.
Maltese vs Toy Poodle: lapdog vs athlete
This is the clearest contrast in the field. The Poodle is the athlete and scholar of the toy group: famously intelligent, highly trainable, and busier in both body and mind, it genuinely needs daily activity and mental work. The Maltese is the companion first, bred for centuries to sit with its people; its trainability is decent but its ambitions are smaller, and its exercise needs are met by short walks and play at home.
If you want a jogging partner or a trick dog, the Poodle wins. If you want the softest presence on the sofa, the Maltese does. The detailed Maltese vs Poodle comparison breaks down coat, energy and training in depth.
Maltese vs Shih Tzu: fine and silky vs stocky and flat-faced
The Shih Tzu is the Maltese's closest match in mood: both are calm, affectionate lapdogs and both are named on HDB's approved list. The differences are physical. The Shih Tzu is stockier at 4 to 7kg with a dense double coat in many colours, and its flat (brachycephalic) face makes it noticeably more heat sensitive, which matters in Singapore's year-round humidity. The finer, lighter Maltese with its single coat generally copes better in the heat, though early-morning walks suit both.
Families with boisterous children often prefer the sturdier Shih Tzu; buyers set on the elegant white look and a slightly brighter, more velcro companion lean Maltese. See the full Maltese vs Shih Tzu guide.
Maltese vs Bichon Frise: two white coats, two personalities
Both breeds are white and low-shedding, so they are shortlisted together constantly, but they feel different to live with. The Bichon Frise is larger at 5 to 8kg, bouncier and more extroverted, with a curly powder-puff double coat that needs frequent full grooms to stay unmatted. The Maltese is smaller, quieter and more devoted to one household, with the straight silky coat and the tear-stain upkeep that comes with a white face.
Pick the Bichon for a playful, sociable all-rounder; pick the Maltese for a serene lapdog in a smaller body. The full Maltese vs Bichon Frise comparison covers both coats' real workload.
Maltese vs Yorkshire Terrier: gentle companion vs bold terrier
On paper the Yorkshire Terrier is the Maltese's twin: similar 2 to 3.5kg size, similar silky single coat, similarly low shedding. In personality they are near opposites. The Yorkie is a true terrier: bold, feisty, alert and often the more vocal watchdog, bred originally to hunt rats rather than warm laps. Its coat comes in steel blue and tan rather than white, which conveniently hides the tear staining a Maltese owner manages daily.
Choose the Yorkie if you enjoy spark and personality in a tiny frame; choose the Maltese if gentle devotion is the point. The full Maltese vs Yorkshire Terrier guide compares barking, training and coats honestly.
How to choose: start with your household, not the dog
Here is the framework we actually use with buyers, and that no overseas comparison site offers. Do not start from the photos; start from three questions. One: how many hours is someone home on a normal day? Two: who lives in the flat, including toddlers and elderly family? Three: honestly, how much grooming will you do every single day? Your answers point to a breed far more reliably than any list of which breed is "best".
| Your household | Strongest fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Retiree or quiet couple, someone always home | Maltese | The calmest, most devoted lapdog of the group thrives on constant company |
| Work-from-home professional | Maltese or Shih Tzu | Both are low-energy companions happy to nap beside a desk |
| Young family with toddlers | Shih Tzu or Bichon Frise | Sturdier builds cope better with enthusiastic small hands |
| Active owner who wants training and games | Toy Poodle | The most athletic and trainable of the six |
| Out at work most weekdays | None of these without help | All six are people-oriented; arrange daycare or a helper before choosing any |
| Allergy-led shortlist | Any, after a meet | All are low-shedding but no dog is fully hypoallergenic; spend time with the individual dog |
When the Maltese is NOT the right pick
A specialist should be able to argue against its own breed, so here it is. Skip the Maltese if your home is empty most of the day: this is a velcro breed, and long daily absences are the fastest route to separation anxiety and problem barking. Skip it if you have toddlers who grab and tumble; at 2 to 4kg the Maltese is delicate, and a sturdier Shih Tzu or Bichon is the kinder match for a rough-and-tumble family. Skip it if you want a hiking or jogging partner: the Toy Poodle will love that life, the Maltese will not.
And be honest about the coat. If daily brushing and a two-minute face wipe sound like chores you will abandon by month two, the white coat will punish you with matting and heavy tear staining. There is no shame in that answer; it just means a different breed, and we will say so.
What 50+ placements taught us about breed fit
Overseas comparison sites copy the same spec sheets from each other. Our data is different: as an AVS licensed shop we have placed more than 50 pure-white Maltese with Singapore families, alongside the sister breeds our related shops place, and the pattern is consistent. The households happiest with a Maltese two years on are not defined by flat size or budget; they are the homes where someone is genuinely present and where the daily brushing habit stuck. The unhappy matches almost always trace back to underestimated hours alone or an overestimated grooming appetite, never to the breed "being difficult".
The second lesson: a first-time owner does brilliantly with a Maltese when the household fits, because the breed is forgiving, soft-mouthed and eager to please. And because we also know the Maltipoo and Poodle well, we regularly point buyers to a sister breed instead. Every puppy we place is vaccinated, microchipped and vet health checked, with an all-in price published upfront, and the HDB approval paperwork side explained at handover.
Why buyers trust our comparison
- AVS licensed pet shop, licence displayed in-store
- 50+ pure-white Maltese placed with Singapore families
- Sister shops place the Maltipoo and Poodle, so we know all sides
- Aggregate 5.0 rating across 41 owner reviews
- We recommend against the Maltese when the fit is wrong
Frequently asked questions
Which small breed is calmest?
Among these six, the Maltese is one of the calmest and lowest energy, alongside the laid-back Shih Tzu. The Toy Poodle and Yorkshire Terrier sit at the busier end.
Which is best for allergy sufferers?
All six are low-shedding breeds often chosen by allergy-sensitive owners, but no dog is fully hypoallergenic. Spend time with the individual dog before committing.
Which breeds are HDB approved?
The Maltese is named on HDB’s approved small-breed list (item 33), as are the Toy Poodle, Shih Tzu, Bichon Frise and Yorkshire Terrier. The Maltipoo is a small cross kept under the same small-dog framework; one licensed dog per flat applies to all.
Which needs the least grooming?
None is low-maintenance. The Yorkshire Terrier in a short trim is the lightest; the Maltese adds white-coat and tear-stain upkeep. All benefit from a salon visit every 4 to 6 weeks in Singapore.
Is the Maltese a good first dog compared to these breeds?
Yes, it is one of the gentlest and most forgiving, provided you are home enough to avoid separation anxiety and commit to daily brushing.
Which is best with young children?
The sturdier Shih Tzu and Bichon Frise cope better with boisterous play. The Maltese and Yorkie are delicate at 2 to 4kg and suit families with older, gentle children.
Which barks the least?
The Shih Tzu tends to be the quietest. The Maltese and Yorkshire Terrier are more alert and vocal, though early training manages barking in any of them.
Can you help me choose between breeds?
Yes. Tell us your household, hours at home and grooming appetite on WhatsApp and we will recommend honestly, even pointing you to a sister breed if it fits better.
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.