Breed comparison
Maltese vs Shih Tzu: which small companion suits Singapore?
Two beloved HDB-approved lapdogs compared honestly: the silky white Maltese and the sturdy, flat-faced Shih Tzu, across size, coat, temperament, grooming load and the heat question no one else covers.
Nelson and Kim, Curious Tails · AVS licence AS24J00046
What is the difference between a Maltese and a Shih Tzu?
The Maltese is smaller and finer (2-4kg) with a straight, silky white single coat, a tapered muzzle and a gentle, velcro temperament. The Shih Tzu is sturdier (4-7kg) with a flat face, a dense double coat in many colours and a laid-back nature. Both are affectionate, HDB-approved companions with high grooming needs, but the Maltese's longer muzzle handles Singapore's heat and humidity noticeably better.
Maltese vs Shih Tzu at a glance
The Maltese and the Shih Tzu are two of the most popular small companion breeds in Singapore, and both sit comfortably on HDB's approved list. Yet they are built very differently. The Maltese is a fine-boned 2-4kg toy with a tapered muzzle and a silky pure white single coat. The Shih Tzu is a sturdier 4-7kg dog with a flat face and a dense double coat that comes in many colours. That one anatomical difference, the muzzle, turns out to matter more in our climate than almost anything else on the spec sheet.
Here is the honest side-by-side before we go trait by trait.
| Maltese | Shih Tzu | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 2-4kg (most 2-3kg) | 4-7kg, noticeably sturdier |
| Height | About 20-25cm | About 23-27cm |
| Face | Fine tapered muzzle | Flat face (brachycephalic) |
| Coat | Long, silky, straight single coat | Long, dense double coat |
| Colours | Pure white only | Many colours: gold, black and white, brindle and more |
| Temperament | Gentle, velcro, people-oriented | Laid-back, easy-going, robust |
| Heat tolerance | Moderate; copes with care | Lower; real heatstroke risk in humidity |
| Barking | Alert little watchdog | Generally quieter |
| Signature care task | Daily tear-stain wipe | Daily eye and face cleaning |
| HDB status | Approved (named item 33) | Approved |
Size and build: fine-boned toy vs sturdy little tank
The size gap is bigger than photographs suggest. Under the official AKC Maltese breed standard, the Maltese is ideally under 3.2kg, and most of the 50+ Maltese we have placed in Singapore homes settle at 2-3kg full grown. The AKC Shih Tzu breed standard allows 4-7kg, and the Shih Tzu carries that weight on a compact, solid frame. Pick one up after the other and the difference is obvious: one feels like a bird, the other like a small brick.
That build difference shapes who each breed suits. A Shih Tzu shrugs off clumsy handling that could genuinely injure a 2kg Maltese, which is why families with young children often lean Shih Tzu, while the Maltese suits adults, older children and quieter households that can respect a small and delicate frame.
The numbers, per breed standard
- Maltese: 2-4kg, about 20-25cm, single silky white coat, lifespan 12-15 years
- Shih Tzu: 4-7kg, about 23-27cm, double coat in many colours, lifespan 10-16 years
- Both: toy-sized companions, low shedding, HDB approved, high daily grooming
- Key structural difference: muzzle length, which drives heat tolerance and breathing
Temperament: velcro lapdog vs laid-back lion dog
In temperament the two breeds are more alike than different: both are gentle, affectionate companion dogs bred for centuries to sit with people, not to work. The differences are in flavour. The Maltese is the classic velcro lapdog, deeply people-oriented and happiest physically on you; it bonds intensely and can lean towards separation anxiety if it is never taught to be alone. Our full Maltese temperament guide covers that trade-off honestly.
The Shih Tzu, the old Chinese "lion dog", is famously easy-going. It enjoys company but tends to be less clingy, more independently calm, and a little more tolerant of a busy, noisy household. On noise, the roles flip: the Maltese is the more alert watchdog and will bark at the corridor sooner, while the Shih Tzu is generally the quiet one. Neither is loud by small-dog standards, and early training keeps either apartment-polite.
Energy and exercise needs are similar and modest for both: two short walks plus indoor play covers it. Neither breed suits someone wanting a jogging partner, and both suit retirees, WFH owners and first-time owners well.
The flat-face question: Shih Tzus in Singapore heat
This is the section most comparisons skip, and in Singapore it should be the first thing you weigh. The Shih Tzu is a brachycephalic breed: its skull is shortened, so the nostrils, soft palate and airway are compressed into a flat face. Dogs cool themselves almost entirely by panting, and a restricted airway makes panting less efficient. The American College of Veterinary Surgeons notes that flat-faced breeds are prone to noisy breathing, snoring, exercise intolerance and, in the worst cases, brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome.
Now add our climate. Singapore sits at 30-plus degrees with high humidity most of the year, and humid air makes evaporative cooling through panting even less effective. For a Shih Tzu that means midday walks are genuinely risky, overheating can escalate to heatstroke quickly, and flights, long car rides without aircon and vigorous play outdoors all need planning. Many Shih Tzus live happily here, but their owners work around the face: early morning walks or evening walks only, shaded routes, water breaks, aircon at home and a harness rather than a collar so nothing presses on the airway.
The Maltese, with its longer muzzle, pants normally and copes with our heat noticeably better. It is still a small, long-coated dog in the tropics, so it needs the same sensible precautions, just with a wider safety margin; our guide to keeping a Maltese cool in Singapore weather covers the routine. If your household cannot commit to heat-managed walks for the next decade, that alone is a reason to choose the Maltese.
Coat: silky white single coat vs dense double coat
The coats could not be more different to the hand. The Maltese wears a single coat: one layer of long, straight, silky hair with no undercoat, always pure white. It drapes rather than fluffs, sheds very little and is the breed's signature. The Shih Tzu wears a double coat: a dense, slightly wavy outer layer over a soft undercoat, in many colours from gold and white to black and white to brindle.
Both breeds are low shedding and often described as hypoallergenic-leaning, though no dog is truly allergen-free; dander, not hair length, drives most allergies. And low shedding absolutely does not mean low maintenance. Long coats that do not shed instead tangle, and in Singapore's humidity both breeds mat fast if brushing lapses. That is why most pet owners here keep both breeds in a short puppy cut or teddy bear clip, which keeps the dog cooler and the coat manageable between salon visits.
The real grooming load, itemised
"Both are high maintenance" is true but useless. Here is what the weekly workload actually looks like for each breed, kept in a practical pet clip.
| Task | Maltese | Shih Tzu |
|---|---|---|
| Brushing | Daily, 10-15 min; silky coat tangles at friction points | Daily, 10-15 min; undercoat mats close to the skin |
| Face care | Daily tear-stain wipe and dry under the eyes | Daily eye and facial-fold cleaning around the flat face |
| Bathing | Every 1-2 weeks; white coat shows dirt fast | Every 1-2 weeks; dense coat holds odour |
| Professional grooming salon | Every 4-6 weeks for a puppy cut | Every 4-6 weeks for a full clip |
| Matting risk if skipped | High, especially armpits and ears | High, undercoat felts quickly in humidity |
| Extra task | Keeping a white coat white | Nose-fold and airway-area hygiene |
Eyes: prominent-eye problems vs tear stains
Both breeds ask for daily attention around the eye area, but for different reasons, and the difference matters medically. The Shih Tzu's flat face leaves it with large, prominent eyes in shallow sockets. That exposed position raises the risk of corneal ulcers, dry eye, scratches from its own facial hair and, rarely, injury from knocks that a longer-muzzled dog would deflect. Shih Tzu owners learn to check the eyes daily and treat any squinting or discharge as a same-week vet visit.
The Maltese's eye issue is mostly cosmetic: reddish-brown tear stains that show vividly on the white coat. They are managed, not cured, with a daily wipe-and-dry routine, and they rarely threaten the eye itself. Our full guide to Maltese tear-stain causes and the daily routine explains what works. In blunt terms: the Shih Tzu's eye care protects vision, the Maltese's protects looks. Budget the same five minutes a day either way.
HDB flats: both approved, same rules
Good news if you live in a flat: this comparison has no HDB loser. The Maltese is named on HDB's approved small-breed list at item 33, and the Shih Tzu is on the same list. The rules are identical for both: one approved dog per flat, an AVS dog licence, and microchipping. Condo and landed households have even more latitude. The full licensing detail is in our Maltese HDB approval guide and applies equally to a Shih Tzu.
For apartment living the practical differences are small. The Maltese is lighter-footed and quieter underfoot but quicker to bark at corridor sounds; the Shih Tzu is quieter vocally but a heavier snorer at night, a normal consequence of the flat face that some owners find endearing and light sleepers do not.
What we see at the shop: who chooses which, honestly
A disclosure first: Curious Tails is an AVS licensed pet shop that specialises in the Maltese, so we do not sell Shih Tzus and we will not pretend otherwise. But after placing 50+ Maltese into Singapore homes, and talking dozens of families out of the wrong breed along the way, here is the pattern we genuinely see.
Choose the Maltese if you want the lightest, most devoted lapdog in the room, you are home a lot (retirees, WFH, quieter families), you can commit to daily brushing plus the tear-stain wipe, and you want the safer breed for our heat. Choose the Shih Tzu if you want a sturdier, more independent-minded companion, you have primary-school-age children who will handle the dog, you prefer a quieter dog, and you can honestly commit to heat-managed walks and daily eye care for its whole life.
And choose neither if nobody is home most of the day and the grooming budget is not there: both breeds need a human-centred household and a standing salon appointment. There are lower-maintenance small dogs, and we would rather say so than place a puppy into the wrong home.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between a Maltese and a Shih Tzu?
Size, face and coat. The Maltese is a finer 2-4kg toy with a tapered muzzle and a silky pure-white single coat. The Shih Tzu is a sturdier 4-7kg dog with a flat face and a dense double coat in many colours. Both are gentle companions.
Which handles Singapore's heat better?
The Maltese. Its longer muzzle allows normal panting, while the Shih Tzu's flat face restricts airflow and raises heatstroke risk in humid weather. Both still need shaded early-morning or evening walks and water breaks here.
Are both breeds HDB approved?
Yes. Both appear on HDB's approved small-breed list (the Maltese is named at item 33), with the same one-dog-per-flat rule and AVS dog licence requirement.
Which is better with young children?
The sturdier Shih Tzu tolerates handling better. A 2-4kg Maltese is small and delicate, so homes with toddlers need careful supervision with either breed.
Which barks more?
The Maltese is the more alert watchdog and can be more vocal; the Shih Tzu is generally quieter but snores more. Early training keeps either apartment-friendly.
Which needs more grooming?
The load is similar but different in kind: both need daily brushing and a salon visit every 4-6 weeks. The Maltese adds a daily tear-stain wipe on its white coat; the Shih Tzu adds daily face and eye cleaning around its flat face.
Do Maltese and Shih Tzus shed a lot?
No, both are low-shedding breeds often described as hypoallergenic-leaning, though no dog is truly allergen-free. Low shedding does not mean low grooming.
Should I choose a Maltese or a Shih Tzu?
Choose the Maltese for a lighter, deeply people-oriented lapdog that copes better with the heat. Choose the Shih Tzu for a sturdier, more easy-going companion, and accept the flat-face heat care it needs in Singapore for life.
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.