🐕Maltese: gear and buying guides

The Maltese is a small companion dog of 3 to 4 kg, gentle, playful and very close to its owners. Its long, silky white coat, with no undercoat, needs meticulous care but sheds very little. Its small build calls for lightweight accessories and a cosy indoor bed.

Profile : A miniature dog of 3 to 4 kg with a long, silky white coat and no undercoat, of moderate energy.

Maltese gear, family by family

• 🍖 Food

  An adult of 3 to 4 kg eats around 60 to 90 g of kibble per day, in small pieces suited to its fine jaw. Some recipes help limit tear staining around the eyes, a common concern on white coats.

• 🧴 Care & grooming

  Its white coat with no undercoat requires daily combing and pin brushing to prevent mats, plus regular cleaning around the eyes against reddish tear stains. A whitening shampoo, around 10 to 15 €, helps keep the coat bright.

• 🎾 Toys & enrichment

  Playful but delicate, it enjoys light plush toys, small soft balls and indoor games with its owner. XS-size toys are essential: standard models are too big and heavy for its jaw.

• 🏠 Bedding & habitat

  It is an indoor dog through and through: a cosy size-S bed, in a quiet spot but close to family life, is all it needs. It copes poorly with long periods alone, so provide a reassuring environment with its toys and a blanket carrying familiar scents.

• 🧳 Travel & safety

  At 3 to 4 kg, it travels very well in a carrier bag or approved soft crate, by car or train. A lightweight harness is preferable to a collar to protect its slender neck on walks.

• 🧰 Accessories

  Plan for an XS harness, a fine comb, a pin brush and a cleansing lotion for around the eyes. A waterproof coat is useful: with no undercoat, its hair gives poor insulation against rain and cold.

Guides to read

• Which senior dog food should you choose? The complete guideFood

  Protein, phosphorus, joints, palatability: how to choose senior dog food suited to an ageing dog, and how much it costs.

• Large breed dog food: steady growth and a sensitive stomachFood

  Calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, kibble size, bloat prevention: how to choose large breed dog food, from puppyhood to adulthood.

• Wet or dry dog food: which should you feed day to day?Food

  Hydration, palatability, budget, tartar: wet or dry dog food, the pros and cons of each option, and why mixed feeding is worth considering.

• Automatic dog feeder: which one should you choose?Food

  Capacity, scheduling, anti-jam mechanism, backup battery: how to choose an automatic dog feeder to match your daily routine.

• Lick mat for dogs: the anti-stress accessory worth adopting?Toys & enrichment

  Why licking soothes, which toppings to use, silicone or rigid plastic: how to choose a lick mat for your dog and use it safely.

• Kong-style stuffable dog toy: how do you pick the right one?Toys & enrichment

  Toughness levels, sizes, filling ideas, freezing: everything you need to choose a Kong-style stuffable toy and keep your dog busy the smart way.

• Dog puzzle toys: brain games worth playingToys & enrichment

  Difficulty levels, materials, mistakes to avoid: how to choose a dog puzzle toy and work your dog's nose without frustrating it.

• Puppy playpen: choosing a secure indoor penBedding & habitat

  Height, materials, floor space, house-training: how to choose a puppy playpen and use it without turning it into a prison.