Chihuahua vs Maltese: Grooming, Lifespan, Barking & Temperament

Chihuahuas and Maltese are both small companion breeds built for apartment life with low exercise needs and close-bonding temperaments. Both can be vocal, both are suited to smaller spaces, and both require consistent early training to manage barking and house habits. The practical differences are significant: the Chihuahua has among the lowest grooming demands of any toy breed and one of the longest lifespans of any dog, while the Maltese requires much more coat care and comes with higher ongoing grooming costs. The temperament character also differs — Chihuahuas tend toward bolder, more reactive personalities; Maltese are vocal but generally steadier indoors.

Main difference: The Chihuahua has a much lower-maintenance coat, a longer typical lifespan, and lower monthly ownership costs — but barks more and can be more reactive. The Maltese requires significantly more grooming but has a quieter barking profile and a slightly more settled indoor temperament.

Who should choose each breed?

Choose a Chihuahua if

• Minimizing grooming time and cost is a priority — especially for a smooth-coated variety
• You want one of the longest-lived toy breed companions (14–16 years)
• You are comfortable with a Very High barking profile and are prepared to manage it consistently
• You want a compact, intensely loyal companion suited to a single-person or couple household

Choose a Maltese if

• Lower barking intensity matters in your living situation — particularly in shared-wall buildings
• You are drawn to the low-shedding, silky-coat aesthetic and willing to invest in regular professional grooming
• You want a slightly gentler indoor temperament without strong reactive or assertive traits
• You are prepared for tear staining care as an ongoing routine alongside standard grooming

Size and build

Both are toy breeds, but the size overlap is close. Chihuahuas weigh 2–6 pounds and stand 5–8 inches tall — at the low end, they are among the smallest dogs of any breed. Maltese weigh under 7 pounds and stand 7–9 inches tall — compact and featherweight, but a large Maltese and a small Chihuahua can be similar in size.

Both breeds are physically fragile at this weight range. Neither is suitable for households with toddlers or rough-playing young children — the risk of injury from accidental drops, rough handling, or high-energy play applies equally to both. For adults and older, calm children, either size is manageable in a small home or apartment.

Temperament and personality

Both breeds are people-oriented and bond closely with their owners. Neither tolerates long stretches alone well, and both can develop separation anxiety without appropriate early conditioning.

The Chihuahua tends toward a bolder, more reactive personality — alert to everything, quick to vocalize, and often selective about who it trusts. Chihuahuas are known for intense loyalty to one person, which can tip into protectiveness or wariness around strangers and unfamiliar animals if socialization is insufficient. Despite their tiny size, they carry themselves with confidence and will challenge much larger dogs without hesitation — a trait that requires management in multi-dog or dog-park settings.

The Maltese has a more consistently companion-oriented temperament. Alert and curious, but generally less reactive and more adaptable to household visitors than a Chihuahua. Both breeds are affectionate with their people, but the Maltese tends to distribute that affection more evenly across the household rather than fixating on a single person.

Exercise and stimulation needs

This is an area where the breeds are very similar. Chihuahuas typically need 20–30 minutes of light daily activity; Maltese need 20–30 minutes as well. Both are genuine low-exercise companions. Short walks and indoor play cover the physical requirements of either breed. Neither needs sustained outdoor activity to stay settled indoors.

Mental engagement matters for both — puzzle feeders, short training sessions, and interactive play prevent the boredom that intensifies vocal or attention-seeking behavior in small companion breeds.

For other low-exercise companion breeds, see Low-Energy Dog Breeds.

Shedding and grooming

This is the most practically significant difference between the two breeds.

Chihuahuas (smooth-coated) have a short, close coat rated Low-Moderate for shedding. Some loose hair is produced, but grooming maintenance is minimal — occasional brushing, a monthly bath, and regular nail trims are sufficient for most smooth-coated owners. No professional grooming is typically required. Long-coated Chihuahuas need more frequent brushing but still represent significantly less coat work than a Maltese. The grooming cost gap is substantial.

Maltese have a single-layer silky coat rated Low for shedding — very little hair falls freely, making the coat genuinely low-mess at home. However, the coat mats quickly without regular brushing, and professional grooming every 6–8 weeks is the baseline for most owners. A secondary ongoing maintenance task is tear staining: the white coat around the eyes requires regular cleaning and sometimes stain-control products to stay presentable. Dental hygiene also requires consistent attention for both breeds due to toy-breed tooth crowding, but the Maltese's additional coat and eye care tasks add meaningfully to daily and monthly effort.

For a broader comparison of low-shedding breeds, see Low-Shedding Dogs.

Training and behavior

Both breeds are rated Moderate for trainability and both respond best to short, positive reinforcement sessions. Neither does well with repetitive drilling. Food motivation is effective for both.

Both are rated 3/5 for beginner-friendliness — the practical challenges are similar but different in character. Chihuahuas can be more reactive and independent-minded, testing rules when handling is inconsistent. Maltese can be willful and may disengage from training drills they find repetitive. Neither will push back confrontationally — resistance in toy breeds typically looks like ignoring cues or wandering off.

Barking is the most significant behavioral difference in daily life. Chihuahuas are rated Very High — one of the most vocal of all dog breeds. Alert barking at sounds, strangers, and movement is intense and habitual without consistent management. Maltese are rated Moderate-High — still a real consideration in shared-wall buildings, but meaningfully more manageable.

House-training takes longer than average for both breeds. Small bladder capacity, cold sensitivity, and general selectiveness about outdoor conditions all extend the timeline. Both breeds typically need 2–4 months of consistent effort before indoor accidents become rare.

Apartment and family fit

Which is better for apartments?

Both breeds are rated Yes for apartment suitability. The Maltese has a slight practical edge in noise-sensitive buildings because its Moderate-High barking is less intensive than the Chihuahua's Very High barking. Both breeds are compact and low-exercise — size and activity are not differentiating factors. The barking difference is the variable that matters most in shared-wall housing. See Best Dogs for Apartments for a broader comparison.

Which is better for families with children?

Both breeds are rated Older kids only and are similarly limited in family contexts for the same reasons: physical fragility and defensive reactions to rough handling. Neither is a good fit for households with toddlers or young primary-school children. For older, calm children in a supervised household, either can work with consistent socialization from a young age. See Best Dogs for Families for broader family-fit guidance.

Which is easier for first-time owners?

Both are rated 3/5 for beginner-friendliness, but the challenge differs in character. The Chihuahua's lower grooming demands reduce one category of daily work, but its Very High barking, stronger reactivity, and selective-trust personality add real friction in daily management — particularly in shared-wall housing or households with visitors. The Maltese's higher grooming commitment adds a consistent weekly obligation, but its steadier indoor temperament is somewhat more forgiving for unpracticed owners. A prepared first-time owner can succeed with either; the key is entering with clear plans for barking management, consistent socialization, and house-training patience. See Best Dogs for First-Time Owners for a broader starting point.

Health comparison

Neither breed is brachycephalic — both have normal airway structure without the heat sensitivity and breathing limitations that affect flat-faced breeds.

Chihuahua health concerns include patellar luxation (loose kneecaps, common in toy breeds), mitral valve disease (a heart condition that occurs in some individuals, particularly in older dogs), and dental disease. Dental hygiene is particularly important — Chihuahuas are prone to tooth crowding and periodontal disease, and often need professional cleanings more frequently than larger breeds. Their extraordinary lifespan (14–16 years) means that health management over the long term is genuinely important.

Maltese health concerns include patellar luxation, portosystemic shunts (a liver condition that occurs in some individuals), and dental disease. Tear staining and eye area care are an ongoing secondary management task. Dental disease is a consistent concern for the same small-jaw reasons as with Chihuahuas. Neither breed carries a structural health burden as significant as brachycephalic breeds, but both require consistent preventive dental care throughout their lives.

The most notable health-linked difference between the two is lifespan: Chihuahuas at 14–16 years are among the longest-lived of all dog breeds. Maltese at 12–15 years are also long-lived by dog standards, but the gap is real — a Chihuahua may be a companion for two or more years longer than a Maltese from the same starting point. See Longer-Lifespan Dogs for a comparison of small breeds by longevity.

Cost comparison

The cost difference between these breeds is one of the widest in the toy breed cluster, driven almost entirely by grooming. A smooth-coated Chihuahua has essentially no professional grooming cost; a Maltese has grooming as its primary ongoing budget line. Food costs also differ — a 2–5 lb Chihuahua eats meaningfully less than a 5–7 lb Maltese. Dental care is a significant annual cost for both breeds and should be factored into vet budget planning.

For broader budgeting guidance, see How Much Does a Dog Cost Per Month?

Final decision: Chihuahua or Maltese?

The two clearest decision drivers are grooming commitment and barking.

If minimizing grooming cost and daily coat care is a priority, the Chihuahua wins decisively — particularly the smooth-coated variety. If quieter barking in a shared-wall building matters more, the Maltese has the edge. Lifespan can also be a meaningful factor: the Chihuahua's 14–16 year expectation is one of the longest of any dog breed, which is worth weighing for owners who think in long-term companion terms.

Both breed profiles are equally useful when evaluating a small mixed-breed dog at a shelter or rescue. Many shelter dogs are Chihuahua-type or Maltese-type mixes — the same grooming demands, barking tendencies, and temperament characteristics described here apply regardless of breed documentation. An adult dog in foster care will often have behavioral history on record, including coat type and vocal patterns, that a shelter intake assessment cannot provide. Shelters, rescue organizations, and foster networks are all valid starting points. See Best Small Dogs for a broader look at the small companion cluster.

Learn more about each breed

• Chihuahua profile
• Maltese profile