Maltese dogs are adorable and friendly to everyone. They can easily put up a smile on your face. In fact, they are so special that they’ve been a popular companion for the royals!
This breed originated from a small island named ‘Malta’. This is where they allegedly got their name from.
How big do Maltese get?
Maltese can grow as big as 12 inches tall and weigh below 7 pounds. They are comparatively smaller than other dog breeds. Female Malteses are shorter than male ones. When matured, they typically reach 8 to 10 inches in height. They are fully grown when they are 12 to 15 months old.
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The size of a Maltese depends on their genetics, health, diet, the quality of food they consume, and how much they exercise.
How big do Maltese get when fully grown?
Maltese get about 20 to 25cm tall in height when fully grown and should weigh less than 7 pounds. Any more than 9 pounds can cause health issues for them. They can reach their adult size within 8 months of being born. Male Maltese are taller than their female counterparts.
Because of their small size, they are perfectly suitable for apartment living. Some Maltese can grow 12 inches in height. However, usually at shoulder length, they are never more than 10 inches tall.
Some Maltese can weigh more than the average weight because of their activities. By exercising a lot, their bone density increases. Maltese don’t need to exercise much. 20 to 30 minutes a day is enough for them.
If you are really curious about how your Maltese will look when they are fully grown, just see the size of their parents! They are likely to grow the size of their parents when they are adults. But they can be taller than their parents due to genes. They can grow the size of their grandparents.
Don’t rely on genetics alone. Malteses feeding habits also affect their growth. 4 to 6 pounds is the average weight but it should not exceed more than 7 pounds. If they do, you might have to go to a vet.
Although, Malteses tend to be very active and energetic so there are fewer chances of that happening.
There is also another method you can use to find out how much your Maltese will weigh when they are adults.
Measure your Maltese puppy’s weight when they are 6 weeks old and then double the value. Double the result you get and that is what your Maltese will weigh when they’re a fully grown adult.
How big different types do Maltese get?
Teacup Maltese
They are made from two very small Malteses. These Malteses weigh below 4 pounds even when fully grown. They are generally 3 to 4 pounds.
Due to their small size, they are at a higher risk of getting diseases compared to other types of Maltese breed.
They only grow up to 8 inches tall. They are also expensive to buy and can be as expensive as $2000.
Maltese poodles
They are a very popular hybrid dog. This dog breed is also known as ‘Maltipoo’ because of their mixed breed of Maltese and Poodles.
Maltese poodles don’t reach their adult size until they are 10 to 12 months old. Most Maltese poodles are between 7 to 14 pounds. They are 8 to 14 inches tall.
Maltese and Poodles, both types of dogs are tiny in size which is why Maltese poodles are too.
Maltese shih tzus
They are a cross between Maltese and Shih Tzus and are a toy breed. There is no breed standard size for Maltese Shih Tzus. Typically, they are about 8 to 12 inches in height and weigh around 6 to 12 pounds.
They are also small in size and have a small round head. Their appearance can vary greatly in comparison to other Malteses. Their hair doesn’t grow as long as general Malteses.
Maltese chihuahua
They are also known as ‘Malchi’. Maltese chihuahuas tend to be very little in size since chihuahuas are the smallest breed of dog in the world.
They weigh from 4 to 12 pounds. But they usually don’t go above 8 pounds. On average, they are 6 to 14 inches tall.
They are known as the smallest Maltese breed. Since they’re such small dogs, they can be fragile and their bone structure can easily break.
Maltese terriers
They can be of 4 different types. These are Cairn Terrier, Norwich Terrier, Miniature Schnauzer, and West Highland White Terrier.
A Maltese terrier is a toy-sized breed that weighs around 6 to 7 pounds. They have a height of 7 inches but can grow as tall as 10.
This breed of dogs has been around for a long time and is 2800 years old!
Bichon maltese
This is one of the oldest dog breeds and dates back to approximately 8 thousand years ago! They do not weigh more than 11 pounds and generally weigh around 6 to 11 pounds.
They measure between 7 to 10 inches. They are often confused with another type of dog called ‘Bichon Frise’. Although both are small in size, they have many differences.
What is the average size of a Maltese?
| Size of a Maltese | Very small |
| Average weight of a fully grown maltese | Less than 7 pounds |
| Average height of a fully grown maltese | Between 7 to 10 inches |
The following are the average weight ranges according to their size.
| Size | Adult Weight in Pounds |
| Small | 3.5 pounds |
| Medium | 4 to 6 pounds |
| Large | 6.5 to 7 pounds |
How much do Maltese puppies and dogs weigh?
Malteses are usually fully grown within 12 months. Here is a size chart for the expected growth of your Maltese according to their age.
If your Maltese is lower than these sizes, they are at high risk of getting certain sicknesses. It’s better to change their diet or consult a vet. Maltese puppies need to be fed twice a day but after they’re fully grown, one meal a day should be enough.
The weight can vary between puppies but they will end up having similar final adult weight.
| Age in months | Expected weight in pounds |
| At birth | 3.5 to 6.5 oz |
| 1 month | Less than 1 pound |
| 2 months | 1.0 to 2.30 pounds |
| 3 months | 2.30 to 4.0 pounds |
| 4 months | 2.35 to 4.5 pounds |
| 5 months | 2.40 to 6.0 pounds |
| 6 months | 3.0 to 6.5 pounds |
| 8 months | 3.20 to 7.0 pounds |
| 9 months | 3.5 to 7.5 pounds |
| 1 year | 6.0 to 8.5 pounds |
Weight chart for Maltese puppies?
For 8 weeks, you should leave fresh food for your new puppy so that they can eat enough. Maltese puppies tend to be extremely hyper and active. They can easily get hurt so it’s best to not adopt Malteses when you have children below the age of 9.
| Age in Weeks | Expected Weight in Ounces |
| At Birth | 3.5 to 6.5 oz |
| Week 1 | 5.5 to 11 oz |
| Week 2 | 7 to 16 oz |
| Week 3 | 9 to 20 oz |
| Week 4 | 11 to 24 oz |
| Week 5 | 13 to 29 oz |
| Week 6 | 15 to 32 oz |
| Week 7 | 17 to 35 oz |
| Week 8 | 19 to 40 oz |
| Week 9 | 20 to 42 oz |
| Week 10 | 22 to 45 oz |
| Week 11 | 24 to 49 oz |
| Week 12 | 26 to 53 oz |
| Week 13 | 28 to 57 oz |
| Week 14 | 30 to 60 oz |
| Week 15 | 32 to 65 oz |
| Week 16 | 34 to 70 oz |
| Week 17 | 36 to 72 oz |
| Week 18 | 37 to 76 oz |
| Week 19 | 39 to 77 oz |
| Week 20 | 41 to 81 oz |
| Week 21 | 42 to 84 oz |
| Week 22 | 43 to 86 oz |
| Week 23 | 44 to 88 oz |
| Week 24 | 45 to 90 oz |
| Week 25 | 47 to 94 oz |
What is a good healthy weight for a Maltese?
A good healthy weight for an adult Maltese is between 4 to 8 pounds. They have a rapid growth rate and should not weigh more than 8 pounds. They can also grow more than 7 pounds due to high bone density.
But if they weigh more than 9 pounds, you should check if it’s because of their bone density or if they’re overweight. Consult a vet if the diet is not working. They can grow as much as their adult size within only 5 months.
For Malteses to have good functional health, they need to be fed properly. Malteses require 400 calories every day. Besides dog food, you should feed them food that has plenty of protein as well as other nutrients. Some examples would cut up apples, boiled vegetables, and tiny bits of cooked chicken.
Don’t overfeed because overweight dogs can have health problems such as diabetes. Also make sure not to feed them garlic, raisins, and onions!
When do Maltese stop growing?
Maltese puppies stop growing within the age of 8 months, sometimes 9. They should be fully grown by 1 year but can take up to 15 months. They can reach their adult size 4 to 5 months before their first birthday. But it takes more than 1 year for them to mentally mature.
A fully grown Maltese typically weighs 4 to 6 pounds and has a height of around 7 to 10 inches. A fully grown Maltese will also have really long hair.
Malteses live for about 12 to 15 years. But many of them don’t make it past 13. The oldest Maltese to have ever lived was 20 years old.
Even with their short life span, the bond between a Maltese and their owner is unbreakable. These cuddly creatures love being around their owners and make great companion dogs!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Why does my Maltese howl, growl, snore, grunt, or snort?
Why does my Maltese have brown spots?
Why Maltese dogs are expensive?