Maltese vs Papillon

A Maltese
Photo: Kevin Poh
A Papillon
Photo: Gvdmoort

Side by side

Maltese
Papillon
Adult weight
3–4 kg (6.6–8.8 lb)1
Males 1.5–4.5 kg (3.3–9.9 lb); females 1.5–5 kg (3.3–11 lb)2
Height
Males 21–25 cm; females 20–23 cm1
Males 20.3–27.9 cm; females 20.3–27.9 cm3
Lifespan
Median 13.1 years4
Median 14.5 years4
Fully grown
10 months, both sexes5
Group
Companion & toy1
Companion & toy2
Coat
Long coat1
Coat of medium length2
Shedding
Sheds through the year
Grooming
Daily brushing
Brushing a few times a week
Exercise
A modest amount
Health
Sudden-onset diarrhoea (more likely)6
No sourced figure
Class
Lap dog
Lap dog

Which suits you

Size
The Papillon comes in a wide range of sizes, 1.5–5 kg (3.3–11 lb) as an adult, against 3–4 kg (6.6–8.8 lb) for the Maltese.
Lifespan
In UK vet records the Papillon lives longer: a median of 14.5 years, against 13.1 for the Maltese.
Grooming
The Maltese needs more grooming, daily brushing, where the Papillon needs brushing a few times a week.
Temperament
They differ most on independence (Maltese: cooperative, with its own ideas; Papillon: keen to work with you) and on intelligence (Maltese: learns readily, likes games; Papillon: needs daily brain work).
Alike
Both are rated the same on affection: a lap or leaning dog.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Maltese
Companion & toy · Toy

In temperament the Maltese is gentle and affectionate, lively and playful, and quick to respond to its people.

Papillon
Companion & toy · Toy

In temperament it is lively, alert and friendly, and sturdier and more energetic than its delicate look suggests. It learns quickly, and it has done well in obedience and agility competitions.

The Maltese page →The Papillon page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Maltese
Papillon
Activity
Differs
Happy with modest walks
A good daily walk and play
Intelligence
Differs
Learns readily, likes games
Needs daily brain work
Handler demand
Suits a first-time owner
Suits a first-time owner
With people
Maltese
Papillon
Affection
A lap or leaning dog
A lap or leaning dog
Loyalty
Sticks close to its people
Sticks close to its people
Independence
Differs
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Keen to work with you
Around the home
Maltese
Papillon
Sensitivity
Differs
Needs a calm, predictable home
Average
Voice
Barks to alert, then settles
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Differs
Usually fine with small pets
Chases; needs managing
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour7. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home8,9.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
Both grow to much the same adult weight, about 3.4 kg.
Maltese
Papillon
02462m4m6m9m12m18m
02462m3m4m6m9m12m18m

More comparisons

Compare the Maltese with
Bichon Frise vs MalteseMaltese vs West Highland White TerrierMaltese vs Shih TzuChihuahua vs PapillonHavanese vs MalteseCoton de Tulear vs MalteseAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·