Maltese

Maltese can do well with children who already know how to be calm and gentle. Expect a toy-sized dog that is low-energy, barely sheds and needs professional grooming on a cycle. The big catch is company: this breed genuinely struggles when the house is empty all day.

Source: American Kennel Club breed standard.

The Maltese may be the oldest European toy breed — Greek and Roman writers described it more than two thousand years ago, and Aristotle mentions a small dog matching its description. It has been a companion, and nothing else, that entire time. The coat is its signature: a single coat of long, straight, silky white hair with no undercoat, which is why it sheds so little and why it needs daily brushing to avoid mats, or a short clip. Maltese are lively, fearless and more confident than their size suggests, and they can be vocal. At under seven pounds they are genuinely fragile, so families with toddlers should think carefully — an accidental drop or a fall from a sofa can do real damage.

Day to day. Low-energy — short walks and a warm spot to sleep suit this breed fine, which makes it one of the easier dogs to fit around a busy family. On noise, it is very vocal, so thin walls and close neighbours are worth thinking about.

The coat, honestly. This breed barely sheds and needs professional grooming on a cycle. That is the trade every low-shedding dog asks for: you are not vacuuming hair, you are booking and paying for a groom every few weeks, and brushing between visits or the coat mats down to the skin.

Being left alone. Struggles on its own. If your house is empty from the school run until the evening, this is the breed most likely to be unhappy about it — and separation problems are one of the top reasons dogs end up back in rescue.

Training. Trains at an average pace. Consistent, reward-based training from day one does most of the work.

• Your idea of a walk is twenty gentle minutes, not five miles
• You would rather brush and pay a groomer than vacuum every day
• You are short on space and want a dog that fits your home

• Your house is empty from the morning drop-off until the evening
• Nobody has budgeted for a groomer every few weeks
• You share walls with neighbours who need quiet
• A surprise vet bill would be a real problem this year

Rough running cost: $$$ (one of the pricier dogs on our list) — because it eats very little, which keeps food costs down, and the coat needs a professional groom on a cycle, and that is the bill people forget.

Those are relative bands, not live prices. For real numbers across every pet we cover, see the pet cost study and the cost calculator.

Rescues do have Maltese and Maltese crosses, usually adults whose size, coat and temperament you can see rather than guess at.