How big do Maltese dogs get?

A full grown Maltese weighs under 7 pounds under the AKC breed standard, which prefers 4 to 6 pounds, and AKC lists the breed at 7 to 9 inches tall. Where breeders have given the parents' adult weights, the mothers weigh 9 pounds and the fathers weigh 6 pounds.

What does the breed standard say about size?

The Maltese standard sizes the breed by weight alone. It asks for under 7 pounds, prefers 4 to 6, and says overall quality is to be favored over size. It gives no height, so the 7 to 9 inch figure comes from AKC's breed profile.

The standard describes a compact dog whose height at the withers equals its length from the withers to the root of the tail, with fine-boned legs and small, round feet.

Is there a teacup or mini Maltese?

No separate size appears in the standard, which describes one Maltese under one weight limit. The standard already calls the Maltese a toy dog, so teacup, mini and micro are words a breeder chooses. If a listing uses one, ask what both parents weigh as adults.

How can you estimate a Maltese puppy's adult size?

Ask what each parent weighs grown and whether either is still young. A puppy whose parents weigh around 4 pounds will probably finish small for the breed, and parents at 7 pounds or more point to a larger adult. If the same pair has had an earlier litter, ask what those puppies weigh now.

The coat hides a lot of the dog, because the standard calls for a single coat that hangs long, flat and silky almost to the ground. Weights tell you more than photos do.

When does a Maltese stop growing?

For really small dogs, VCA Animal Hospitals says the rapid growth phase can end at around 6 to 8 months of age. VCA puts small breeds as a group at 6 to 12 months for reaching their grown size.

What health checks matter for a Maltese?

AKC gives the Maltese a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years and says responsible breeders screen for luxating patella and for heart anomalies such as patent ductus arteriosus, or PDA. The American Maltese Association recommends a patella evaluation, a cardiac exam and a serum bile acids test. AKC adds that Maltese puppies should be bile-acid tested to rule out congenital liver problems such as liver shunt and microvascular dysplasia.

AKC also reports cases of encephalitis, known as GME, in the breed, and says no screening test is available for it at this time. Ask the breeder for both parents' results and whether the puppy has had its own bile acid test.

See Maltese puppies

Maltese breeders list their own puppies on Puppy Connection. Pick one and ask its breeder what both parents weigh.