Maltese vs Papillon
Compare the Maltese to the Papillon. Use the tool below to compare temperament, size, personality, maintenance requirements, and everything else between Maltese and Papillons.
Quick Summary
- Owner Experience - Both the Maltese and Papillon are excellent choices for new or inexperienced owners.
- Children - Both the Maltese and Papillon are child friendly.
- Grooming - The Papillon is easier to groom than the Maltese.
- Barking - The Papillon has an average tendency to bark. The Maltese will bark less frequently than most dogs.
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| Breed Name | Maltese | Papillon |
| General Details | ||
| Breed Type | Purebred | Purebred |
| Is Hypoallergenic | Yes | No |
| Lifespan | 12-15 yrs. | 12-16 yrs. |
| Height | 8-10 in. | 8-11 in. |
| Weight | 4-9 lb | 4-9 lb |
| Intelligence | Average | Average |
| History | ||
| Origin Country | Malta | France |
| Origin Year | 200 BC | 1500 AD |
| Temperament | ||
| Overall Friendliness | ||
| Family Friendly | ||
| Kid Friendly | ||
| Pet Friendly | ||
| Stranger Friendly | ||
| Personality | ||
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| Living Environment | ||
| Apartment | Yes | Yes |
| Indoor | Yes | Yes |
| Small Yard | No | No |
| Medium Yard | No | No |
| Large Yard | No | No |
| Temperature Tolerance ¹ | 55°F to 80°F | 50°F to 80°F |
| Barks/Howls | ||
| Exercise Needs | ||
| Energy Level | High | High |
| Exercise Required | Low | High |
| Top Running Speed | 12 mph | 14 mph |
| Strength | Low | Low |
| Grooming Needs | ||
| Coat Maintenance | High | Low |
| Shedding | Low | None-Low |
| Dander | Low | Low |
| Drool Amount | None | None |
¹This is estimated min/max temperature range for a healthy adult dog. Dogs that live indoors, puppies, seniors, unwell dogs, and/or dogs with improperly groomed coats may overheat sooner and get cold more quickly.
| Breed Name | Maltese | Papillon |
| Breed Mentality | ||
| Dominant/Alpha | No | Yes |
| Family/Pack | Yes | No |
| Independent | No | Yes |
| Breed Focus | ||
| Distracted Easily | No | No |
| Average | Yes | Yes |
| Focused & Patient | No | No |
| Breed Instincts | ||
| Aggression | Very Low | Below Average |
| Burrow/Digging | Very Low | Below Average |
| Chasing | Very Low | Below Average |
| Follow Commands | Very Low | Below Average |
| Fighting | Very Low | Very Low |
| Guarding | Very Low | Very Low |
| Herding | Very Low | Very Low |
| Hunting | Very Low | Below Average |
| Protection | Very Low | Very Low |
| Remove Vermin | Very Low | Average |
| Sledding | Very Low | Very Low |
| Watch | Very Low | Average |
| Breed Name | Maltese | Papillon |
| Lifespan | ||
| Lifespan | 12-15 yrs. | 12-16 yrs. |
| Common Health Issues | ||
| Collapsed Trachea | Yes | Yes |
| Hypoglycemia | Yes | Yes |
| Open Fontanel | No | Yes |
| Patellar Luxation | Yes | Yes |
| Portosystemic Liver Shunt | Yes | No |
| Progressive Retinal Atrophy | Yes | Yes |
| Reverse Sneezing | Yes | No |
| White Dog Shaker Syndrome | Yes | No |
| Breed Name | Maltese | Papillon |
| Coat | ||
| Hair | Yes | Yes |
| Coat Type | ||
| Single Coat | Yes | Yes |
| Coat Texture | ||
| Silky | Yes | Yes |
| Straight | Yes | Yes |
| Coat Length(s) | ||
| Long | Yes | Yes |
| Coat Color(s) | ||
| White | Yes | Yes |
| White & Lemon | Yes | Yes |
| White & Tan | Yes | No |
| Black, Brown, & White | No | Yes |
| Black, Red, & White | No | Yes |
| Brown & White | No | Yes |
| Fawn & White | No | Yes |
| Red | No | Yes |
| Red, White, & Sable | No | Yes |
| Sable | No | Yes |
| White & Black | No | Yes |
| White & Liver | No | Yes |
| White & Red | No | Yes |
| White & Sable | No | Yes |
| White & Silver | No | Yes |
| White, Black, & Tan | No | Yes |