Maltese vs Pekingese

Compare the Maltese to the Pekingese. Use the tool below to compare temperament, size, personality, maintenance requirements, and everything else between Maltese and Pekingese.

Quick Summary

Below are a few quick comparisons between the two breeds.

Owner Experience - Both the Maltese and Pekingese are excellent choices for new or inexperienced owners.
Children - Both the Maltese and Pekingese are child friendly, but the Maltese is a better choice for young children.
Grooming - The Maltese requires moderate grooming, The Pekingese has very high grooming needs.
Barking - The Pekingese bark/howls frequently. The Maltese has a low tendency to bark.

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Maltese vs Pekingese

Breed Name	Maltese	Pekingese
General Details
Breed Type	Purebred	Purebred
Is Hypoallergenic	Yes	No
Lifespan	12-15 yrs.	12-15 yrs.
Height	8-10 in.	6-9 in.
Weight	4-9 lb	7-14 lb
Intelligence	Average	Average
History
Origin Country	Malta	China
Origin Year	200 BC	20 BC
Temperament
Overall Friendliness	Very Good	Good
Family Friendly	Very Good	Very Good
Kid Friendly	Good	Below Average
Pet Friendly	Very Good	Below Average
Stranger Friendly	Below Average	Below Average
Personality
	Affectionate Enjoys Attention Jealous Loving Does Not Like Being Alone	Affectionate Enjoys Attention Jealous Does Not Like Being Alone Stubborn
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	55°F to 75°F
Barks/Howls	Below Average	Very Often
Exercise Needs
Energy Level	High	Low-Medium
Exercise Required	Low	Low
Top Running Speed	12 mph	12 mph
Strength	Low	Low
Grooming Needs
Coat Maintenance	High	Medium
Shedding	Low	High
Dander	Low	Medium
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.

Instincts & Behavior Comparison
Breed Name	Maltese	Pekingese
Breed Mentality
Dominant/Alpha	No	Yes
Family/Pack	Yes	No
Independent	No	No
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	Below Average
Herding	Very Low	Below Average
Hunting	Very Low	Below Average
Protection	Very Low	Below Average
Remove Vermin	Very Low	Below Average
Sledding	Very Low	Below Average
Watch	Very Low	Average

Health Comparison
Breed Name	Maltese	Pekingese
Lifespan
Lifespan	12-15 yrs.	12-15 yrs.
Common Health Issues
Brachycephalic Syndrome	No	Yes
Cataracts	No	Yes
Cleft Palate	No	Yes
Collapsed Trachea	Yes	No
Cryptorchidism	No	Yes
Distichiasis	No	Yes
Ectopic Cilia	No	Yes
Ectopic Cilia	No	Yes
Entropion	No	Yes
Exposure Keratopathy Syndrome	No	Yes
Hydrocephalus	No	Yes
Hypoglycemia	Yes	No
Intervertebral Disk Disease	No	Yes
Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca	No	Yes
Mitral Valve Disease	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

Appearance Comparison
Breed Name	Maltese	Pekingese
Coat
Hair	Yes	No
Fur	No	Yes
Coat Type
Single Coat	Yes	No
Double Coat	No	Yes
Coat Texture
Silky	Yes	No
Straight	Yes	Yes
Wavy	No	Yes
Coat Length(s)
Long	Yes	Yes
Coat Color(s)
White	Yes	Yes
White & Lemon	Yes	No
White & Tan	Yes	No
Biscuit	No	Yes
Black	No	Yes
Black & Tan	No	Yes
Cream	No	Yes
Fawn	No	Yes
Fawn Brindle	No	Yes
Fawn Sable	No	Yes
Gray	No	Yes
Gray Sable	No	Yes
Light Red	No	Yes
Red Brindle	No	Yes
Red Sable	No	Yes