Maltese puppies & breed info
- Belgian breeder since 1990
- DNA-tested parents
Available now
Available Maltese puppies for sale
Click ‘Puppy alert’ to stay up to date on new Maltese litters.
Available now
- Beschikbaar - Disponible: 2/11
- ✅ Stamboom - Pedigree
- Mother: Monni
- Father: Micky
- đŸ§¬ DNA Tested
- đŸ¦´ Patella Luxatie vrij
- Maltese
- Born: 7 September 2026
- đŸ‡§đŸ‡ª Origin: our own kennel
Our usual process
Buying a Maltese puppy from Woefkesranch
How it works:
- Meet the puppies (optional). Make an appointment to see the puppies with their mother, and to work out together which puppy suits your family.
- Reserve your puppy (optional). You can reserve online (24/7) or by phone on +32 (0)15 75 59 42. After reserving, you receive photos on request. If a puppy is already 8 weeks old, you can also take it home at your visit.
- Collection from us or home delivery. You can collect your puppy from 8 weeks old. It leaves microchipped, vaccinated, dewormed and with its European passport, and we register it in your name in DogID together. If you have no transport, someone from Woefkesranch brings your puppy to your home, within 250 km of our ranch in Putte (including the Netherlands, France, Luxembourg and Germany).
- 1-year guarantee. Every puppy has a 1-year guarantee on hereditary conditions and hidden congenital defects. We remind you about the first booster vaccination and deworming.
- Lifelong support. We remain available by phone or WhatsApp, also for training tips and health questions. For urgent matters we can be reached 24/7.
Written and reviewed by Marleen Dyck, co-founder of Woefkesranch
Character
A cheerful, allergy-friendly little dog that wants to be with you
Bright, lively and very social, happiest at the centre of the family. It adapts to almost any household and learns quickly, and it is sensitive to the tone of your voice, so gentle handling works best.
What to expect
Affectionate
Deeply attached to its own family.
Lively
Playful and curious, and content with a short daily walk.
Quick to learn
Adapts easily, and responds to a gentle voice.
Low-shedding
Almost no shedding, which suits allergy sufferers.
Height*
~22.5 cm
Weight*
~3.5 kg
Life expectancy
~14 years
Origin
Italy and Malta, antiquity
*The sizes above are based on the FCI breed standard. Woefkesranch aims for them, but the health of the dogs always comes first.
Breed summary
You will discover that the Maltese is a companion dog first: bright, lively and happiest in the middle of the family. It comes from Malta and Italy, with a small dog’s appetite for company and a history that runs back three thousand years. The long silky coat has no undercoat and sheds very little, which is why the breed suits allergy sufferers, and it is also what asks most of you: combing every week and a trim once or twice a year. You will need to keep an eye on the eyes and the ears, which are this breed’s sensitive points. Read on to see what this breed asks of you.
In five points
- The Maltese comes from Malta and Italy, and its ancestors appear on Egyptian figurines from the 14th century BC.
- The coat is long, white and silky with no undercoat, so it sheds very little and the breed suits allergy sufferers.
- Grooming takes regular work: combing every week, a trim once or twice a year, regular baths and the beard wiped after meals.
- It needs little exercise but enjoys a daily walk, and it is comfortable in an apartment or a garden.
- Eyes, teeth and gums are the points to watch, and keeping on top of them is what gets a Maltese to ~14 years.
History and Origin, back to the pharaohs
The Maltese is one of the oldest dog breeds in the world. Figurines found in the tomb of Pharaoh Ramses II show its ancestors were already fashionable in Egypt in the 14th century BC, and ten centuries later the same small white dogs reappear in the Greece of Aristotle and in ancient Rome.
The Greek philosopher Theophrastus described it as the Melita breed, an archaic name for Malta, and it was developed further in Italy with miniature spaniel and poodle blood. Merchants carried it along the Silk Road to Asia in the first century BC, which is why a number of experts believe Tibetan dogs contributed to it.
It reached Europe in the 15th century and appears on tapestries and paintings of the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance, among them La Dame a la Licorne in the Musee de Cluny in Paris, and in work by Memling, Durer, Brueghel and Goya. From 1520 it established itself in England, after Mary Stuart imported a few from Lyon and made them her favourite.
Physical characteristics and grooming
The Maltese is a small, elongated dog with the withers set slightly above the topline, a straight back and a long, slightly sloping croup. The legs are short and sturdy, the paws round, and the tail is thick at the base and curls forward over the back.
The head is rather large with a flat skull, a prominent nose and fairly large dark eyes, and the skin underneath the white coat is pigmented with dark spots. The coat itself is long, white and silky, parted along the back, with no undercoat, and that is what makes the breed’s floating trot look as though the dog is rolling forward.
| Characteristic | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Height | ~23 cm | ~21.5 cm |
| Weight | ~3.5 kg | ~3.5 kg |
Hypoallergenic: all breeds at Woefkesranch
A purebred coat is known in advance, while a cross can take after either parent. The low shedding depends on the coat being kept up, so grooming is needed whichever you choose. Where an allergy is a real concern, spend time with the individual puppy before deciding.
| Characteristic | Maltese | Lagotto Romagnolo | Labradoodle | Cockapoo | Maltipoo | Miniature Poodle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Height | ~22.5 cm | ~44.5 cm | ~48.5 cm | ~36.5 cm | ~28 cm | 28–32 cm |
| Weight | ~3.5 kg | ~13.5 kg | ~20 kg | ~10 kg | ~5 kg | 5–7 kg |
| Hypoallergenic | Always | Always | Not always, depends on the parents | Not always, depends on the parents | Usually, both parent breeds are low-shedding | Always |
| Coat care | Comb weekly, trim once or twice a year | Brush twice a week, trim every 6 to 8 weeks | Brush several times a week, groomer every 8 to 12 weeks | Brush daily, trim every 8 to 10 weeks and never shorter than 5 cm | Brush weekly, professional trim every 6 to 8 weeks | Comb regularly, professional trim every 2 to 3 months |
| Breed origin | Purebred, from Malta and Italy | Purebred, from Italy | Labrador Retriever and Poodle | Cocker Spaniel and Poodle | Maltese and Miniature Poodle | Purebred, from France |
Heights and weights from the FCI breed standard.
Comparison of the Maltese, the Miniature Poodle and the Maltipoo
| What differs | Maltese |  Miniature Poodle |  Maltipoo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Origin | A purebred from Malta and Italy, a companion dog for three thousand years | A purebred from France, originally a water dog, known in Western Europe for four hundred years | A cross of the Maltese and the Miniature Poodle from the United States, bred as a companion dog since the 1990s |
| Size | The smallest of the three: ~22.5 cm and ~3.5 kg | The largest of the three: 28 to 32 cm and 5 to 7 kg. A Toy Poodle (24 to 28 cm, 3 to 5 kg) sits between the Maltese and the Maltipoo | In between: ~28 cm and ~5 kg |
| Coat and grooming | Long, white and silky. Combing weekly and the groomer once or twice a year | Dense and curled. Combing two to three times a week and the groomer every 2 to 3 months | Medium-length and curly. Brushing weekly and the groomer every 6 to 8 weeks |
| Character and exercise | Happiest in the middle of the family. A short daily walk is enough | Happiest when it gets to learn something. Wants proper walks and the chance to run off the lead | Happiest on a lap or playing fetch. A quarter of an hour of walking or indoor play a day is enough |
All three are small companion dogs that like to be with their people and shed little, which makes them more suitable for many people with a dog allergy. They do best with older children who handle a small dog with care.
Personality and Temperament
The Maltese is bright, lively, playful and very social, and it is at its happiest when it is with its family or the centre of attention. It is a classic companion dog, affectionate with everyone in the household and deeply loyal to its owner.
Training is not difficult, because the breed adapts to almost any situation, but it should never be handled harshly: these dogs are sensitive to the tone of a voice, and a sharp tone sets the training back.
Health and Nutrition
Despite its size the Maltese is a sturdy dog that is rarely ill, and it lives ~14 years. Cancer, old age and heart disease are the most common causes of death.
The sensitive points are the eyes and the teeth and gums, which need more attention in this breed than in most. A handful of conditions have been recorded in the breed: patellar luxation, hydrocephalus, a congenital portosystemic shunt, shaker dog syndrome, trichiasis and a persistent ductus arteriosus. Ask a breeder what the parent dogs were tested for and ask to see the results.
Care is part of health here. Daily detangling and weekly combing, a trim once or twice a year, regular baths with thorough drying, and the ears and eyes checked as a matter of routine.
Training and Exercise
Maltese puppies adapt effortlessly to circumstances, which makes training fairly straightforward. Keep sessions short and positive: these dogs are easily distracted and they respond to reward rather than correction.
This breed thrives on attention and stimulation rather than distance. Short daily walks satisfy its curiosity, puzzle toys and hidden treats occupy the mind, and simple obedience work strengthens the bond more than it teaches commands.
It is a social dog, so playdates with other dogs and dog-friendly outings are worth arranging. Small agility obstacles in the garden suit it, and on a wet day indoor games and a warm resting place are enough.
Choosing and caring for your Maltese
Is this the right breed for you?
A Maltese suits a household that wants the dog indoors with them and is willing to take on the coat. It is small and fine-boned, so it is at its best with older children who understand that.
Essential daily care
Caring for a Maltese means committing to a daily routine that addresses their grooming, feeding, exercise and health needs.
For optimal daily care, focus on these key points:
Coat
Comb it through every week and have it trimmed once or twice a year. Cut short is a fair choice if weekly combing is more than you want.
Eyes
Clean them when tear stains show, and trim any hairs growing into the corner of the eye before they irritate it.
Ears
Check and clean them regularly, and wipe the beard after meals so the coat around the mouth stays clean.
Exercise
A short daily walk is enough, and it will happily take a longer one. Indoor games cover a rainy day.
Regular veterinary visits are essential to monitor health, contributing to a longer lifespan for your Maltese. If you are considering getting a puppy, it is important to recognize a good breeder.
Recognised family business since 1990, now in its second generation
We are a recognized breeder of Maltese puppies in Belgium. Our ranch is in Putte (near Mechelen), between Brussels and Antwerp, about 40 kilometers from Brussels, 30 kilometers from Antwerp and 80 kilometers from Ghent. Our puppies are socialized on the ranch through contact with our caretakers and with other dogs and puppies. Woefkesranch has been a family business since 1990 and is now in its second generation. Every puppy is born in our own kennel under permanent supervision, with no imports and no middlemen. Families are guided before the purchase and are welcome back with their questions long afterwards.
Delivery to your door in and around Brussels, Cologne, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, DĂ¼sseldorf, Essen, The Hague…
If you have no transport, someone from Woefkesranch brings your puppy to your home, up to 250 km from Putte. Approximately: Hasselt 60 km, Charleroi 80 km, Mons 100 km, Liège 110 km, Bruges 120 km, Rotterdam 120 km, The Hague 150 km, DĂ¼sseldorf 180 km, Amsterdam 190 km, Cologne 190 km, Essen 220 km.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Maltese shed?
Very little. The coat is long and silky with no undercoat, which is why the breed is one of the few that suits allergy sufferers. No dog sheds nothing at all, but this one comes close.
How much grooming does a Maltese need?
Combing through every week, a trim once or twice a year, and regular baths with thorough drying afterwards. Clean the eyes when tear stains show and wipe the beard after meals. Cutting the coat short is a reasonable choice if weekly combing is more than you want.
How much exercise does a Maltese need?
Little. A short daily walk covers it, and the breed will happily take a longer one. It is comfortable indoors and in a garden, and it adapts to its owner’s pace.
Is a Maltese good with children?
It is affectionate and social with everyone in the household. It is also small and fine-boned, so it is at its best with older children who handle it carefully.
How old does a Maltese get?
The breed lives ~14 years. It is a sturdy little dog that is rarely ill, with the eyes and the teeth and gums as its sensitive points.
Where does the Maltese come from?
Malta and Italy. It is the oldest of the five breeds the FCI classes as bichons, and its ancestors appear on Egyptian figurines from the 14th century BC.
Come and see
Make an appointment
Do you want to visit our puppies? You can also make an appointment.
- 100% Belgian puppies
- Professional statutory warranty
- 24/7 service after sale
- Puppies have all necessary vaccines
- Puppies are dewormed multiple times
- Chipped and with Belgian/European passport
- DNA-tested parents
