Maltese Mixed Breeds – Personality, Characteristics & Care

Maltese is renowned as one of the oldest dog breeds. They are known to be the status of wealth and luxury. Anyone who ever owned them was considered a gentleman. This breed has been known to be the favorite of Marie Antoinette and loved by Elizabeth Taylor.

The Maltese breed is renowned for its hair. The hair is long and straight. Their bodies are small and adorable. They are very flexible and fearless. Of all the dog breeds, Maltese are known to have a long lifespan, making them an excellent choice for a family dog as a pure breed, or a parent of a mixed breed.

Among small dog owners, Maltese is the one that’s the most renowned. This is a popular toy breed often known as being obstinate. Not only in the pure breed form, but the Maltese is also popular as a parent in numerous crossbreeds. The Maltese has an easy-going personality, therefore, any Maltese mix will adopt the same personality traits from the Maltese parent.

Top 20 Maltese Mixed Breeds

Here is a list of breeds with the Maltese as one of the parents. Make sure to read them all before making a decision of adopting one.

1. Maltipoo (Poodle & Maltese)

Breed Overview:

• Height: 14 inches
• Weight: 5-20 pounds
• Age: 10-13 years
• Traits: Gentle, friendly, outgoing, and playful
• Colors: Black, grey, red, blue, cream, white, and fawn

They are very charming, affectionate, and fun-loving. Both the parents, poodle and Maltese are well-known for their charm, therefore, the cross between them is a must to have breed. The Maltipoo is unquestionably a wonderful companion to have around.

They are very active and intelligent. Make sure that you give them enough puzzles and enriching activities. Poodles are known to be the smartest dogs of all, therefore, the hybrid would need something interesting to keep itself busy.

2. Ratese (Maltese & American Rat Terrier)

Breed Overview:

• Height: 8-13 inches
• Weight: 15-25 pounds
• Age: 14-17 years
• Colors: Brown, black, tan, white, pied, and grey
• Traits: Loving, energetic, cheerful, nervous, and demanding

The cross between Maltese and rat terrier is a friendly and curious hybrid. This dog is can weigh more than 20 pounds and is around a foot and a half taller. This breed is renowned to be very active, lively, and adventurous. This breed is very intelligent and gets along well with the family. However, they do not do well with the kids, so it is better to own them when your kids turn more than 3 years of age.

3. Malteagle (Beagle & Maltese)

Breed Overview:

• Height: 9-15 inches
• Weight: 15-22 pounds
• Age: 12-15 years
• Colors: Black, brown, white, and cream
• Traits: Loyal, energetic, affectionate, and sociable

The cross between Maltese and beagle is a small, curious, adventurous, and extroverted breed. They are really active and make great family companions. They have a high prey drive and do not do well with the small animals or cats. Therefore, always have them on a leash otherwise they will chase down other animals at any time.

4. Malshi (Shih Tzu & Maltese)

Breed Overview:

• Height: Up to 10 inches
• Weight: 6–12 pounds
• Age: 12–14 years
• Traits: Gentle, friendly, outgoing, and playful
• Colors: Blue, brown, chocolate, black, white, gold, and yellow

This breed is well known for its personality. If you own this cross, you are in for a lot of fun and laughing as they are going to make it fun for you. They are well-known to be lap dogs. They are warm and welcoming companions. They are really adorable little dogs. They are the most popular designer dogs out there because of their cute faces.

5. Maltichon (Maltese & Bichon)

Breed Overview:

• Height: 8 to 11 inches
• Weight: 9 to 13 pounds
• Age: 12 to 15 years
• Colors: White, apricot, and cream
• Traits: Friendly, smart, playful, and happy

The cross between a Maltese and a Bichon is just under a foot tall and can weigh up to 12 pounds. This breed is really fluffy and is well-known for its hairy facial features.  They have a lifespan of more than 15 years, making them ideal for a family. They are really clever and active. They are allergic to certain foods and things.

6. Maltipom (Pomeranian & Maltese)

Breed Overview:

• Height: 8-13 inches
• Weight: 4-10 pounds
• Age: 12-15 years
• Colors: White, tan, black, grey, and white
• Traits: Active, needy, loyal, and playful

Both the parents of this breed are renowned toy breeds. Therefore, Maltipom is a charming, adorable, and playful toy dog. That is not the most common cross in the US. They are uncommon because of their barking tendency which makes it difficult for them to live in apartments.

They are smaller in size, but really brave and active. They are so brave and stupid and will start a fight with much larger dogs, therefore, always monitor them.

7. Cairmal (Maltese & Cairn Terrier)

Breed Overview:

• Age: 12-15 years
• Height: 10-13 inches
• Weight: 10-15 pounds
• Colors: Apricot, black, and brindle
• Traits: Affectionate, loyal, playful, and friendly

This is a cross between a Maltese and a Cairns. This dog is really energetic, cheerful, loyal, and playful. This breed spends most of its time with the family. They have perfectly mixed both the personalities of the parents. They are vigorous, sassy, and affectionate. They are stubborn because of the terrier parent and can be difficult to train. They need regular brushing on daily basis.

8. Malchi (Maltese & Chihuahua)

Breed Overview:

• Height: 12-14 inches
• Weight: 5-15 pounds
• Age: 12-15 years
• Colors: White, black, cream, and brown
• Traits: Loving, loyal, and lively

This is an adorable little breed and is really cute. They are great family dogs. They will listen to you all the time and are really loyal and lively. The Chihuahua is a sensitive breed, therefore, this little mix is too. Always make sure to respect the autonomy of this breed to create a well-adjusted family dog.

9. Cavamalt (Maltese & Cavalier King Charles Spaniel)

Breed Overview:

• Height: 8-13 inches
• Weight: 8-18 pounds
• Age: 12-15 years
• Colors: White, black, red, and tan
• Traits: Affectionate, intelligent, playful, docile, loyal, and social

This is comparatively a new designer breed but is really adorable. The adorability of this breed is stealing the hearts of dog lovers around the globe. They are great lapdogs. They are renowned to live in apartments and can be great with children and the elderly alike.

10.  Mauxie (Dachshund & Maltese)

Breed Overview:

• Height: 7-8 inches
• Weight: 4-32 pounds
• Age: 12-16 years
• Colors: White, black, chocolate, fawn, and cream
• Traits: Loyal and playful

Both the parents in their pure breed form are really popular, the mix is not so common. The cross between the Dachshund and the Maltese makes an adorable little pup. This mix is renowned to be the best choice for novice dog owners. They are easy-going and adorable. They are easy to train and great for families with kids. They need constant monitoring around other dogs because of their fearless demeanor.

11. Morkie (Yorkshire Terrier & Maltese)

Breed Overview:

• Traits: Playful, loving, intelligent, and clever
• Height: 24 – 30 cm
• Weight: 5 – 6 kg
• Colour: Black, brown, and white
• Age: 10 or 11 years

This is an adorable little lap dog and a beautiful hybrid. They are renowned to be cuddly and are really playful and active. You can train them easily. They can also participate in dog sports.

12. Malton (Maltese & Cavachon)

Breed Overview:

• Height: 9-11 inches
• Weight: 10-15 pounds
• Age: 12-15 years
• Colors: White, brown, and black
• Traits: Loyal, loving, intelligent, and friendly

The Malton is a cross between a Maltese and a Cavachon. This dog is almost a foot tall. The fur coat it has is long and non-shedding. It makes this a low-maintenance adorable dog. This breed is well-known for having the longest lifespan. They can easily be trained and are ideal for novice owners.

13. Mauzer (Miniature Schnauzer & Maltese)

Breed Overview:

• Height: 8 – 14 inches
• Weight: 7 – 20 pounds
• Age: 12-15 years
• Colors: Silver, grey, and black
• Traits: Loyal, smart, stubborn, energetic, and protective

This is an attentive and attractive cross between Schnauzer and Maltese. Because both parents are small, this hybrid has a small stature. They weigh a maximum of 15 pounds at maturity. They are known to be affectionate and social.

14. Cotonese (Maltese & Coton de Tulear)

Breed Overview:

• Height: 8-10 inches
• Weight: 7-13 pounds
• Age: 14-17 years
• Colors: White, cream, and biscuit
• Traits: Sweet, affectionate, comical, and needy

This cross is really affectionate and forms strong bonds with the owners. Because of having white coats on both parents, this cross will look like a walking cotton puff. They are very eager to please the owner and are bouncy little balls of fur. If you are looking for a fun creature to be around you, this is the dog for you.

15. Malti-Pug (Maltese & Pug)

Breed Overview:

• Height:8-14 inches
• Weight: 7-20 pounds
• Age: 12-15 years
• Colors: Fawn, black, and white
• Traits: Loving, affectionate, fun, and stubborn

The cross between a pug and Maltese produces this adorable little dog. This breed is outgoing and adorable. Both parents are low-key, which makes this breed ideal for a being lap dog. The squishy face hybrids might have breathing problems because of pug parents, so keep an eye out while walking.

16. Crested Malt (Chinese Crested & Maltese)

Breed Overview:

• Height: 10-12 inches
• Weight: 5-10 pounds
• Age: 10-13 years
• Colors: Black, white, blue, and cream
• Traits: Docile, affectionate, and playful

This cross is renowned to have long hair and bear-like eyes and ears. They are known to have various colors and are warm and gentle. The only maintenance they need is brushing their coat, therefore are ideal designer dogs.

17. Havamalt (Havanese & Maltese)

Breed Overview:

• Height: 8 – 12 inches
• Weight: 5 – 15 pounds
• Age: 12 – 15 years
• Colors: White, black, cream, silver, brown, and red
• Traits: Loving, smart, and cheerful

Havanese are the descendants of Maltese parents, therefore they are very similar. The cross between these similar breeds produces a perfectly friendly, cheerful, and lovely dog. They need to be brushed at least once a week. They shed less as compared to other shedding breeds. They are very pleasing and intelligent, which makes it easy to train them.

18. JaTese (Japanese Chin & Maltese)

Breed Overview:

• Height: 8-10 inches
• Weight: 6-15 pounds
• Age: 12-15 years
• Colors: White, black, and red
• Traits: Loyal, loving, intelligent, and friendly

This is the most popular and adorable designer breed. This breed is known to have the strongest bonds with its owners. They can adapt to live in any condition and are ideal for apartment and city living.

19. Sheptese (Maltese German Shepherd)

Breed Overview:

• Height: 7-18 inches
• Weight: 7-35 pounds
• Age: 7-12 years
• Colors: White, Brown, and black
• Temperament: Loyal, intelligent, affectionate, and sensitive

This is the most uncommon of all the Maltese crosses because of the size difference between shepherd and Maltese. The risk involved is too high, increasing the price of the hybrid. This breed can weigh up to 40 pounds sometimes.  They are mostly brown or chocolate in color. The personality depends on the dominant parent.

20. Silky Cocker (Cocker & Maltese)

Breed Overview:

• Height: 11-12 inches
• Weight: 16-18 pounds
• Age: 15-16 years
• Colors: Black, red, cream, and brown
• Traits: Affectionate, intelligent, loyal, and playful

This breed needs low maintenance and less brushing. They are easy to train and are very affectionate. They are active and need at least a 60-minute exercise a day. They have a high prey drive and need fencing to stay inside. They are friendly and respond well to the training.

Final Thoughts

The Maltese breed in its purebred form is bold, compact, and devoted. They are adaptable to any environment and have big personalities. They are very loving and create a strong bond with the owners. They have plenty of love to give. Despite being lovely and charming, they do not get well with toddlers and small animals, therefore keep that in mind before owning a purebred or a Maltese mix.

All the mixed Maltese breeds are not aggressive or bold and can be easily trained, but are not recommended for novice owners. You need the experience to socialize and train them. Also, if you are looking to bring a Sheptese to your home, your training and experience are a must to have.