Last Updated: Nov 22, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Are Malteses Aggressive Towards Strangers?
- Are Malteses Aggressive Towards their Owners?
- Are Malteses Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
- Are Malteses Afraid of Strangers?
- Are Malteses Afraid of Other Dogs?
- Do Malteses Have Non-Social Fears?
- Do Malteses Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
- Are Malteses Easy to Train?
- Do Malteses Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
- Do Malteses Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
- Do Malteses have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
- Are Malteses Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
- Are Malteses Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
- Are Malteses Playful? What is the Energy Level of Malteses
- Conclusion on Maltese Temperament
Introduction to the Temperament of the Maltese
The are many descriptions of the temperament of the Maltese out there. However, most of these descriptions are difficult to verify or prove. They are based on mere speculations.
In this article, we will provide a factual description of the temperament of the Maltese based on solid scientific research. This will give you a better understanding of what you can expect from the Maltese breed.
We obtained our description of the temperament of Maltese by analyzing raw scientific data from The Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) database.
The C-BARQ dog temperament standard was developed by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania. It is considered the gold standard for measuring the behavior of dogs.
Over the years, the C-BARQ study has collected data on the temperament of thousands of dogs of different breeds including the Maltese.
The C-BARQ study obtains its data by asking dog owners to score the behavior of their dogs on different behavior patterns.
The idea behind the C-BARQ study is that if it collects thousands of scores from thousands of dog owners on different aspects of dog behavior, a clear pattern will emerge on the temperament of different dog breeds.
The C-BARQ questionnaire measures 14 behavior aspects of dogs:
- Aggression towards stranger
- Aggression towards its owner
- Aggression towards other dogs
- How well they get along with other dogs
- Fear of strangers
- Fear of new things (new objects, unfamiliar loud sounds, etc)
- Fear of other dogs
- Separation anxiety
- Clinginess
- Trainability/ Stubbornness
- Prey drive
- Excitability
- Touch sensitivity
- Energy level
In this article, we will discuss the score of the Maltese for each of these 14 characteristics. This will let you know the real temperament of the Maltese.
The summary table below shows the score of the Maltese for the different behavioral characteristics.
High percentage scores close to 100 are bad. Low percentage scores close to 0 are good.
| Behavior | Score |
|---|---|
| Attachment Attention Seeking | 72.5 percent |
| Dog Directed Fear | 68.6 percent |
| Separation Related Behavior | 66.5 percent |
| Energy Level | 63.4 percent |
| Excitability | 61.1 percent |
| Stranger Directed Aggression | 58.7 percent |
| Dog Directed Aggression | 55.9 percent |
| Nonsocial Fear | 52.0 percent |
| Touch Sensitivity | 50.2 percent |
| Stranger Directed Fear | 47.9 percent |
| Owner Directed Aggression | 46.0 percent |
| Stubbornness | 44.4 percent |
| Dog Rivalry | 35.4 percent |
| Prey Drive | 34.1 percent |
Note that with proper training, you can better your Maltese`s temperament. To learn how to properly train your Maltese, I highly recommend that you go through Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things that I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Maltese.
See also our complete ranking of dog breeds from the `best` to the `worst` based on temperament.
Are Malteses Aggressive Towards Strangers?
Dog breeds that are aggressive to strangers show hostile responses to strangers approaching or invading the dog`s or the dog owner`s personal space, territory, or home range.
Stranger-aggressive dog breeds are quick to show aggression to unfamiliar people.
Typical signs of moderate aggression in dogs include barking, growling, and baring of teeth. More serious display of aggression generally includes snapping, lunging, biting, or attempting to bite.
Malteses are very much aggressive towards strangers.
This is because the Maltese ranks very high for aggression towards strangers.
The Maltese ranks number 15 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards strangers.
This information is based on what 71 Maltese owners reported on the temperament of their Maltese in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Maltese has a stranger-directed-aggression score of 58.7 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much aggressive towards strangers just like the Maltese are listed in the table below
| Stranger-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Anatolian Shepherd | 63.4 % |
| 13 | Standard Schnauzer | 63.3 % |
| 14 | Chesapeake Bay Retriever | 62.9 % |
| 15 | Maltese | 58.7 % |
| 16 | Australian Cattle Dog | 58.6 % |
| 17 | Rat Terrier | 56.3 % |
| 18 | Kuvasz | 53.6 % |
The dog breeds that are most aggressive towards strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards strangers are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Malteses Aggressive Towards their Owners?
Due to human effort over the course of many centuries, the dog has become a very domestic animal. Dogs have learned to live well with humans. As a result, dogs respect and love their owners. Nevertheless, some dog breeds are less respectful to their owners than some other dog breeds.
Owner-aggressive dog breeds show threatening or hostile responses to their owner or other members of the household when challenged, manhandled, stared at, stepped over, or when approached while in possession of food, objects, or toys.
A dog that is owner-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite their owners.
Malteses are very much aggressive towards their owners.
This is because the Maltese ranks very high for aggression towards its owner.
The Maltese ranks number 11 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards their owners.
This information is based on what 71 Maltese owners reported on the temperament of their Maltese in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Maltese has an owner-directed-aggression score of 46.0 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much owner-aggressive just like the Maltese are listed in the table below
| Owner-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Owner-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | American Eskimo Dog | 55.9 % |
| 9 | Alaskan Malamute | 53.2 % |
| 10 | Poodle (Toy) | 48.9 % |
| 11 | Maltese | 46.0 % |
| 12 | Fox Terrier (Toy) | 45.5 % |
| 13 | Basset Hound | 43.2 % |
| 14 | Beagle | 41.6 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards their owners are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Malteses Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
Dogs that are aggressive towards other dogs will direct aggressive threats or actions toward unknown or unfamiliar dogs.
A dog-aggressive dog will threaten or show hostile responses when approached by unfamiliar dogs
A dog that is dog-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite other dogs.
Malteses are quite a bit aggressive towards other dogs.
This is because the Maltese ranks high for aggression towards other dogs.
The Maltese ranks number 42 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards other dogs.
This information is based on what 71 Maltese owners reported on the temperament of their Maltese in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Maltese has a dog-directed aggression score of 55.9 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit dog-aggressive just like the Maltese are listed in the table below
| Dog-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 39 | Border Terrier | 58.5 % |
| 40 | English Springer Spaniel | 57.5 % |
| 41 | Standard Schnauzer | 56.4 % |
| 42 | Maltese | 55.9 % |
| 43 | Yorkshire Terrier | 55.6 % |
| 44 | American Staffordshire Terrier | 55.3 % |
| 45 | Anatolian Shepherd | 54.3 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards other dogs are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Malteses Afraid of Strangers?
Some dogs breeds tend to be fearful of strangers.
Dogs that are fearful of strangers will avoid strangers. These dogs will crouch, cringe, or tremble when approached by strangers.
Extreme fear in dogs is characterized by serious attempts to escape or hide from the feared stranger.
Malteses are very much fearful of strangers.
This is because the Maltese ranks very high for fear of strangers.
The Maltese ranks number 19 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of strangers.
This information is based on what 71 Maltese owners reported on the temperament of their Maltese in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Maltese has a stranger-directed-fear score of 47.9 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much stranger-fearful just like the Maltese are listed in the table below
| Stranger-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Lhasa Apso | 51.6 % |
| 17 | Chinese Shar-Pei | 51.5 % |
| 18 | Yorkshire Terrier | 48.4 % |
| 19 | Maltese | 47.9 % |
| 20 | Ibizan Hound | 46.7 % |
| 21 | Saint Bernard | 44.7 % |
| 22 | Shetland Sheepdog | 44.0 % |
The dog breeds that show the most fear of strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of strangers are the:
Are Malteses Afraid of Other Dogs?
Some dogs breeds tend to show fear when an unfamiliar dog approaches them.
A dog that is fearful of other dogs will try to avoid meeting other dogs.
Malteses are very much fearful of other dogs.
This is because the Maltese ranks very high for fear of other dogs.
The Maltese ranks number 8 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of other dogs.
This information is based on what 71 Maltese owners reported on the temperament of their Maltese in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Maltese has a dog-directed-fear score of 68.6 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much other-dog-fearful just like the Maltese are listed in the table below
| Dog-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Lhasa Apso | 77.9 % |
| 6 | Basenji | 76.5 % |
| 7 | Miniature Pinscher | 71.9 % |
| 8 | Maltese | 68.6 % |
| 9 | Border Terrier | 66.9 % |
| 10 | Parson Russell Terrier | 66.5 % |
| 11 | Pit Bull mix | 66.2 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of other dogs are the:
Do Malteses Have Non-Social Fears?
Dogs that are fearful of sudden or loud noises, traffic, and unfamiliar objects and situations are said to exhibit nonsocial fear.
Malteses are very much fearful of unfamiliar sounds, situations, and objects.
This is because the Maltese ranks very high for non-social fear.
The Maltese ranks number 18 out of 124 dog breeds for being fearful of unfamiliar things and situations.
This information is based on what 71 Maltese owners reported on the temperament of their Maltese in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Maltese has a nonsocial-fear score of 52.0 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much nonsocial-fearful just like the Maltese are listed in the table below
| Nonsocial-Fear Rank | Breed | Nonsocial-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Cairn Terrier | 53.5 % |
| 16 | Lhasa Apso | 53.5 % |
| 17 | Pembroke Welsh Corgi | 53.3 % |
| 18 | Maltese | 52.0 % |
| 19 | Yorkshire Terrier | 51.1 % |
| 20 | Pit Bull mix | 50.7 % |
| 21 | Miniature Pinscher | 50.5 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
Do Malteses Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
Some dog breeds display high dog rivalry. These dog breeds will threaten or act hostile to other familiar dogs in the same household.
These dog breeds will compete with other dogs. Also, these dog breeds do not get along well with other dogs.
Malteses are somewhat competitive when dealing with other dogs.
This is because the Maltese ranks average on dog rivalry.
The Maltese ranks number 68 out of 124 dog breeds for displaying dog rivalry when dealing with familiar dogs.
This information is based on what 71 Maltese owners reported on the temperament of their Maltese in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Maltese has a dog-rivalry score of 35.4 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat competition-driven just like the Maltese are listed in the table below
| Dog-Rivalry Rank | Breed | Dog-Rivalry Score |
|---|---|---|
| 65 | Shetland Sheepdog | 38.0 % |
| 66 | Akita | 36.9 % |
| 67 | Shih Tzu | 36.4 % |
| 68 | Maltese | 35.4 % |
| 69 | Australian Shepherd | 34.5 % |
| 70 | Irish Setter | 34.4 % |
| 71 | Belgian Sheepdog | 34.2 % |
The dog breeds that do not get along well with other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that get along well with other dogs are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how well they get along with other dog breeds.
Are Malteses Easy to Train?
Dogs have high trainability have the willingness to listen to their owner. These dogs are not stubborn. These dogs obey simple commands, and they learn very quickly.
Highly trainable dogs excel at fetching objects. They also respond positively to correction and ignore distraction.
Malteses are a little bit easy to train.
This is because the Maltese ranks low for trainability.
The Maltese ranks number 90 out of 124 dog breeds for easiness to train.
This information is based on what 71 Maltese owners reported on the trainability of their Maltese in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Maltese has a trainability score of 55.6 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit easy to train just like the Maltese are listed in the table below
| Trainability Rank | Breed | Trainability Score |
|---|---|---|
| 87 | Scottish Terrier | 56.8 % |
| 88 | Fox Terrier (Toy) | 55.9 % |
| 89 | Alaskan Husky | 55.8 % |
| 90 | Maltese | 55.6 % |
| 91 | Irish Wolfhound | 55.3 % |
| 92 | Tibetan Terrier | 55.2 % |
| 93 | Shih Tzu | 54.6 % |
The dog breeds that are most easy to train are the:
The dog breeds that are difficult to train are the:
Learn more about how intelligent the Maltese is and how the intelligence of the Maltese affects its trainability in this article on how smart the Maltese is.
Do Malteses Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
Dog breeds that have high chase-drive will run after (chase) cats, birds, and/or other small animals, given the opportunity.
Malteses are a little bit into chasing after other smaller pets like cats, squirrels, chickens, and birds.
This is because the Maltese ranks low for small-pet-chasing.
The Maltese ranks number 93 out of 124 dog breeds for chasing after smaller pets.
This information is based on what 71 Maltese owners reported on the temperament of their Maltese in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Maltese has a chasing score of 34.1 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit into chasing after smaller pets just like the Maltese are listed in the table below
| Chasing Rank | Breed | Chasing Score |
|---|---|---|
| 90 | Fox Terrier (Toy) | 38.4 % |
| 91 | Australian Kelpie | 35.7 % |
| 92 | Poodle (Toy) | 34.4 % |
| 93 | Maltese | 34.1 % |
| 94 | Lhasa Apso | 33.8 % |
| 95 | Border Collie | 32.5 % |
| 96 | Pekingese | 30.9 % |
The dog breeds that like chasing after cats and other smaller pets are the:
The dog breeds that will not chase after cats and other smaller pets are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their prey drive.
Do Malteses Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
Some dog breeds like to stay close to their owners all the time. These dogs like attention, and they like to receive the affection of their owners.
These dogs get jealous when their owners give attention to other dogs or other people instead of them.
Dogs with these traits are described as attachment/attention-seeking.
Malteses are very much attachment/attention-seeking.
This is because the Maltese ranks very high for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
The Maltese ranks number 20 out of 124 dog breeds for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
This information is based on what 71 Maltese owners reported on the temperament of their Maltese in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Maltese has an attachment/attention-seeking score of 72.5 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much attachment/attention-seeking just like the Maltese are listed in the table below
| Attachment-Attention-Seeking Rank | Breed | Attachment-Attention-Seeking Score |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | Belgian Malinois | 74.4 % |
| 18 | Chihuahua | 74.3 % |
| 19 | English Bulldog | 73.9 % |
| 20 | Maltese | 72.5 % |
| 21 | Doberman Pinscher | 72.3 % |
| 22 | Australian Shepherd | 72.2 % |
| 23 | Chesapeake Bay Retriever | 71.8 % |
The dog breeds that are always seeking the attention of their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are aloof are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their clinginess.
Do Malteses have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
Dog breeds that have separation anxiety do not like to be left alone.
These dog breeds tend to bark and destroy things when separated from their owners.
They become restless or lose their appetite when left alone.
Malteses are very much prone to developing separation anxiety.
This is because the Maltese ranks very high for separation anxiety relative to other dog breeds.
The Maltese ranks number 8 out of 124 dog breeds for separation anxiety.
This information is based on what 71 Maltese owners reported on the temperament of their Maltese in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Maltese has a separation anxiety score of 66.5 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much prone to develop separation anxiety just like the Maltese are listed in the table below
| Separation-Related-Behavior Rank | Breed | Separation-Related-Behavior Score |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Australian Silky Terrier | 81.3 % |
| 6 | Dachshund (Miniature) | 80.8 % |
| 7 | Poodle (Toy) | 79.3 % |
| 8 | Maltese | 66.5 % |
| 9 | Yorkshire Terrier | 66.4 % |
| 10 | Dachshund | 66.2 % |
| 11 | Lhasa Apso | 65.5 % |
The dog breeds that are most prone to develop separation anxiety are listed below. These dog breeds do not like to be left alone. These dog breeds are the:
- Treeing Walker Coonhound
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- Chinese Crested
- Miniature Pinscher
- Australian Silky Terrier
The dog breeds that are least prone to develop separation anxiety are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their tendency to develop separation anxiety.
Are Malteses Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
Dogs that are touch-sensitive are fearful of `painful` procedures such as bathing, grooming, nail clipping, and veterinary examinations.
These dogs do not like going through these `painful` procedures, and they will react to show they do not like the procedure.
Malteses are very much touch-sensitive.
This is because the Maltese ranks very high for touch sensitivity.
The Maltese ranks number 10 out of 124 dog breeds for touch sensitivity.
This information is based on what 71 Maltese owners reported on the temperament of their Maltese in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Maltese has a touch-sensitivity score of 50.2 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much touch-sensitive just like the Maltese are listed in the table below
| Touch-Sensitivity Rank | Breed | Touch-Sensitivity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Chinese Shar-Pei | 61.7 % |
| 8 | Shiba Inu | 56.1 % |
| 9 | Pit Bull mix | 53.3 % |
| 10 | Maltese | 50.2 % |
| 11 | Afghan Hound | 50.2 % |
| 12 | Cairn Terrier | 49.3 % |
| 13 | Pug | 48.7 % |
The dog breeds that are most touch-sensitive are the:
The dog breeds that are least touch-sensitive are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their sensitivity to touch.
Are Malteses Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
Excitable dog or hyper dog breeds display strong reactions to potentially exciting or arousing events, such as:
- going for walks
- car trips
- sound of the doorbell
- arrival of visitors, and
- the owner arriving home
Highly excitable dog breeds have difficulty settling down after arousal.
Malteses are very much hyper (excitable).
This is because the Maltese ranks very high for excitability.
The Maltese ranks number 16 out of 124 dog breeds for excitability.
This information is based on what 71 Maltese owners reported on the temperament of their Maltese in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Maltese has an excitability score of 61.1 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much excitable just like the Maltese are listed in the table below
| Excitability Rank | Breed | Excitability Score |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Miniature Pinscher | 62.3 % |
| 14 | Boston Terrier | 61.9 % |
| 15 | Boxer | 61.8 % |
| 16 | Maltese | 61.1 % |
| 17 | Pit Bull mix | 60.6 % |
| 18 | Belgian Malinois | 60.1 % |
| 19 | Fox Terrier (Toy) | 59.9 % |
The dog breeds that are most hyper (excitable) are the:
- Australian Silky Terrier
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- American Eskimo Dog
- Parson Russell Terrier
- Miniature Schnauzer
The dog breeds that are least hyper (excitable) are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how hyper they are.
Are Malteses Playful? What is the Energy Level of Malteses
Energetic dog breeds are very playful dog breeds. These are the dog breeds that do not get tired easily.
Malteses are quite a bit energetic.
This is because the Maltese ranks high for energy level.
The Maltese ranks number 47 out of 124 dog breeds for energy level.
This information is based on what 71 Maltese owners reported on the temperament of their Maltese in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Maltese has an energy-level score of 63.4 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit energetic just like the Maltese are listed in the table below
| Energy-Level Rank | Breed | Energy-Level Score |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | Boston Terrier | 64.5 % |
| 45 | Schipperke | 64.1 % |
| 46 | Weimaraner | 64.0 % |
| 47 | Maltese | 63.4 % |
| 48 | Poodle (Miniature) | 62.8 % |
| 49 | Cocker Spaniel (American) | 62.5 % |
| 50 | German Shepherd | 62.1 % |
The dog breeds that are most playful and most energetic are the:
The dog breeds that are laziest are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most energetic to the least energetic.
Conclusion on Maltese Temperament
The temperament of your Maltese comes from a combination of its genetics and what environment your Maltese is exposed to.
You cannot change your Maltese`s gene but you can change the things you expose your Maltese to.
Exposing your Maltese to dog training sessions early in its life can help you mold the temperament of your Maltese to what you desire.
Again, with proper training, you can better your Maltese`s temperament. To learn how to properly train a dog, I highly recommend Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Maltese.
If you think the Maltese is the right dog breed for you, see our article on how much Malteses cost and Maltese puppy buying guide.
Also, see our list of reputable Maltese breeders in the United States and the prices of their Maltese puppies.