Yorkie vs Maltese: Toy Breed Comparison

Last updated: May 6, 2026

Yorkie vs Maltese Overview

The yorkie vs maltese decision pits two of the most popular toy breeds against each other, and the differences run deeper than coat color. The Yorkshire Terrier is a true terrier — bold, feisty, prey-driven, and stubborn — bred to hunt rats in 19th-century English mills. The Maltese is a centuries-old companion breed bred to do nothing except be lovable. Both are tiny, both are devoted, and both need significant human time. The temperament gap, however, is real.

This comparison helps you choose between terrier brain and companion brain in a similarly small package.

For more detail, see the Yorkshire Terrier profile, the Maltese profile, and our rescue Yorkie guide.

History and Origin

The Yorkshire Terrier emerged in 19th-century Yorkshire, England, where Scottish weavers brought small terriers to the textile mills. The dogs were working ratters, kept tiny enough to chase rats through tight mill spaces. The breed was refined into a glamorous show dog by the late 1800s but retains the terrier brain underneath the silk. AKC-recognized 1885.

The Maltese is far older, with roots in Mediterranean trading cultures over 2,000 years ago. It has been a companion-class breed throughout its documented history — never a working dog. AKC-recognized 1888.

Size and Appearance

Yorkies stand 7 to 8 inches and weigh 4 to 7 pounds. The build is compact and balanced. Coat is long, silky, fine, and steel-blue with rich tan, often parted down the back when shown. Eyes are dark and intelligent.

Maltese stand 7 to 9 inches and weigh under 7 pounds. The build is similarly small but slightly more refined and elegant. Coat is long, silky, single-layered, and pure white. Both breeds are kept in shorter “puppy cuts” by most pet owners for practicality.

Temperament: The Big Difference

Yorkies are bold, curious, opinionated, and confident. The terrier brain is on full display — they bark, chase moving things, dig if they get the chance, and stand their ground with much larger dogs (sometimes recklessly). They bond strongly with one or two people and can be aloof or sharp with strangers. They are not naturally tolerant of toddler handling.

Maltese are affectionate, devoted, and softer in personality. They bond intensely with their primary person and want to be touching them. They can also bark at strangers and small things in the yard, but the underlying temperament is companion rather than predator. Maltese tend to be slightly more naturally calm than Yorkies.

Both breeds are velcro dogs and dislike being left alone.

Trainability

Yorkies are intelligent but stubborn. The terrier brain decides what’s worth doing. Housebreaking is famously slow (small bladders meet stubborn temperament). Positive reinforcement and consistent boundaries work; punishment-based methods backfire badly.

Maltese are similarly intelligent and somewhat less stubborn. Housebreaking is also slow but typically faster than Yorkie housebreaking. Both breeds need crate training and patience. Both respond to gentle, consistent handling.

Yorkies particularly benefit from early socialization to prevent “small dog syndrome” — fear-driven reactivity that owners sometimes mistake for confidence. A puppy class through the first six months pays off long term. Maltese similarly benefit but tend to be naturally more accommodating.

Exercise Needs

Yorkies need 30 to 45 minutes of daily activity. They love walks, indoor play, and chasing toys. Their terrier brain wants something to investigate.

Maltese need 30 to 45 minutes similarly, with a slight bias toward gentler indoor play and human contact over investigation. Both are well-suited to apartment living. Neither is a serious athletic breed.

Heat caution applies for both — small body mass means rapid overheating in warm weather. Walks should shift to cooler hours in summer, and pavement temperature should be tested before outings. Both breeds also chill quickly in cold weather and benefit from coats below 40°F.

Grooming

Yorkie coats are silky and continuously growing — they do not shed in the typical sense. If kept long, brush daily. Most pet Yorkies wear a short “puppy cut” to reduce maintenance, with professional grooming every six to eight weeks at $50 to $90. Annual cost: $400 to $800. Tear staining around the eyes needs daily wiping. The grooming a Yorkie guide covers the routine.

Maltese coat care is similar — silky, single-layered, low-shedding, prone to tangling. Daily brushing if long, less if in puppy cut. Professional grooming every six to eight weeks at $40 to $80. Annual cost: $300 to $700. Both breeds need facial-fold cleaning, ear cleaning, and dental attention.

Health and Lifespan

Yorkies live 13 to 16 years. Common concerns: dental disease (very common, prioritize home brushing), patellar luxation, tracheal collapse (use harnesses, not collars), liver shunts, hypoglycemia in puppies, Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, and progressive retinal atrophy. Reputable breeders test for shunts and patellas.

Maltese live 12 to 15 years (often longer) with similar concerns: dental disease, patellar luxation, liver shunts, hypoglycemia, tracheal collapse, and white shaker syndrome. Both breeds need careful handling to avoid fall injuries — use ramps for couches and beds. Both are prone to eye issues and small-breed dental problems requiring annual cleanings.

Cost and Rescue Availability

Yorkie puppies run $1,500 to $3,500. Maltese puppies run $1,500 to $3,500. Both are common puppy-mill targets and “teacup” marketing scams — be especially careful with breeder vetting. There is no recognized “teacup” size in either breed; the term means “underweight and often unhealthy.” Beyond purchase, plan for $1,200 to $2,500 in first-year costs and $1,000 to $2,000 in annual ongoing costs. Both breeds often live 14 to 16 years, so total lifetime costs add up substantially.

Yorkshire Terrier rescues exist nationally (Yorkshire Terrier Club of America and regional groups). Maltese rescues are similarly available. Both appear in toy-breed rescues, all-breed shelters, and foster-based rescues. Adoption fees run $250 to $500. Senior dogs are commonly available and often the best fit for first-time small-dog owners.

Pet insurance pays off for both given common toy-breed health issues — dental disease, patellar luxation, tracheal collapse, and liver shunts can each create substantial vet bills. Insure before age three for the lowest premiums and before any pre-existing condition is diagnosed. The rescue adoption walkthrough covers application expectations.

Living With Each Breed

A Yorkie’s day is investigative: morning patrol of the house and yard, walk with thorough sniffing, breakfast, midday alert at every passing sound, afternoon nap interrupted by self-appointed alarm duty, evening lap time. They are constantly aware.

A Maltese’s day is companion-focused: morning greeting of their primary person, walk, breakfast, nap on that person’s feet, midday outing, evening close contact. They follow you from room to room and often want to be carried.

Both breeds struggle with long workdays alone. Yorkies vocalize when bored; Maltese vocalize when anxious. Doggy daycare, a second pet, or a work-from-home schedule are common solutions. The 3-3-3 rule applies to rescues of either breed.

Toy-breed handling protocols matter: harnesses rather than collars (tracheal collapse is real in both), ramps for furniture, supervision around larger pets, and careful exercise around stairs. Daily teeth brushing is essential because dental disease is the most preventable common health problem in both. Annual professional dental cleanings under anesthesia are standard from middle age. See the dog care blog for small-breed care basics.

Which Is Right for You

Choose a Yorkie if you want a confident, opinionated, brain-on-full-display companion who treats the world as something to investigate. Yorkies suit owners who appreciate personality and accept stubbornness. They are not the best fit for homes with toddlers.

Choose a Maltese if you want a softer, more devoted lap companion who wants to be touching you all day. Maltese suit owners who want a quieter, more naturally calm small dog.

Both demand serious time commitment. Neither tolerates being left alone for full workdays. Both reward patient owners with deep loyalty.

Buying or Adopting Responsibly

Both breeds attract puppy mills aggressively. Pet store puppies, online sellers shipping nationwide, “teacup” listings, and rapidly produced puppies from “breeders” with multiple breeds are major red flags. Reputable Yorkie breeders test for liver shunts (bile acid testing), patellar evaluation, eye exams, and Legg-Calvé-Perthes screening. Reputable Maltese breeders test for shunts, patellas, and cardiac function.

Most “breeders” advertising online have done none of this testing. Walk away from any breeder who cannot produce health-test results for both parents. Price alone is a poor signal — high prices appear at puppy mills too. The right signal is documented health testing, references from prior puppy buyers, and a breeder willing to take dogs back at any age if circumstances change.

Adopting an adult of either breed offers visible health, temperament, and household-fit information that puppies cannot provide. Foster-based rescues describe a particular dog’s behavior with kids, cats, other dogs, and routine handling. The 3-3-3 rule applies — three days to decompress, three weeks to settle, three months to fully bond. The first week with a rescue dog guide covers transition.

Senior small dogs are widely available in rescue and frequently overlooked because adopters favor puppies. Adopting a senior toy-breed dog is rewarding — these dogs settle quickly, often have visible health profiles, and bond deeply with new humans. Adoption fees are typically lower. Read adopting an adult dog for context.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is calmer?

Maltese are typically calmer. Yorkies have terrier energy on tap.

Which barks more?

Both bark. Yorkies tend to bark more at outside stimuli (terrier alertness). Maltese bark more from anxiety or attention-seeking.

Which is better with kids?

Both do best with respectful older children. Yorkies are sharper in temperament and may snap at rough handling. Both are too small for toddler households.

Which is easier to housebreak?

Maltese are typically slightly faster. Both benefit from crate training and patience. Yorkies’ stubbornness extends to bathroom habits.

Can I find them in rescue?

Yes for both. Adult and senior small dogs are common in toy-breed rescues and shelters. The 3-3-3 rule applies to small breeds too. See our adoption hub for current listings.

Do they need a yard?

No — both adapt well to apartment living. Indoor play and daily walks meet exercise needs. Yorkies enjoy investigating outdoor spaces but do not require a yard.

Are they good with cats?

Maltese are typically more cat-tolerant. Yorkies may chase cats with terrier prey drive, especially if not raised with them. Test compatibility before adopting either into a cat household.