Breed comparison
Yorkshire Terrier vs Maltese
Yorkies and Maltese look alike under the silk — but the temperament, exercise needs, and grooming details are different. Side-by-side guide.
Yorkshire Terrier
Full breed guide →Maltese
Comparison breed
Quick answer
Yorkshire Terriers are bolder and more vocal — true terriers with strong opinions. Maltese are gentler companion dogs bred specifically for laps over centuries. Both are tiny (under 8 lbs) and live 12-15 years. Pick a Yorkie if you want a confident small dog with personality; pick a Maltese if you want a calmer, more affectionate lap companion.
Trim the topknots and stand a Yorkie next to a Maltese and you might struggle to tell them apart from across the room. Up close they're meaningfully different dogs — different histories, different temperaments, and different priorities for the right owner. The Yorkie is a former rat-catcher with terrier opinions, the Maltese is a 2,000-year-old companion bred for laps. Both are excellent small companions; the right choice depends on whether you want a bold little working terrier or a true companion breed.
Snapshot comparison
Trait
Yorkshire Terrier
Maltese
Size
7–8 inches at the shoulder
7–9 inches at the shoulder
Weight
4–7 lbs
Under 7 lbs
Lifespan
11–15 years
12–15 years
Energy
Moderate
Moderate
Grooming
High — daily brushing if in show coat
High — daily brushing if in show coat
Best for
Excellent with adults, careful with toddlers
Best with adults and gentle older children
Temperament
Yorkshire Terrier
Bold, confident, vocal. Yorkies have terrier instincts — they bark at exciting things, want a job, and have strong opinions on visitors.
Maltese
Gentle, affectionate, more quietly playful. Maltese were bred as companions for centuries and the personality reflects it — softer edges, less reactive.
The verdict: Yorkie for bolder personality; Maltese for a calmer, more devoted lap dog.
Exercise
Yorkshire Terrier
20–30 minutes daily. Yorkies have terrier energy in short bursts and want a job.
Maltese
20–30 minutes daily. Maltese are surprisingly playful but tire more quickly and prefer indoor games.
The verdict: Similar daily needs; both happy in apartments.
Grooming
Yorkshire Terrier
High in show coat (daily brushing), moderate in puppy cut. The coat is hair, not fur — minimal shedding.
Maltese
Higher. The all-white silky coat tangles fast and shows every speck — daily brushing essentially required, regular professional grooming for the show look.
The verdict: Maltese coat care is more demanding due to length and white showing dirt.
Training
Yorkshire Terrier
Smart and food-motivated but stubborn — bark control and housetraining are the typical Yorkie challenges.
Maltese
Eager to please but more sensitive. Maltese learn fast with gentle methods and respond badly to harshness.
The verdict: Maltese are usually easier to train; Yorkies are smarter at problem-solving (sometimes against you).
Health
Yorkshire Terrier
Luxating patella, tracheal collapse (use a harness!), dental disease, portosystemic shunt.
Maltese
Luxating patella, dental disease, white shaker syndrome, congenital heart defects.
The verdict: Both are generally long-lived. Dental disease is a major concern in both — daily brushing matters.
Family fit
Yorkshire Terrier
Best with adults and respectful older children. Fragile but vocal.
Maltese
Best with adults and respectful older children. Slightly more gentle but equally fragile.
The verdict: Neither suits households with toddlers or rough handling — both can be injured by a fall.
Which one should you pick?
Pick the Yorkshire Terrier
Pick a Yorkshire Terrier if you want a small dog with a big personality and don't mind the bark — Yorkies are bolder, more independent, and more terrier.
Pick the Maltese
Pick a Maltese if you want a true companion lap dog — gentle, affectionate, less vocal, and content to be wherever you are.
Frequently asked questions
Are Yorkies and Maltese related?
Not closely. Maltese are an ancient European companion breed (genealogy traceable to Greek and Roman times). Yorkshire Terriers were developed in 19th-century England from working terriers. They look similar after grooming but come from very different histories.
Which is friendlier, a Yorkie or a Maltese?
Maltese are generally friendlier with strangers. Yorkies are more reserved and protective of their family — friendly with you, suspicious of newcomers until they decide otherwise.
Which sheds less, Yorkie or Maltese?
Both shed very little — Yorkies have hair (not fur) like Maltese, and both are commonly tolerated by mild allergy sufferers. Maltese are sometimes slightly better tolerated, but neither is strictly hypoallergenic.
Which is better with cats?
Maltese are more cat-compatible on average. Yorkies retain enough terrier prey drive to chase cats, especially unfamiliar ones; Maltese were bred for centuries as house companions and tend to coexist more easily.
Which lives longer, Yorkie or Maltese?
Lifespans are similar — both typically 12–15 years, with many individuals reaching 16 or older. Lean body weight, regular dental care, and addressing patella issues early all extend life in both breeds.