Maltese Guide

Maltese Puppy Stages From Birth to Adulthood

A Maltese puppy changes a great deal in its first year. It begins as a blind, deaf newborn that fits in the palm of a hand and finishes as a poised little adult with a full set of teeth and a coat that is starting to grow long. Knowing the Maltese puppy stages lets you spot what is normal, plan training and avoid worry over things that pass on their own.

The stages below run from birth to about two years. They are approximate, because every puppy sets its own pace, and your veterinarian is the best judge of any single dog. If you are looking at a litter now, the Maltese puppies for sale page shows the puppies at Divine Maltese.

What happens in the first two weeks of a Maltese puppy's life?

Newborn puppies are helpless. Their eyes and ear canals are closed, and they find their mother by smell and warmth. They cannot control their own body heat, so they stay close to the dam and littermates, and they spend most of the day nursing and sleeping.

The eyes open at about ten to fourteen days, and the first sight is blurry. The ear canals open shortly after. A newborn Maltese looks like a small, damp bundle with a short, soft coat, nothing like the flowing white adult.

When do Maltese puppies start walking, playing and eating solid food?

From around two to four weeks, the transition begins. Puppies stand, wobble, and then walk. Baby teeth begin to appear, around three to four weeks, and the puppies start to make sounds, wag their tails and notice their littermates.

Weaning follows over the next few weeks. Good breeders introduce softened puppy food around four weeks, and the dam gradually nurses less. By six to eight weeks, puppies are eating on their own. Toy puppies are slow to build body reserves, so meals must be frequent and a good breeder weighs each one to check that it is gaining.

What is the socialization window for a Maltese puppy?

From about three weeks to twelve or fourteen weeks, a puppy's brain is especially open to new experiences. What it meets during this time shapes how confident it will be later. It is the single most influential period for temperament.

Good breeders handle puppies gently every day, expose them to household sounds, different surfaces and calm visitors, and begin simple things such as being touched on the paws and ears. When your puppy comes home, continue the work with short, happy introductions to people, car rides, grooming tools and quiet outdoor sounds. Always protect the puppy from unvaccinated dogs and risky public ground until the vet allows it.

Keep each new experience short and rewarded with a treat.
Carry the puppy to new places while its vaccines are in progress.
Stop if the puppy seems frightened, and try again at a gentler level.

What is a Maltese puppy like from eight to twelve weeks?

This is when puppies are bouncy, curious and mostly independent. They learn to play with toys, tolerate short separations and respond to their names. Their bladders are small, so accidents are frequent and a routine is essential. The guide to house training and crate training lays out a schedule.

Toy puppies carry one particular risk at this age: low blood sugar. A very small puppy that skips meals, gets chilled or becomes overtired can become weak, wobbly or sleepy. Feed several small meals a day, keep the room warm, and call your veterinarian or an emergency clinic at once if the puppy seems limp or unresponsive, and go straight there. Some veterinarians advise rubbing a little honey or corn syrup on the gums on the way, so ask yours in advance what they want you to do, and never put liquid in the mouth of a puppy that cannot swallow. Many careful breeders keep toy puppies until at least twelve weeks, partly because the youngest ones are so delicate. The first weeks at home are covered in the Maltese puppy care guide.

What changes between three and six months?

Growth is fast. The puppy gets leggier and more coordinated, and its energy rises. Training sessions are the best time to build habits, because puppies this age are eager to learn.

Teething starts at about three to four months. The twenty-eight baby teeth loosen and fall out, and forty-two adult teeth come in, usually finishing around six to seven months. Expect extra chewing, sore gums and the occasional tiny tooth on the floor. Provide safe chews, and ask your veterinarian to check that no baby teeth stay behind, which is common in toy breeds and can crowd the adult teeth. The guide to puppy-proofing your home covers the chewing.

For body weight, the guide to how big a Maltese gets has a table of approximate weights by age.

What is the adolescent stage, from six to eighteen months?

Many owners are surprised by the teenage phase. A puppy that listened well at four months may start to ignore commands, test boundaries or become more reactive to sounds. Hormones are changing, and the dog is learning to balance independence with the habits you have taught it.

Keep the routine steady, keep training short and positive, and continue socializing. Behavior that seems like defiance is often just distraction, so go back a step in training, use better treats and lower the distractions rather than getting frustrated. Small females often have a first heat from about six to ten months, though the timing varies, and the spay or neuter decision should be discussed with your veterinarian. Keep the dog on a leash in unfenced areas during this period, because adolescent dogs can bolt after anything interesting.

How does a Maltese puppy's coat change as it grows?

A young puppy has a soft, short, slightly fluffy coat. As it grows, the hair lengthens and gets silkier, and at some point between four and twelve months many puppies pass through a rough patch where the coat looks cottony or tangles easily. This is when mats form fastest, so start gentle daily brushing early.

The adult coat is single and silky, without undercoat, and keeps growing for years. Begin handling the feet, face and ears while the dog is small, and see the Maltese grooming guide for routines. Tear staining can also show up during teething, a topic in the guide to Maltese tear stains.

When is a Maltese fully grown?

Height is mostly done by about six months, and the body fills out by around a year. Mental maturity tends to arrive later, often at two years. Between one and two years, the dog settles down, the chest broadens slightly and the coat reaches its full length.

After two, the Maltese is an adult in every sense, and the next ten or so years are the long, settled part of life. Adults still need dental care, coat care and regular weighing, and the guide to how long Maltese live explains what to expect as the years pass. An adult Maltese is not defined by a calendar date. If your dog seems different from the schedule above, a short vet visit will tell you whether it is just a late bloomer.

How do vaccines and vet visits fit into the stages?

A typical plan starts with a veterinary examination soon after the puppy comes home, followed by a series of core vaccines given every few weeks until about sixteen weeks of age. Rabies vaccination is required by law in most places and is timed by your veterinarian. Deworming and parasite prevention are also part of the first months.

Your veterinarian will set the exact schedule for your puppy. Keep the written record from the breeder and bring it to the first visit.

Quick Answers

At what age is a Maltese puppy ready to go to a new home?

Toy breed puppies are usually older than larger breeds when they go, commonly twelve weeks or more. The extra time helps them grow stronger and finish early learning with their mother and littermates.

How long do Maltese stay in the puppy stage?

Physically, about a year. Behaviorally, many act like puppies for two years or longer, which is part of the breed's charm.

Do Maltese puppies sleep a lot?

Yes. Young puppies often sleep for most of the day in short stretches. Plan quiet rest time, especially after play, to prevent overtiredness.

When should a Maltese puppy have its first grooming?

Begin brushing and handling as soon as the puppy is home. A first professional visit is usually fine after vaccines are under way, and a short, gentle session works best.