Maltese Puppies: Adopt or Buy in Australia?

Should you adopt or buy a Maltese?

Start with rescue unless you need a purebred puppy. Across the rescues we aggregate, Maltese crosses are the most common small low-shedding dog listed, so a Maltese-type dog is one of the easier small breeds to adopt. If you want a purebred Maltese puppy, a registered breeder is the realistic route, because purebred puppies are a small share of rescue listings.

Either way, ask about health. The American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) says patellar luxation mainly affects small dogs, and it lists the Maltese among the breeds in which a congenital portosystemic (liver) shunt is seen. Small dogs also carry more dental disease. A breeder should be able to talk about all three; a rescue can tell you what its vet found.

Reference figures read on 9 November 2026 on the rescue fee pages linked below. Not quotes: breeders and rescues set their own prices and change them.

What does a Maltese puppy cost from a registered breeder?

There is no published figure to point you to. We looked for a Maltese price on Dogs Australia's pages and Australian Maltese club pages on 9 November 2026 and found none, so we do not quote a range here. Prices in ads are whatever that seller has chosen, and many ads for “Maltese” puppies are crosses sold under a breed name.

Compare what each price includes. A puppy from a breeder registered with Dogs Australia through its state body comes with pedigree papers, and most companion puppies are sold on the limited register, with an agreement that the dog will not be bred from. Ask what health checks the parents have had, whether the puppy will be vet checked, vaccinated and microchipped before it leaves, and whether the breeder will take the dog back if your circumstances change.

Low-shedding is not hypoallergenic

The Dogs Australia breed standard describes the Maltese coat as long, silky and straight, with no woolly undercoat, and Dogs Australia explains that coats like this seem to keep growing and need regular trimming. Less shedding can mean less allergen spread around a home. But ASCIA, the Australasian allergy society, says all dog breeds cause allergies, because the main source of dog allergen is saliva spread by dander. If anyone in your home has an allergy, spend real time with the individual dog before you commit, and read our hypoallergenic dogs guide.

Which health checks should a Maltese breeder talk about?

Ask about each item below for both parents, and ask to see written results. We could not find an Australian Maltese club that publishes a required test list, and Dogs Australia notes there is no mandatory health testing imposed nationwide for all breeders. Dogs Australia says a good breeder will answer questions about hereditary conditions, show test results and let your own vet check the puppy.

Evidence from the ACVS and the Royal Veterinary College, read 9 November 2026. This is a buying checklist, not veterinary advice.

The liver: portosystemic shunts

A portosystemic shunt is an abnormal connection that lets blood from the gut bypass the liver. The ACVS says the genetic basis is unknown but the condition is considered congenital in breeds including the Maltese and Yorkshire Terrier, and that single shunts outside the liver more often affect small and toy breeds. Signs it lists include small body size, slow recovery after an anaesthetic and behaviour changes, and in some dogs unsteadiness, seizures or head pressing. Not every Maltese is affected. If a puppy is unusually small or slow to recover from its desexing anaesthetic, tell your vet.

The knees and the teeth

Patellar luxation means the kneecap slips outside its groove when the knee bends; the ACVS says most affected dogs suddenly carry a back leg for a few steps, then use it normally again. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals only certifies knees in dogs 12 months and over, so ask about the parents. On teeth, a Royal Veterinary College study found dogs under 10 kg had about three times the risk of dental disease of dogs weighing 30 to 40 kg, and recommends daily brushing with a dog toothpaste. Our Maltese health guide covers these conditions in more depth.

What do Maltese in rescue look like?

Mostly crosses, and a wide range of ages. Across the rescues we aggregate, Maltese listings are mostly crosses with Shih Tzus, Poodles, Jack Russells, Silky Terriers and Schnauzers, alongside some purebred adults. Older dogs appear regularly, including seniors, and young dogs turn up too. If a purebred puppy is essential, a breeder is the honest answer. If not, a rescue Maltese or Maltese cross gives you a known size, coat and temperament, plus a vet check you can read before you apply.

A senior Maltese can be a very good match for a quiet home, and our senior dog adoption guide covers what to expect. We did not find a Maltese-specific rescue in Australia that we could verify, so watch the general rescues and RSPCA shelters we list.

What does a rescue Maltese cost?

Fees as published by each rescue on the date shown. A reference, not a quote: fees change, and some dogs are priced individually. Adoption fees normally include desexing, microchipping and vaccinations.

Book your own vet visit in the first week after adopting, ask for a dental and knee check, and look at pet insurance before anything is recorded as a pre-existing condition.

How do Maltese puppy scams work?

A small white dog sold as allergy friendly is an easy ad to write. Scamwatch says scammers set up fake websites, social media profiles and marketplace listings for popular breeds that do not exist, and that a very cheap pet is likely a scam. Its advice is to view the puppy in person, ask for a video call if you cannot visit, check that the breeder is legitimate, and compare prices.

Two Maltese-specific cautions: a promise that a puppy is “hypoallergenic” is not something any seller can keep, and a “Maltese” puppy with no papers may be a cross. A cross can be a lovely dog; it just should not be priced or described as something it is not.

• Check the registration yourself. Enter the breeder's prefix or membership number in the Dogs Australia registered breeder check, not a certificate the seller emails you.
• Check the state number. NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and the ACT each require sellers to show an identifying number. Our puppies for sale guide lists each state's scheme and where to look it up.
• Meet the mother. Her coat, size and temperament are the best preview of the puppy.
• Expect questions. Dogs Australia says a good breeder will show you the dogs on the premises, answer questions about hereditary conditions and let your vet check the puppy.

Is a Maltese the right dog for you?

The Dogs Australia breed standard describes the Maltese as smart, lively and alert, sweet tempered and very intelligent, pure white and no more than 25 cm at the shoulder. That makes it one of the classic companion dogs for apartments, retirees and families with gentle children.

The trade-offs are grooming, teeth and company. The coat needs brushing and regular trims for the dog's whole life, small teeth need daily care, and a companion breed does not do well alone all day. Run the first year's costs, including grooming, with the dog cost calculator, and if you are still choosing, try the what dog breed am I quiz and the adoption readiness check. Our Maltese grooming guide covers the coat, and dogs that don't shed compares the Maltese with other low-shedding breeds.

Find a Maltese near you

Each page below shows Maltese and Maltese crosses listed right now by rescues in that city, and each listing links to the rescue where you apply directly.

• Maltese for adoption in Sydney
• Maltese for adoption in Melbourne
• Maltese for adoption in Brisbane
• Maltese for adoption in Perth
• Maltese for adoption in Adelaide

Looking for any low-shedding dog? Browse low-shedding dogs in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth or Adelaide.

For local rescues, fees and what to expect in your city, read the Maltese adoption guide for Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast.

Related guides: Pomeranian puppies: adopt or buy?, Chihuahua puppies: adopt or buy? and Cavoodle puppies: adopt or buy?, another small breed often chosen for its coat.