Maltichon (Maltese & Bichon Frise Mix): Info, Pictures, Care & More

If you want a companion dog that is beautiful, loving, and hypoallergenic, then a Maltichon might be precisely what you’re looking for. These Maltese and Bichon Frise mixes are great little dogs that love being with their owners and have a gentle and sweet temperament.

With so many great features, it’s no wonder that these dogs are in high demand. But is a Maltichon worth their higher price tag? How much should you be spending on a puppy, anyway? How smart and how easy are these dogs to train?

We break down everything that you need to know about these affectionate and adorable dogs here so you aren’t left with any surprises.

Maltichon Characteristics

Maltichon Puppies

Maltichon puppies are low-maintenance dogs that are extremely intelligent and highly trainable. In many ways, it doesn’t matter which breed your Maltichon puppy takes after, as Maltese and Bichon Frise dogs are so similar to each other.

This makes Maltichon dogs great companions, and their size and appearance don’t change all that much. They’re also relatively healthy and have relatively long lifespans. Even better for some owners, they’re low energy, making them great for city and apartment dwellers.

Maltichon puppies do great with children, pets, and even other dogs. However, you have to be careful with larger dogs and smaller children who can accidentally hurt the smaller Maltichon. The fact that Maltichons are not shy around small children and large dogs exacerbates this fact because they’ll jump straight into the playful fray!

Temperament & Intelligence of the Maltichon 🧠

Maltichons are extremely intelligent because both the Maltese and the Bichon Frise are intelligent dogs, so no matter which parent your pup takes after, they’re going to be smart.

These dogs are extremely playful and gentle. They love being around people and enjoy pleasing their owners. This makes them great dogs to train, and they do exceptionally well at adapting to new situations.

They’re also great with kids and other pets. Just expect that they’ll want to play with everyone!

Are These Dogs Good for Families 👪

Maltichons are great with families. They do great around small children and other pets, making them ideal additions to the family.

They love being around the hustle and bustle of daily life, so the more you have going on, the better with a Maltichon! Just expect them to follow you around and be in the middle of the action, even if they are a bit in the way.

However, keep in mind that Maltichons do not like to be left alone for long periods. So, if everyone is out of the house every day for hours at a time, you might run into destructive behavior patterns. But if you can bring your new puppy when you head out, they’ll love you even more for it!

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets 🐶 😽

Maltichons get along great with other pets. Whether they’re cats, dogs, ferrets, rabbits, or anything else, Maltichons will quickly do their best to turn them into their new best friend.

However, if you have a larger dog, you need to be careful because a Maltichon can forget that it’s small and jump right into play. If the larger dog isn’t careful, a Maltichon can get hurt by accident.

This is the same concern with smaller children. While the Maltichon’s mild temperament keeps them from nipping or getting aggressive toward kids, they can quickly get hurt if the child falls on them.

Things to Know When Owning a Maltichon

Before you get any pet, you need to take the time to understand them. That’s why we took the time to break down everything that you need to know about these happy puppies before heading out and purchasing one.

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

Since Maltichon is a smaller dog, they won’t eat much. In fact, the average Maltichon only eats about ½ cup of food a day. However, it’s still important to invest in high-quality dog food rather than the cheapest option.

You should try to get dog food specifically formulated for small breeds. Also, avoid feeding your dog table scraps because with a dog this small, even small scraps can lead to significant health concerns in just a few years.

Exercise 🐕

With a Maltichon, you don’t need to worry too much about structured exercise like walks. Over the course of a day, you should spend about 20 to 30 minutes walking your Maltichon, but you don’t need to do it all at once.

Also, you can set a slow pace for your walk since 2 to 4 miles is plenty of exercise for an entire week! However, don’t think that because you’re not taking your Maltichon for long walks, they’re not getting plenty of exercise.

Instead, they get most of their exercise while playing in the house. They can play with people, other pets, or children—no matter how they want to play!

Training 🎾

Since Maltichons are so intelligent, they’re relatively easy to train. While they can have a bit of a stubborn streak, this is less of a problem with puppies, and if you keep everything entertaining and engaging, it’s quite easy.

However, keep in mind that Maltichons are easily bored, so it’s best to keep the training sessions short and repeat them often. This will keep your Maltichon engaged session after session and greatly aid in overall training.

Grooming ✂️

While a Maltichon might not shed much, there is a great deal of maintenance that goes into grooming. First, you’ll need to brush your Maltichon daily. This will keep their hair from matting and tangling.

You should give your Maltichon a bath at least once a month, as this will keep them clean because they’re not shedding their hair as often as other dogs.

Finally, you’ll need to make regular trips to a groomer to keep all that hair in check. So, while their coat might be low shedding, it’s high maintenance.

Health and Conditions ❤️ 🏥

Just because a Maltichon isn’t a purebred doesn’t mean that you don’t have to worry about health problems. While Maltichons are a relatively healthy dog breed, there are a few concerns that you should keep an eye out for.

If you know what to look for, then you might be able to catch the problems before they become serious.

Male vs Female

While male dogs tend to be slightly larger than their female counterparts, this doesn’t always hold true with Maltichons. That’s because it all comes down to which parent they take their size from.

When you consider all these things, you’ll find that there aren’t any significant differences between a male or female Maltichon.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Maltichon

1. Most Maltichons are hypoallergenic.

While no dog is guaranteed to be completely hypoallergenic, since most Maltese and Bichon Frise dogs are considered hypoallergenic, it makes sense that most Maltichons are, too. If you’re curious about whether your Maltichon will be hypoallergenic, take a look at the parents.

If both parents are hypoallergenic, then your Maltichon puppy should be too.

2. Maltichons are low-energy dogs that love daily life.

While your Maltichon will likely be playful and follow you all around the house, they don’t need tons of walks. In fact, for structured walks, you should shoot for 30 minutes a day and only 2 to 4 miles a week!

This is the best of both worlds for those who live in apartments and the city. You get a dog that you don’t have to take on long walks outside, and you get a playful dog in the house!

3. You need to challenge a Maltichon intellectually.

If your Maltichon is acting out at home, chances are that they don’t need more physical stimulation—they need more mental stimulation! Maltichons are extremely intelligent dogs and, as such, are easily bored.

So, when you get a Maltichon, invest in puzzle-treat toys and things like that, but make sure they’re not too easy! It’s a fine line to walk, but it’s what you need to do if you have a Maltichon.

Final Thoughts

If you’re serious about adding a companion dog to your home, you’d be doing yourself a disservice if you didn’t take the time to check out the Maltichon. They’re great companion dogs that are both adorable and easygoing.

But don’t mistake their easy-going nature for low maintenance. They still require tons of care and love, and their high intelligence can make them a bit of a handful from time to time. Still, they’re great with other pets, kids, and people, so it’s not hard to see why they’re so popular!

See also:

• Male vs Female Bichon Frises: What are the Differences?

• Teacup Bichon Frise: Breed Info, Pictures, Temperament & Traits

Featured Image Credit: lunamarina, Shutterstock