Are Maltese good in hot weather?
Maltese tolerate warm weather reasonably well. Sensible summer habits are still worth having in place before the first heatwave.
How Maltese handle the heat
The cooling problem
Maltese cool themselves through normal panting without the added handicap of a flat face or a heavy northern coat. A healthy dog of this type manages typical UK summers without much drama.
Practical summer management
Shift walks to early morning and late evening, and skip them entirely on the hottest days. Carry water on every outing, provide deep shade in the garden, and give access to cool floors indoors. The pavement test is simple: press the back of your hand to the ground for seven seconds, and if it is too hot for your hand it is too hot for paws.
Never leave any dog in a parked car, conservatory, or caravan, even briefly and even with a window open. Interior temperatures climb to lethal levels within minutes.
Exercise in warm weather
Maltese have moderate exercise needs, which makes summer easier to manage. It is straightforward to shift their activity into the cooler hours without leaving them under-exercised.
What temperature is too hot?
There is no single cutoff, because humidity, age, weight, and coat all matter. As a guide, take extra care above 20C and treat anything above 25C as high risk for any dog during exercise. When in doubt, keep them home and cool.
Personality and summer walks
An ancient companion breed wrapped in silky white hair. Devoted, delicate, and surprisingly feisty.
A gentle temperament tends to slow down sensibly in hot weather, resting rather than pushing through discomfort the way a more driven dog often will. Affectionate dogs want to stay close to their owner even in the heat, following them from room to room rather than settling alone on the coolest floor available. A lively dog keeps up a high level of activity even as the temperature climbs, and that liveliness does not automatically switch to caution once conditions get uncomfortably warm.
Heat, training and behaviour
Teaching a dog to settle in the shade
Maltese respond reasonably well to basic settle training, which helps on hot days when the aim is simply to keep the dog calm and off its feet during the warmest hours.
Barking and restlessness in a heatwave
Maltese bark a moderate amount day to day, and that can increase during a heatwave if the dog is uncomfortable and unable to settle properly.
Family and other pets in a heatwave
Maltese need closer supervision around children at the best of times, and a hot day adds the extra risk of a dog overexerting itself during boisterous play rather than resting when it should. They typically share a house with a cat without issue, and both species tend to gravitate to the same cool spots during a heatwave.
Cost and ageing in hot weather
Maltese typically live 13 to 16 years, and older dogs of any breed regulate heat less efficiently than a fit adult, so senior malteses need shorter, cooler outings and closer watching during a heatwave. Insurance for a Maltese in the UK typically costs about £18 to £45 a month, and heatstroke is exactly the kind of sudden, serious vet visit that cover exists for. A Maltese puppy, usually priced around £700 to £2000, overheats more easily than an adult dog as well, since puppies have less developed temperature regulation and tire without always showing it.
Full guide to Maltese
Read the complete Maltese guide →