Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Curly-Coated Retriever Versus Maltese: Introduction
- Curly-Coated Retriever versus Maltese: Overview
- Curly-Coated Retriever versus Maltese: Comparison Table
- The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Maltese
- The Similarities Between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Maltese
- Size (Weight and Height) of Curly-Coated Retriever versus Maltese
- Temperament of the Curly-Coated Retriever Versus the Maltese
- The Intelligence of the Curly-Coated Retriever versus the Intelligence of the Maltese
- The Popularity of Curly-Coated Retriever versus Popularity of Maltese
- Health Problems of Curly-Coated Retriever versus Health Problems of Maltese
- Which one drools more, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Maltese
- Tolerates Being Alone: Curly-Coated Retriever versus Maltese
- Do Curly-Coated Retrievers shed more than Malteses?
- Which is Easier to Groom, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Maltese?
- Do Curly-Coated Retrievers Bark and Howl? What about Malteses?
- Can Curly-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Malteses Tolerate Cold Weather?
- Can Curly-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Malteses Tolerate Hot Weather?
- Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Maltese?
- Is the Curly-Coated Retriever Easier to Train than the Maltese?
- Wanderlust Potential: Curly-Coated Retriever vs. Maltese
- Are Curly-Coated Retrievers good family dogs? What about Malteses?
- How Kid-friendly are Curly-Coated Retrievers and Malteses?
- Does the Curly-Coated Retriever Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Maltese?
- Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Curly-Coated Retriever
- Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Maltese
- Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You
- Conclusion: Curly-Coated Retriever versus Maltese. Which One is a Better Pet?
Curly-Coated Retriever Versus Maltese: Introduction
Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Maltese? Well, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will provide you a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Maltese better suits you.
We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Maltese.
Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Maltese is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.
Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Curly-Coated Retriever and for the Maltese. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Maltese.
Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Maltese
Curly-Coated Retriever versus Maltese: Overview
A very important difference between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Maltese is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Curly-Coated Retriever is a medium-sized dog while the Maltese is a tiny-sized dog.
Furthermore, the Curly-Coated Retriever belongs to the Sporting Dogs group. Sporting Dogs were bred to help hunters catch and retrieve feathered game. Some sporting dog breeds such as Retrievers, which were built for swimming, were bred to hunt waterfowl in water. Whereas sporting dog breeds like setters, spaniels, and pointing breeds were bred to hunt quail, pheasant, and other game birds nest on grasslands. Many Sporting Group breeds have thick, water-repellent coats that protect them from harsh hunting conditions.
On the other hand, the Maltese belongs to the Companion Dogs group. Companion Dogs were bred to be companions for humans. Their main goal in life is to be with people, and they will be very sad if left to themselves for long hours day after day.
Curly-Coated Retriever versus Maltese: Comparison Table
The table below compares the Curly-Coated Retriever to the Maltese based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.
When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets
Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.
However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.
| Factor | Curly-Coated Retriever | Maltese |
|---|---|---|
| Adapts Well To Apartment Living | 1/5 | 5/5 |
| Height | 1 foot, 11 inches to 2 feet, 3 inches tall at the | 8 to 10 inches tall at the shoulder |
| Does NOT Drool | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| General Health | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Good For Novice Owners | 3/5 | 5/5 |
| Easygoing | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| Tolerates Being Alone | 3/5 | 1/5 |
| Friendly Toward Strangers | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| Does NOT Shed | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Easy To Groom | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| Potential NOT to Gain Weight | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Does NOT Bark or Howl | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| Calmness/ Low Vigor | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Tolerates Cold Weather | 4/5 | 1/5 |
| Tolerates Hot Weather | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Dog Friendly | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Easy To Train | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Tendency NOT to Wander | 2/5 | 5/5 |
| Minimal Exercise Needs | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Affectionate With Family | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Kid-Friendly | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| Intelligence | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Does NOT chew on things | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Low Prey Drive | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| NOT Rambunctious | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Potential For Playfulness | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Weight | 65 to 100 pounds | Up to 7 pounds |
| Life Span | 9 to 12 years | 12 to 15 years |
| Average Lifespan | 10.5 years | 13.5 years |
| Price Range | No Data | $1800 – $3000 |
| Average Price | No Data | $2580 |
| Temperament Score | 91.7 percent | 82.4 percent |
| Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests |
|
|
| Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds | 162 | 33 |
| Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) | 41 | 59 |
*Data from dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (the American Temperament Test Society)
Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Curly-Coated Retriever in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Maltese. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.
The Better-Pet score for a Curly-Coated Retriever is 77 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Maltese is 82 out of 125.
Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Maltese is a better pet than the Curly-Coated Retriever. So, you should get the Maltese!
Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Maltese so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.
The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Maltese
Below is a list of where the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Maltese are most different:
The Similarities Between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Maltese
The Curly-Coated Retriever and the Maltese are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Maltese are most similar:
Size (Weight and Height) of Curly-Coated Retriever versus Maltese
Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Maltese.
Curly-Coated Retrievers weigh 65 to 100 pounds when fully grown. Curly-Coated Retrievers are 1 foot, 11 inches to 2 feet, 3 inches tall at the when fully grown.
On the other hand, Malteses weigh Up to 7 pounds when fully grown. Malteses are 8 to 10 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.
Temperament of the Curly-Coated Retriever Versus the Maltese
The Curly-Coated Retriever has a better temperament than the Maltese.
This is because the temperament score for the Curly-Coated Retriever is 91.7 percent while the temperament score for the Maltese is 82.4 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).
The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.
Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and they are protective of their owners.
The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.
With its temperament score of 91.7 percent, the Curly-Coated Retriever has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.
With its temperament score of 82.4 percent, the Maltese has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.
The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Maltese by measuring the temperaments of 181 Curly-Coated Retrievers and 17 Malteses.
The Intelligence of the Curly-Coated Retriever versus the Intelligence of the Maltese
| Curly-Coated Retriever | Maltese | |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligence Rank | 41 out of 130 dog breeds | 59 out of 130 dog breeds |
| Trainability | Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 Repetitions | Tend To Learn New Commands After 40 To 80 Repetitions! |
Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.
According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:
Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.
This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.
To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.
Prof. Coren found that the Curly-Coated Retriever has an obedience intelligence rank of 41 out of 130 dog breeds. The Curly-Coated Retriever belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Curly-Coated Retrievers tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.
The Maltese has an obedience intelligence rank of 59 out of 130 dog breeds. The Maltese belongs to the `Fair Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Malteses tend to learn new commands after 40 to 80 repetitions!.
The Curly-Coated Retriever is more intelligent than the Maltese.
However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.
The Popularity of Curly-Coated Retriever versus Popularity of Maltese
Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).
The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Maltese over the years.
Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Maltese is more popular with dog owners than the Curly-Coated Retriever. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Maltese is 33 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Curly-Coated Retriever is 162 out of about 200 dog breeds.
Popularity of Curly-Coated Retriever
Popularity of Maltese
| Year | Curly-Coated Retriever Popularity Rank | Maltese Popularity Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 163 | 27 |
| 2014 | 163 | 29 |
| 2015 | 151 | 31 |
| 2016 | 164 | 33 |
| 2017 | 171 | 33 |
| 2018 | 162 | 37 |
| 2019 | 163 | 36 |
| 2020 | 159 | 38 |
Health Problems of Curly-Coated Retriever versus Health Problems of Maltese
Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. Therefore, there is nothing like a perfect puppy.
Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Maltese are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.
The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.
Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Curly-Coated Retriever is prone to more genetic health problems than the Maltese.
This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Curly-Coated Retriever than for the Maltese.
7 health tests are recommended for Curly-Coated Retriever while 3 tests are recommended for the Maltese.
Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Curly-Coated Retrievers and in Malteses.
Curly-Coated Retriever Health Problems
Curly-Coated Retrievers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Curly-Coated Retriever puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.
The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.
If you want a Curly-Coated Retriever puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Curly-Coated Retriever breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.
The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Curly-Coated Retrievers for:
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Curly-Coated Retrievers here.
Maltese Health Problems
Malteses are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Maltese puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.
The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.
If you want a Maltese puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Maltese breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.
The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Malteses for:
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Malteses here.
More Discussions on Health Problems in Curly-Coated Retrievers and Malteses
Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Curly-Coated Retriever Breed is Exercise Induced Collapse problems.
This is because the Curly-Coated Retriever ranks 1 out of 6 dog breeds for Exercise Induced Collapse problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 145 Curly-Coated Retrievers, 12 of them had Exercise Induced Collapse problems.
The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Curly-Coated Retrievers, and how common these diseases are in Curly-Coated Retrievers relative to other dog breeds, are given below:
Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Maltese Breed is Legg-Calve-Perthes problems.
This is because the Maltese ranks 6 out of 40 dog breeds for Legg-Calve-Perthes problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 155 Malteses, 2 of them had Legg-Calve-Perthes problems.
The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Malteses, and how common these diseases are in Malteses relative to other dog breeds, are given below:
The table below lists the common health problems in Curly-Coated Retriever and in Maltese and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Maltese:
| Disease | Curly-Coated Retriever Rank | Maltese Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise Induced Collapse problems | 1 out of 6 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems | 10 out of 32 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Congenital Cardiac problems | 24 out of 159 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Hips problems | 73 out of 198 dog breeds | 98 out of 198 dog breeds |
| Eyes problems | 84 out of 182 dog breeds | 139 out of 182 dog breeds |
| Elbow problems | 136 out of 144 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Legg-Calve-Perthes problems | Not Common | 6 out of 40 dog breeds |
| Dentition Database problems | Not Common | 16 out of 49 dog breeds |
| Patella problems | Not Common | 41 out of 145 dog breeds |
*To learn more about each of these diseases, go to OFA.org and search for the disease.
Again, most of these health problems can be prevented through health screening. Responsible breeders screen male and female dog parents for genetic problems. These breeders will only breed dogs that are free of genetic defects. That way, there is little or no chance that their puppies will grow up to have genetic health problems. Always ask a breeder for the list of health tests the breeder screens their dogs for before buying a puppy from such a breeder.
Is the Curly-Coated Retriever Better for Apartment Owners than the Maltese?
Curly-Coated Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living.
Malteses adapt very well to apartment living.
Which one drools more, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Maltese
Curly-Coated Retrievers do have a very low tendency to drool.
Malteses do have a very low tendency to drool.
Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Maltese?
Curly-Coated Retrievers are OK for new dog owners.
Malteses are very good for new dog owners.
Tolerates Being Alone: Curly-Coated Retriever versus Maltese
Curly-Coated Retrievers can be left alone only for a short time.
Malteses do not like to be left alone.
Do Curly-Coated Retrievers shed more than Malteses?
Curly-Coated Retrievers shed moderately.
Malteses do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
Which is Easier to Groom, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Maltese?
Curly-Coated Retrievers are moderately easy to groom.
Malteses require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.
Do Curly-Coated Retrievers Bark and Howl? What about Malteses?
Curly-Coated Retrievers bark and howl, but not very much.
Malteses are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
Can Curly-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Malteses Tolerate Cold Weather?
Curly-Coated Retrievers can very well tolerate cold weather.
Malteses cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
Can Curly-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Malteses Tolerate Hot Weather?
Curly-Coated Retrievers can tolerate hot weather.
Malteses can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.
Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Maltese?
Curly-Coated Retrievers get along very well with other dogs.
Malteses get along very well with other dogs.
Is the Curly-Coated Retriever Easier to Train than the Maltese?
Curly-Coated Retrievers are very easy to train.
Malteses are very easy to train.
Wanderlust Potential: Curly-Coated Retriever vs. Maltese
Curly-Coated Retrievers have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
Malteses do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
Are Curly-Coated Retrievers good family dogs? What about Malteses?
Curly-Coated Retrievers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Malteses are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
How Kid-friendly are Curly-Coated Retrievers and Malteses?
Curly-Coated Retrievers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Malteses get along fairly well with kids. They are quite kid-friendly.
Does the Curly-Coated Retriever Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Maltese?
Curly-Coated Retrievers have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.
Malteses have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.
Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Curly-Coated Retriever
Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Curly-Coated Retriever that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.
We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Curly-Coated Retriever:
Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Maltese
Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Maltese that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.
We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Maltese:
Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You
You may also be interested in how the Curly-Coated Retriever and how the Maltese compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Curly-Coated Retriever and of the Maltese to other breeds:
Curly-Coated Retriever Versus Other Dog Breeds
Curly-Coated Retriever versus Yorkshire Terrier Curly-Coated Retriever versus Scottish Terrier Curly-Coated Retriever versus Maremma Sheepdog Curly-Coated Retriever versus American Water Spaniel Curly-Coated Retriever versus Scottish Terrier Curly-Coated Retriever versus Toy Fox Terrier Curly-Coated Retriever versus Cavapoo Curly-Coated Retriever versus Basenji Curly-Coated Retriever versus Finnish Spitz Curly-Coated Retriever versus Sloughi
Maltese Versus Other Dog Breeds
Maltese versus Redbone Coonhound Maltese versus Irish Water Spaniel Maltese versus Dutch Shepherd Maltese versus Chihuahua Maltese versus Rhodesian Ridgeback Maltese versus French Bulldog Maltese versus Bich Poo Maltese versus Yorkshire Terrier Maltese versus Central Asian Shepherd Dog Maltese versus Papipoo
Conclusion: Curly-Coated Retriever versus Maltese. Which One is a Better Pet?
In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Maltese better suits you and your family.