A Detailed Comparison of the Maltese and the Rhodesian Ridgeback.

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Maltese Versus Rhodesian Ridgeback: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Maltese and the Rhodesian Ridgeback? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Maltese and the Rhodesian Ridgeback 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 Maltese and the Rhodesian Ridgeback.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Maltese and the Rhodesian Ridgeback 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 Maltese and for the Rhodesian Ridgeback. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Maltese and the Rhodesian Ridgeback.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Maltese or the Rhodesian Ridgeback.

Maltese versus Rhodesian Ridgeback

Maltese versus Rhodesian Ridgeback: Overview

A very important difference between the Maltese and the Rhodesian Ridgeback is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Maltese is a tiny-sized dog while the Rhodesian Ridgeback is a large-sized dog.

Furthermore, 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.

On the other hand, the Rhodesian Ridgeback belongs to the Hound Dogs group. Hound Dogs were bred to pursue and hunt warm-blooded animals. Hounds hunt by using their good sight or their good sense of smell. Dogs that belong to the Hound Group have strong prey drives and often will stop at nothing to catch what they are pursuing.

Maltese versus Rhodesian Ridgeback: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Maltese to the Rhodesian Ridgeback 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.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Maltese and the Rhodesian Ridgeback

Factor Maltese Rhodesian Ridgeback
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 1/5 3/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 5/5 1/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years 10 to 12 years
Friendly Toward Strangers 2/5 3/5
Does NOT Shed 4/5 2/5
Easy To Groom 2/5 5/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 4/5 1/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 3/5
Kid-Friendly 3/5 4/5
General Health 3/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 2/5
Easygoing 2/5 2/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 4/5
Easy To Train 4/5 2/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 1/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 5/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 5/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 1/5
Good For Novice Owners 5/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Height 8 to 10 inches tall at the shoulder 24 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder
Weight Up to 7 pounds 70 to 85 pounds
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 11.0 years
Average Price $2580 $1620
Price Range $1800 – $3000 $1250 – $1900
Temperament Score 82.4 percent 84.2 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Serum Bile Acid Test
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Congenital Deafness
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination. Exams are recommended annually to age 9, annual recertifcation is required
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 33 40
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 59 52

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Maltese 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 Rhodesian Ridgeback. 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 the Maltese is 82 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Rhodesian Ridgeback is 74 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Maltese is a better pet than the Rhodesian Ridgeback. 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 Maltese and the Rhodesian Ridgeback so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    Maltese versus Rhodesian Ridgeback

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Maltese and the Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Below is a list of where the Maltese and the Rhodesian Ridgeback are most different:

  • Malteses do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them. However, Rhodesian Ridgebacks have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Malteses require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom. However, Rhodesian Ridgebacks are very easy to groom.
  • Malteses have low exercise needs. However, Rhodesian Ridgebacks require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Malteses are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl. However, Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
  • Malteses adapt well to apartment living. However, Rhodesian Ridgebacks do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Malteses are good for new dog owners. However, Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • The Similarities Between the Maltese and the Rhodesian Ridgeback

    The Maltese and the Rhodesian Ridgeback are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Maltese and the Rhodesian Ridgeback are most similar:

  • Both the Maltese and the Rhodesian Ridgeback do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Maltese and the Rhodesian Ridgeback do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Maltese and the Rhodesian Ridgeback are not very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Maltese and the Rhodesian Ridgeback are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
  • Both the Maltese and the Rhodesian Ridgeback get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Maltese and the Rhodesian Ridgeback are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Maltese and the Rhodesian Ridgeback have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Maltese and the Rhodesian Ridgeback are very playful.
  • Both the Maltese and the Rhodesian Ridgeback are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Maltese versus Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Maltese and the Rhodesian Ridgeback.

    Malteses weigh Up to 7 pounds when fully grown. Malteses are 8 to 10 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Rhodesian Ridgebacks weigh 70 to 85 pounds when fully grown. Rhodesian Ridgebacks are 24 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Maltese versus Rhodesian Ridgeback

    The lifespan of Malteses is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Malteses is 13.5 years.

    The lifespan of Rhodesian Ridgebacks is between 10 to 12 years. The average lifespan of Rhodesian Ridgebacks is 11.0 years.

    Malteses live longer than Rhodesian Ridgebacks.

    Maltese versus Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Temperament of the Maltese Versus the Rhodesian Ridgeback

    The Rhodesian Ridgeback has a better temperament than the Maltese.

    This is because the temperament score for the Rhodesian Ridgeback is 84.2 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 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 82.4 percent, the Maltese has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 84.2 percent, the Rhodesian Ridgeback has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Maltese and the Rhodesian Ridgeback by measuring the temperaments of 17 Malteses and 563 Rhodesian Ridgebacks.

    Price of Maltese versus Price of Rhodesian Ridgeback

    The average price of the Maltese puppy is $2580. The price of the Maltese typically ranges from $1800 – $3000. However, the price of a Maltese can be as low as $500 and as high as $7995. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 413 Maltese puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy is $1620. The price of the Rhodesian Ridgeback typically ranges from $1250 – $1900. However, the price of the Rhodesian Ridgeback can be as low as $500 and as high as $2850. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 175 Rhodesian Ridgeback puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Maltese is more expensive than the Rhodesian Ridgeback.

    Maltese Rhodesian Ridgeback
    Average Price $2580 $1620
    Price Range $1800 to $3000 $1250 to $1900

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Maltese and Rhodesian Ridgeback. For different price points, the charts show how many Maltese puppies or how many Rhodesian Ridgeback puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Malteses. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Malteses. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Rhodesian Ridgebacks

    A breakdown of the prices of Rhodesian Ridgebacks

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Maltese puppy or the Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.

    Nevertheless, when looking to buy a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    Maltese versus Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Adopting the Maltese versus Adopting the Rhodesian Ridgeback

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Malteses and many Rhodesian Ridgebacks are currently available for adoption.

    These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.

    Below is an adorable Male Maltese named Daniel that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Malteses like Daniel on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Malteses, Rhodesian Ridgebacks are also available for adoption. For example, Mufasa 21-12-102 is a Male Rhodesian Ridgeback that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Rhodesian Ridgebacks like Mufasa 21-12-102 that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Maltese and the Rhodesian Ridgeback can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Cash is the name of another Maltese (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    You can find more Malteses and Rhodesian Ridgebacks that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the Maltese versus the Intelligence of the Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Maltese Rhodesian Ridgeback
    Intelligence Rank 59 out of 130 dog breeds 52 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 40 To 80 Repetitions! Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 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:

  • Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence a dog has because of what the dog was bred for. This type of intelligence comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that were bred for guarding will have high `guarding` instinctive intelligence, while dog breeds that were bred for hunting will what high `hunting` instinctive intelligence. However, you cannot compare the intelligence of dog breeds based on instinctive intelligence because such a comparison will not make sense.
  • Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. It includes learning and benefiting from experience with his environment, solving new problems, and so forth. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. Thus, two dogs can have remarkably different levels of adaptive intelligence even if they are of the same breed.
  • Working/Obedience Intelligence: This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. Importantly, different dog breeds have different learning abilities. Also, science has shown that some dog breeds can learn faster than some other breeds. This means certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. Dogs with high Working/Obedience Intelligence are smart and easy to train.
  • 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 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 Rhodesian Ridgeback has an obedience intelligence rank of 52 out of 130 dog breeds. The Rhodesian Ridgeback belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Rhodesian Ridgebacks tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.

    The Rhodesian Ridgeback 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 Maltese versus Popularity of Rhodesian Ridgeback

    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 Maltese and the Rhodesian Ridgeback over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Maltese is more popular with dog owners than the Rhodesian Ridgeback. 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 Rhodesian Ridgeback is 40 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Maltese

    Popularity of Maltese

    Popularity of Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Popularity of Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Year Maltese Popularity Rank Rhodesian Ridgeback Popularity Rank
    2013 27 39
    2014 29 39
    2015 31 40
    2016 33 42
    2017 33 41
    2018 37 41
    2019 36 42
    2020 38 42

    Health Problems of Maltese versus Health Problems of Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. There is nothing like a perfect dog breed.

    Both the Maltese and the Rhodesian Ridgeback 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 Rhodesian Ridgeback is prone to more genetic health problems than the Maltese.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Rhodesian Ridgeback than for the Maltese.

    3 health tests are recommended for Maltese while 6 tests are recommended for the Rhodesian Ridgeback.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Malteses and in Rhodesian Ridgebacks.

    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:

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Serum Bile Acid Test
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Malteses here.

    Rhodesian Ridgeback Health Problems

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Rhodesian Ridgeback 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 Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Rhodesian Ridgeback 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 Rhodesian Ridgebacks for:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Congenital Deafness
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination. Exams are recommended annually to age 9, annual recertifcation is required
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Rhodesian Ridgebacks here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Malteses and Rhodesian Ridgebacks

    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:

  • Legg-Calve-Perthes problems: Rank 6 out of 40 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 16 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 41 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 98 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 139 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • 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 Rhodesian Ridgeback Breed is Thyroid problems.

    This is because the Rhodesian Ridgeback ranks 11 out of 115 dog breeds for Thyroid problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 6564 Rhodesian Ridgebacks, 636 of them had Thyroid problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Rhodesian Ridgebacks, and how common these diseases are in Rhodesian Ridgebacks relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Thyroid problems: Rank 11 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Shoulder problems: Rank 15 out of 22 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 31 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 32 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 48 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 56 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 97 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 102 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 168 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in Maltese and in Rhodesian Ridgeback and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Maltese and the Rhodesian Ridgeback:

    Disease Maltese Rank Rhodesian Ridgeback Rank
    Legg-Calve-Perthes problems 6 out of 40 dog breeds Not Common
    Dentition Database problems 16 out of 49 dog breeds 32 out of 49 dog breeds
    Patella problems 41 out of 145 dog breeds 97 out of 145 dog breeds
    Hips problems 98 out of 198 dog breeds 168 out of 198 dog breeds
    Eyes problems 139 out of 182 dog breeds 102 out of 182 dog breeds
    Thyroid problems Not Common 11 out of 115 dog breeds
    Shoulder problems Not Common 15 out of 22 dog breeds
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems Not Common 31 out of 70 dog breeds
    Congenital Cardiac problems Not Common 48 out of 159 dog breeds
    Elbow problems Not Common 56 out of 144 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.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Maltese versus Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Malteses do not like to be left alone.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks do not like to be left alone.

    Do Malteses shed more than Rhodesian Ridgebacks?

    Malteses do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which one drools more, the Maltese or the Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Malteses do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Maltese or the Rhodesian Ridgeback?

    Malteses require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks are very easy to groom.

    Does the Maltese Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Rhodesian Ridgeback?

    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.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks 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.

    Do Malteses Bark and Howl? What about Rhodesian Ridgebacks?

    Malteses are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    Can Malteses Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Rhodesian Ridgebacks Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Malteses cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Maltese vs. Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Malteses do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Malteses Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Rhodesian Ridgebacks Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Malteses can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Maltese or the Rhodesian Ridgeback?

    Malteses get along very well with other dogs.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Malteses good family dogs? What about Rhodesian Ridgebacks?

    Malteses are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Malteses and Rhodesian Ridgebacks?

    Malteses get along fairly well with kids. They are quite kid-friendly.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Is the Maltese Easier to Train than the Rhodesian Ridgeback?

    Malteses are very easy to train.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not easy to train.

    Is the Maltese Better for Apartment Owners than the Rhodesian Ridgeback?

    Malteses adapt very well to apartment living.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Maltese or the Rhodesian Ridgeback?

    Malteses are very good for new dog owners.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    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:

  • Pomapoo (80 percent match with Maltese). Here is our comparison of the Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Pomapoo.
  • Peek A Poo (81 percent match with Maltese). Here is our comparison of the Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Peek A Poo.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Rhodesian Ridgeback 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 Rhodesian Ridgeback:

  • Black Mouth Cur (79 percent match with Rhodesian Ridgeback). Here is our comparison of the Maltese vs Black Mouth Cur.
  • Bracco Italiano (80 percent match with Rhodesian Ridgeback). Here is our comparison of the Maltese vs Bracco Italiano.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Maltese and how the Rhodesian Ridgeback compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Maltese and of the Rhodesian Ridgeback to other breeds:

    Maltese Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Maltese versus Kerry Blue Terrier     Maltese versus Mal Shi     Maltese versus Boxerdoodle     Maltese versus Australian Kelpie     Maltese versus Yorkipoo     Maltese versus Affenhuahua     Maltese versus Sealyham Terrier     Maltese versus Silky Terrier     Maltese versus Samoyed     Maltese versus Flat-Coated Retriever     Maltese versus Chinook     Maltese versus Swedish Vallhund     Maltese versus Toy Fox Terrier     Maltese versus Central Asian Shepherd Dog     Maltese versus Saint Bernard     Maltese versus Collie     Maltese versus Irish Wolfhound     Maltese versus Miniature Schnauzer     Maltese versus Coton de Tulear     Maltese versus Peek A Poo     Maltese versus Puggle     Maltese versus Welsh Terrier     Maltese versus Belgian Tervuren     Maltese versus Collie     Maltese versus Pyrenean Mastiff     

    Rhodesian Ridgeback Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Pointer     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Kuvasz     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Rottweiler     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Canaan Dog     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Akita     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Chinese Crested     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Leonberger     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Papipoo     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Appenzeller Sennenhunde     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Leonberger     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Portuguese Water Dog     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Papipoo     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Norwich Terrier     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Cavachon     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Goldador     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Beaglier     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Pomchi     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Havanese     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Komondor     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Stabyhoun     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Treeing Tennessee Brindle     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Westiepoo     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Anatolian Shepherd Dog     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Welsh Springer Spaniel     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Mountain Cur     

    Conclusion: Maltese versus Rhodesian Ridgeback. 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 Maltese and the Rhodesian Ridgeback better suits you and your family.