Bichon Frise Maltese Mix – Everything You Need To Know

The Maltichon is a cross between 2 closely related breeds: the Bichon Frise and the Maltichon.

This adorable dog with its friendly and sociable temperament makes a great companion for any household.

As with a lot of mix-breeds, it’s unlikely that you’ll know much about the Maltichon unless you’ve owned one yourself.

That’s why in this article, I have assembled everything you need to know about this mix breed including what they look like, potential health problems to look out for as well as grooming and exercise requirements.

Maltichon History

The history of the Maltichon as a designer dog breed is widely unknown, as is the case with most of these types of designer breeds.

Those of you that are familiar with the Bichon Frise may know that the Maltese and the Bichon Frise are in fact closely related.

Both breeds originally belonged to the Bichon type of dog. The Bichon was descended from a poodle type dog and a Barbet (water spaniel) and were used as sailing dogs.

As the Bichon continued to evolve and travel around the world, they developed into 4 distinct breeds that we know today: the Bichon Frise, the Maltese, the Bolognese, and the Havanese.

A Maltichon’s Parents

Now that we have looked at the history of the Maltichon, let’s examine its parents more closely, the Maltese and the Bichon Frise.

As the Maltichon isn’t a purebred dog recognized by the Kennel Club, there are no defined breed standards for how this breed should look or act.

With this in mind, it’s important to look to the parents of a mix-breed to better understand appearance traits, temperament traits or health concerns as these could be inherited by the resulting puppies.

Bichon Frise

The Bichon is an affectionate and sociable dog that was originally a sailing dog and therefore traveled great distances onboard ships.

They later developed into popular lapdogs used by the nobility of the time and were also trained to be street performers.

You can learn everything else you need to know about the Bichon Frise in this detailed article I wrote: Bichon Frise – Everything You Need To Know

Maltese

The Maltese is often considered to be one of the earliest lap dogs in history. With that being said, it’s no surprise to learn that this breed of dog is affectionate and loyal in nature.

The Maltese originally descended from the Bichon type of dog so it shares its history closely with the Bichon Frise.

Maltichon Appearance

As we previously discussed, the Maltichon isn’t a pure-bred dog. This means there is no accurate way to determine their appearance.

It simply depends on how much of each trait is inherited from each parent.

With that being said, let’s take a closer look at what the Maltichon can look like based on what we know about its parents.

What Does A Bichon Frise Maltese Mix Look Like?

It can be difficult to accurately determine what a Bichon Frise Maltese mix will look like, but we can look to the parents to make an educated guess.

The Maltese has a long, silky, white coat that trails along the floor. At least this is how they look when they are at dog shows. They have dropped ears that are feathered with long hair that frames their face and dark brown eyes.

The Bichon Frise is small in size with a white, short and curly coat. When seen at dog shows, their appearance is quite striking. They have round brown or black eyes and dropped ears that frame their face. Their tail is fluffy and curled so it rests on their back.

With all of this taken into consideration, it is possible that the resulting Maltichon will inherit some of each of these traits from each parent.

What Height Is A Bichon Frise Maltese Mix?

The average height of a Bichon Frise Maltese mix is between 8 – 11 inches.

This, of course, will depend on the dog and how much is inherited from each parent.

How Much Does A Bichon Frise Maltese Mix Weigh?

The average weight of the Maltichon is between 9 and 13 pounds.

This will depend on how much is inherited from each parent so it can vary widely between dogs.

Maltichon Temperament

The Maltichon will likely inherit the friendly and sociable nature of both of its parents. This makes the Maltichon a friendly and outgoing dog that loves attention.

The Maltichon is also considered to be pretty intelligent and therefore should be easy to train for first-time dog owners.

As with all dogs, early socialization and regular consistent training are required to ensure a happy and well-behaved dog.

Do Maltichons Bark?

It is possible that Maltichons will inherit the alert barking trait from the Bichon Frise.

This means that they are more likely to bark to alert their owner to strange noises, especially when the doorbell rings.

With this in mind, it’s a good idea to examine the Bichon Frise in more detail to understand this trait and how to mitigate the worst of the barking.

To learn more about this, I would recommend reading this article: How Often Does A Bichon Frise Bark? With Simple Training Tips

Can Maltichons Suffer From Separation Anxiety?

It is possible that Maltichons can suffer from separation anxiety if this trait is inherited from its parents.

Separation anxiety is an unfortunate side effect of the Maltichon’s sociable and outgoing nature.

If they are left alone for long periods of time they can become upset, worried and destructive.

With consistent training and by ensuring they aren’t left alone for long periods of time, it is possible to mitigate the symptoms associated with separation anxiety.

Bichon Frise Maltese Mix Health Problems

In order to better understand what the potential health problems of the Maltichon are, it’s important to look to the parents.

Below you will find some of the more common health problems associated with both the Bichon Frise and the Maltese:

How Long Does A Bichon Frise Maltese Mix Live?

The average age span of a Bichon Frise Maltese mix is about 12 to 15 years which is about the same as its parents, the Bichon Frise and the Maltese.

This can vary depending on the dog so it is only an estimation.

Does A Maltichon Shed?

The Maltichon will likely inherit the low shed coat of both the Bichon Frise and the Maltese.

This makes them slightly lower maintenance in terms of regular brushing requirements though it is still important to brush their coat at least once a week.

It’s important to note that all dogs do shed, albeit minimally, for a number of reasons.

To understand more about why dog’s shed, I highly recommend you read this article I wrote: Does A Bichon Frise Shed? The Definitive Answer You Should Know.

Is A Maltichon Hypoallergenic?

The Maltichon is related to the Bichon Frise and the Maltese who are both considered to be hypoallergenic dogs.

This would logically mean that the resulting mix breed, the Maltichon, would also be hypoallergenic.

The term hypoallergenic is used often to denote if people with allergies can be around these dogs without having an allergic reaction.

Unfortunately, the term hypoallergenic actually has no medical basis as it was a term coined by advertisers to promote certain types of products.

All of this means that some people may still have an allergic reaction around these dogs.

To understand the term hypoallergenic more clearly, why not take a look at this article: Is A Bichon Frise Hypoallergenic? The Definitive Answer

Grooming Your Maltichon

The grooming requirements of the Maltichon are very similar to that of both the Bichon and the Maltese. Let’s look at this in more detail.

How Often Should You Groom Your Bichon Frise Maltese Mix?

The Maltichon requires regular grooming in order to ensure their coat is kept in great condition and free from mats.

It is generally recommended that a Maltichon be brushed about once a week to prevent the build-up of dead skin and to prevent matting.

In addition to this, it is a good idea to bring your Maltichon to a professional groomer about once every couple of months.

This will ensure things like nail trimming and more in-depth coat maintenance are taken care of.

I am always hesitant to trim around my dog’s eyes so this is something that I leave for a professional groomer to take care of.

In order to remember to book an appointment for your dog, I always recommend setting a recurring calendar reminder.

This will remind you to schedule an appointment well in advance as the waiting list could be quite long.

To learn more about grooming your Maltichon, you can follow pretty much the same tips and advice that I have outlined in this article: Bichon Frise Grooming – A Helpful Beginners Guide.

What Brush Should You Use For Grooming A Bichon Frise Maltese Mix?

The 2 brushes that I recommend for brushing your Maltichon are:

1. Pin Brush – this brush is used for light brushing and won’t damage your dog’s coat.
2. Slicker Brush – this brush is used to remove tangles and dead hair as well as to break up mats.

To learn more about using these brushes as well as some handy tips for removing dog hair from your house, check out this article: Does A Bichon Frise Shed? The Definitive Answer You Should Know.

How Often Should You Bathe A Bichon Frise Maltese Mix?

A general rule of thumb is to bathe a Maltichon about once a month to keep their coat in optimal condition.

As this breed can be prone to skin allergies, it is important to use a dog-friendly sensitive shampoo.

Exercising Your Maltichon

The Maltichon is a moderately active dog in terms of its exercise requirements. They require plenty of mental stimulation each day to prevent boredom.

Let’s discuss exercising your Maltichon in more detail.

How Much Exercise Does A Maltichon Need?

The Maltichon is a moderately active dog that will generally require about 30 minutes of exercise each day.

This can be achieved with a walk around the park or a game of fetch with regular breaks.

In conjunction with physical exercise, mental stimulation is also required to properly exercise their mind.

Dogs that don’t get enough of this mental stimulation can become bored and this manifests itself with destructive behavior.

This can easily be avoided with puzzles and fun toys that will engage your dog and keep them entertained.

Tips For Exercising Your Maltichon Inside

Being able to exercise your dog outside isn’t always possible so knowing this, it’s important to find ways of exercising indoors.

Here are some indoor exercise tips:

• Practice Obedience Training – Obedience training is something all dog owners should be practicing with their dogs on a regular basis. As the Maltichon is a fairly intelligent dog, this will be something that you’ll both enjoy doing.
• Sign Up For Obedience Training Classes – Obedience training classes are a great way to motivate both you and your dog to get the basic training commands down.
• Create An Indoor Obstacle Course – Work that creative part of your brain by assembling a fun obstacle course inside from whatever you can think of.
• Make Use Of Dog Toys – Dog toys are an easy way to mentally stimulate your dog inside. Spending some time playing tug of war or interacting with some puzzle toys is a great way to give them exercise.

Tips For Exercising Your Maltichon Outside

Exercising your dog outside is beneficial for both you and your dog. Being out in the fresh air is great for your mental health and provides your dog with plenty of mental stimulation.

With that in mind, here are some outdoor exercise tips that I recommend:

• Play With Other Dogs – A simple and totally free way to exercise your Maltichon is by letting them play with other dogs. The Maltichon’s sociable nature means they will get on with any dog or person provided they are socialized from a young age.
• Learn To Play Fetch – Fetch is the easiest and most rewarding game to play with your dog. They will get plenty of exercise and you won’t be exhausted from it.
• You can take some further inspiration from this article for exercising your dog outside: 9 Of The Best Free Outdoor Dog Activities To Do With Your Bichon

Conclusion

We were able to cover a lot of useful information in this article so let’s summarize things before we finish up:

• First, we talked about the history of the Maltichon
• Next, we looked at what the Maltichon actually looks like in terms of its appearance, its weight, and size.
• After that, we looked at the temperament of the Maltichon.
• Next, we discussed some potential health problems associated with this breed.
• Next, we covered some questions such as the age span of the breed and if they shed or are hypoallergenic.
• After that, we covered the grooming requirements of the Maltichon.
• Finally, we talked about the exercise requirements of the Maltichon and I shared with you some tips for exercising them outdoors and indoors.

There was a lot of information covered in the course of this article and I hope you were able to find it useful.

If you enjoyed reading this article, please consider sharing it on social media as it will help other dog fans like you to find it.

Also, if you have any questions about any of the information covered in this article, leave me a comment or reach out on social media.

Finally, if you enjoyed this article, you should read these next:

• 7 Helpful Pros And Cons Of A Bichon Frise Mix Breed You Need To Know
• Bichon Frise Poodle Mix – Everything You Need To Know
• Bichon Frise Yorkshire Terrier Mix – Everything You Need To Know