Maltese huskies are a rare mixed breed. They have one Siberian husky parent and one maltese parent.
The combination results in a small to medium-sized pooch that’s full of energy and personality.
Contents
Quick Profile
Before we get into the details of the maltese husky, let’s take a quick look at the facts.
If you think this might be the right pooch for you, be sure to keep reading to learn more.
- Other Names: maltsky, hustese
- Average Lifespan: 12-15 years
- Average Height: 10-18 inches
- Average Weight: 15-40 pounds
- Coat appearance: Medium to long coat, white, black, brown, gray
- Eye Colour: black, brown, blue, bi-color
- Activity Level: Medium
- Grooming Frequency: daily
- Typical Temperament: Energetic, playful, friendly, affectionate
- Daily Food Consumption: 1 to 1 1/2 cups daily
- New Owner Friendly: Somewhat
- Suitable to live with children? Yes
- Suitable to live with other dogs? Yes
- Suitable to live with cats? Yes, need to be socialized with them early
Appearance
A maltese husky will inherit characteristics from both parents, but they will usually resemble one parent more than the other. It’s impossible to predict exactly how they will look.
Even puppies from the same litter can vary greatly, depending on which genes are dominant. The maltese husky above, for example, takes after the maltese strongly.
To get a better idea of what you can expect, let’s take a look at the appearance of their parent breeds.
Siberian Husky Appearance
Siberian huskies are medium to large-sized pooches. They should be slightly longer than they are tall, according to the United Kennel Club.
They have medium-sized erect ears, and a long bushy tail.
They have a medium to long muzzle and a slightly elongated head. They have very expressive eyes, which can be blue, brown or bi-color, which means they have one eye that’s each color.
They have a medium-length, dense, double coat.
They are typically bi-colour, which means they have two coat colors, but they can also be tri-color, which means they have three coat colors.
Solid-colored huskies are rare, but they do occur.
Siberian huskies can be a range of colors, including:
- White
- Gray
- Black
- Tan
- Sable
- Agouti
- Tan
Maltese Appearance
The maltese has an instantly recognizable appearance. They are classified as a toy breed.
They have a compact and athletic body, with their legs being short in proportion to the rest of their body.
Their coat is very different from most dogs. They have long hair that will reach the floor. It’s more similar to human hair than the average dog coat.
They are typically solid white, but they can also be tan or liver and white.
Average Size
You can generally expect a maltese husky to be smaller than a husky, and larger than a maltese.
This means there can be quite a bit of variation in their size.
Most will be between 10-18 inches tall, and weigh 15-40 pounds. Theoretically, they can range in size from 9 to 22 inches tall, and weigh 6-50 pounds.
Females tend to be a little smaller than males.
Coat Appearance
As maltese huskies are rare, it’s difficult to predict what type of coat they will have.
They may inherit the long flowing coat of a maltese.
It’s also possible that they will inherit the double coat of the husky, although it may be longer in length than the standard husky coat.
When it comes to colors, they can be solid white. They may also be white with black, gray, or brown areas.
Physical Features
Again, it’s hard to predict what features a maltese husky will inherit.
This is a similar problem seen amongst several husky mixes, such as the schnauzer, goldendoodle or basset hound husky mixes.
They may inherit the athletic body of a husky, or the more compact body of a maltese.
They may have the longer muzzle of a husky, or the dainty nose of a maltese. Their ears may stand up, or lay down.
Maltese pooches typically have short upright tails, while huskies have long, bushy tails.
Your pooch may inherit their tail from either breed, or something in between.
Grooming Guide
How much grooming your pooch needs, and the tools you’ll need to groom them properly, will vary based on the type of coat your maltese husky inherits.
Grooming Tools
First, let’s look at the tools you’ll need to care for your maltese husky’s coat.
You may find you only need some of these tools, depending on the coat your pooch inherits.
Tools you may need include:
- Comb
- Pin Brush
- Undercoat Rake
- Dog Shampoo
- Clippers/Trimmers
- Nail Trimmers
- Ear Cleaning Solution
Brushing A Maltese Husky Coat
How often your pooch needs to be brushed, and the tools that you’ll need, will vary based on the coat they have.
If they inherit the husky coat, you’ll need an undercoat rake, pin brush, and a comb.
You’ll need to brush their coat at least twice a week, and every day if they are shedding or blowing coat.
If they have a maltese coat, caring for their coat is a bit different. You’ll need a comb to remove any tangles, and a pin brush to smooth their coat and remove any dirt.
A bristle or slicker brush is helpful as a finishing brush to further smooth their coat.
You may also choose to trim their coat using clippers.
A shorter coat is easier to manage, so this is a good option. After all, your maltese husky won’t enter the show ring.
The shorter their coat, the easier it is to care for, so you’ll need to balance aesthetics with your preferences and grooming schedule.
Trimming a maltese coat can be difficult for the inexperienced, so feel free to bring them to a professional groomer for this step if you aren’t confident in your own ability.
Bathing
The maltese needs frequent bathing, usually 1 to 2 times each month. Huskies, on the other hand, only require bathing once every 3 to 4 months.
How often your cross will need a bath depends on the coat they inherit, and their lifestyle.
It’s best to bathe them when htye need it, rather than relying on an arbitrary number.
When bathing, be sure to use a shampoo that’s designed for dogs.
Its also a good idea to use a doggie conditioner, particularly if they have a maltese-style coat.
Nail Trimming
Huskies don’t typically require nail trimming, but maltese dogs do.
This means it’s likely your maltese husky will need regular nail trimming.
You should clip their nails when the nails nearly reach the floor. If you hear a tap tap sound when they walk, they definitely need a trim.
You can use scissor-type nail trimmers or a grinder style. Guillotine trimmers put more pressure on the nail.
They can work for smaller dogs, but they aren’t a great choice for medium and large breeds.
Ear Cleaning
As huskies have erect ears, they rarely require cleaning. The openness of the ear makes it self-cleaning to a degree.
Dogs with ears that lie down, on the other hand, need to be cleaned regularly.
Dirt and debris gets trapped in the ear more easily, with this type of ear.
You’ll need an ear-cleaning solution designed for dogs to clean their ears.
Start by wiping the ear with a cotton ball. Then, squirt the ear solution into the ear.
Allow the solution to sit for at least 30 seconds, and then wipe their ear with a cotton ball again.
You should check their ears at least once every 1 to 2 weeks. If you see dirt, debris, redness, or smell an odor, it’s time to clean their ears.
Temperament
The parent breeds have a lot in common when it comes to their temperament. They share a close bond with their owners.
They are highly social, and require lots of time with their owners. They are playful and energetic as well.
When you mix these two breeds, you’ll get a pooch with a huge personality, despite the small package.
They may inherit an ability to escape from their confines from their husky parent. Huskies are excellent escape artists.
Both parent breeds will do whatever it takes to get the attention of their owners. This can lead them to perform some interesting antics.
You can expect these pooches to be great with families, including children. They have lots of patience, and they are gentle.
They get along well with other dogs, and other animals as long as they are socialized well with them at an early age.
In fact, they need time with other dogs, just as they need time with their family.
These pooches don’t do well with being left alone, and they are very prone to separation anxiety.
If you are away from them for long periods, you’ll need to have someone check in on them.
Health
Maltese husky mixes are considered healthy, but they are at risk of some health concerns. Generally, mixed breeds are considered healthier because of their genetic diversity.
However, they are at an increased risk of some conditions, particularly those common in both parent breeds.
Joint Problems
Joint problems are a common issue in both breeds, particularly as they age.
Hip dysplasia occurs when the hip joint doesn’t form correctly.
It’s common in medium and large breeds. It causes pain, and difficulty moving. Your pooch may limp, whine, or appear stiff.
Arthritis is another joint issue. 80% of dogs who are 8 years old or older have some type of arthritis. Just like humans, dogs with arthritis experience swelling and pain.
Arthritis may be worse in the morning, or after a period of rest. It causes stiffness and difficulty with movement, as well as pain.
Lastly, both breeds are at an increased risk of patellar luxation.
This is a common problem for toy breeds, as well as some larger breeds, including huskies.
Patellar luxation occurs when the knee joint slips out of place. This can cause pain, stiffness, and an inability to move the knee joint correctly.
Organ Issues
Organ problems are rare, but there are a few concerns you should be aware of.
Patent-ductus-arteriosus is a congenital heart condition that is common in the maltese but can occur in huskies as well.
It occurs when blood recirculates through the heart, rather than the rest of the body.
This essentially makes the heart work much harder than it should.
Signs of this condition include a heart murmur, lethargy, fast breathing, and coughing.
Liver shunts are another concern. While any dog can develop a liver shunt, maltese pooches are at an increased risk of the condition. The liver detoxifies the body.
The portal vein brings in toxins, which are then removed from the body by the liver. When a liver shunt occurs, the portal vein isn’t properly connected.
Because the body can’t detoxify itself properly, many symptoms can develop.
These include vomiting, diarrhea, stumbling, disorientation, lethargy, and urinary changes.
Eye Problems
Both parent breeds are prone to a few eye problems. One of these is PRA or progressive retinal atrophy.
This causes the eyes to stop functioning, leading to blindness. This typically occurs in puppies at age 2-3 months and adults between 3 and 9 years.
Cataracts are another common concern. Cataracts cause a film to form over the eyes, typically in old age.
This doesn’t cause any pain, but it does interfere with vision. It can ultimately lead to blindness.
Allergies
Both parent breeds are also at an increased risk of allergies, particularly environmental and food allergies.
Environmental allergens include dust, grass, and mold. Food allergens include dairy, beef, chicken, eggs, soy, and wheat.
Allergies can cause a wide variety of symptoms, including sneezing, runny nose, and itchy, watery eyes.
However, the maltese husky is most likely to have skin allergy symptoms.
These include itching, patches of hair loss, excessive scratching and licking, and rashes or lesions on their skin.
Exercise Needs
Huskies have very high exercise needs, requiring at least 2 hours of exercise each day. The maltese, on the other hand, are energetic but require little formal exercise.
Your maltese husky’s exercise needs will depend on which parent they take after in this area.
You can expect them to need between 30 minutes to 1 hour a day of exercise.
In Summary
The maltese husky mix makes an excellent pet, particularly for families that have plenty of time to spend with them.
They are highly social and good with strangers and other animals.
They do require frequent grooming and plenty of time with their families. They need a moderate amount of exercise.
They are very loyal and develop very close bonds with their owners.
