The Dog Codex

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Side by side

Choose two breeds. You’ll see the same strip of citeable traits — not a winner, and not kids / apartment / shedding scorecards.

Temperament lines are short plate excerpts, not a verdict. Open each plate for the full entry.

Maltese

Maltese

Toy · Central Mediterranean (Italy, FCI patronage)

  • AKC group

    Toy

  • Size

    Toy

  • Height

    20–25 cm (FCI: males 21–25 cm, females 20–23 cm; Royal Kennel Club: not exceeding 25 cm; the AKC standard sets weight only, no height)

  • Weight

    under 3.2 kg (AKC: under 7 lb, 4–6 lb / ~1.8–2.7 kg preferred; CKC: under 3.25 kg, 1.75–2.75 kg preferred); FCI 3–4 kg

  • Energy

    Moderate

  • Energy notes

    Moderate companion energy on this site’s badge (FCI utilization is Companion and Toy, with no working trial; AKC frames the breed’s vigour as what’s “needed for the satisfactory companion”). The standards do not describe a sedentary dog: AKC calls the Maltese “eager and sprightly in action,” “lively and playful as well as vigorous,” and describes a “jaunty, smooth, flowing gait” that gives “an impression of rapid movement, size considered.

  • Trainability

    Moderate

  • Coat

    The Maltese has a single coat with no undercoat (AKC, CKC and FCI; The Royal Kennel Club says “without woolly undercoat”).

  • Origin

    Central Mediterranean (Italy, FCI patronage)

  • Temperament

    The standards paint a small dog with a big, sunny presence. AKC: “For all his diminutive size, the Maltese seems to be without fear.

Shih Tzu

Shih Tzu

Toy · Tibet / China

  • AKC group

    Toy

  • Size

    Toy

  • Height

    20–28 cm (AKC)

  • Weight

    4.1–7.3 kg (AKC)

  • Energy

    Moderate

  • Energy notes

    Moderate. The standards call the Shih Tzu lively, active and alert, but the AKC notes that as a house companion it needs only modest exercise: short daily walks and indoor play are enough for this small, short-legged dog.

  • Trainability

    Moderate

  • Coat

    The coat is luxurious, dense, long and flowing, with a long outer coat over a moderate undercoat; a slight wave is allowed, but it should never be curly or woolly.

  • Origin

    Tibet / China

  • Temperament

    Bred purely as a companion, the Shih Tzu should be outgoing, happy, affectionate, friendly and trusting toward everyone, says the AKC standard, with a warm, sweet, wide-eyed expression. The FCI and Kennel Club describe it as intelligent, active and alert, friendly and independent.