No Malteses listed on LocalPetFinder right now
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Malteses in St. John's, right now
We aren't tracking any adoptable Malteses in or near St. John's at the moment. Listings update regularly as Newfoundland rescues take in new dogs, and a Maltese in St. John's typically gets adopted within days of being posted. Browse the full Newfoundland dogs list to see Malteses in other Newfoundland cities, or save this page and check back soon.
See every adoptable Maltese across Newfoundland and Labrador →
Adopting a Maltese in Newfoundland and Labrador
The Maltese is an ancient lap-dog breed, usually 4 to 8 pounds, with a silky white coat and a gentle, affectionate, people-centred temperament. They are calm for a toy breed and famously devoted. This page pulls every adoptable Maltese and Maltese cross from the Newfoundland shelters we cover into one place, refreshed regularly.
Maltese and their popular crosses (Maltipoo, Malshi, Morkie) reach Newfoundland rescue through owner surrenders, and their size makes them move fast. Set an alert.
Coat care, companionship, and health
The white coat is the visible commitment: it is low-shedding but mats quickly, so plan on brushing several times a week or an easy short cut with grooming every 6 to 8 weeks, plus routine face cleaning since the breed is prone to tear staining. Maltese are companion dogs to the core; they bond intensely, can develop separation anxiety in long-alone households, and suit calm homes with older children.
Health notes to raise with any rescue: dental disease (small mouths, lifelong dental care), luxating patella, and, as with most toy breeds, sensitivity to cold, so a Newfoundland winter means a warm coat and short outings. A rescue Maltese arriving with a matted coat usually just needs one good groom and settles beautifully. Newfoundland rescues provide a veterinary assessment before adoption.
Looking more broadly? Browse every adoptable dog across the province on Dog Adoption Newfoundland and Labrador.
Maltese Adoption FAQ — St. John's
How many Maltese are available for adoption in St. John's?
As of September 2026, there are no Maltese listed in St. John's rescue on LocalPetFinder right now — Maltese are among the rarer dogs in local rescue. Inventory turns over quickly, so setting an alert is the most reliable way to catch one, or consider an adoptable Maltese mix.
Where can I adopt a Maltese near me in Newfoundland?
Maltese and their crosses come into Newfoundland rescue through owner surrenders, and St. John's shelters see them from time to time. This page aggregates every adoptable one from the Newfoundland shelters we cover; set an alert because tiny companion breeds are adopted quickly.
Are Maltese good apartment dogs?
Yes, excellent. Maltese are tiny, quiet-ish, low-exercise, and completely people-focused, happy with short walks and lap time. The main consideration is company: they bond intensely and dislike being alone for long days, so a household that is around a lot suits them best.
Are Maltese hypoallergenic?
Maltese shed very little, which makes them one of the better breeds for people with mild allergies, but no dog is fully hypoallergenic; allergens live in dander and saliva, not just shed hair. Spend a couple of hours with the specific dog before adopting and wait 48 hours for any delayed reaction.
Should I buy or adopt a Maltese in Newfoundland?
Adopt. Maltese and their mixes appear in rescue, and adopting an adult means the temperament is known and the puppy chewing stage is behind you. Adoption fees run roughly $300 to $500 and include spay or neuter, vaccinations, and a microchip. Avoid "teacup" marketing; a healthy Maltese is small enough already.
What is the difference between a Maltese and a Maltipoo?
A Maltipoo is a Maltese crossed with a Poodle, so it is a different dog with its own page here, not a variety of Maltese. On health, a cross inherits from both sides rather than escaping either. Maltese are associated with mitral valve disease, luxating patellas and dental crowding; Poodles bring their own list. A Maltipoo can draw from both, which is why crossbreeding is not the health guarantee it is often sold as. What actually helps is an adult dog whose history a foster can describe.
How much does it cost to adopt a Maltese in St. John's?
Adopting a Maltese in St. John's typically costs $300 to $600, and puppies usually carry a premium at $500 to $900. The exact fee varies by rescue, and older dogs are often reduced. That fee is not a purchase price. It covers work already done on the dog: spay or neuter, vaccinations, deworming, microchip, and a basic vet workup, which would cost several hundred dollars more if you arranged it yourself after buying. Buying the same breed from a registered breeder generally runs well over $1,000, usually with a waitlist. Ask the rescue what is included before you apply, since a few include extras like a starter bag of food or a first-month insurance trial.
Are these Malteses for sale in St. John's?
Not for sale, for adoption, which is usually the better deal. Every Maltese here comes from a St. John's rescue or shelter, not a breeder, pet store, or classified seller. Adoption fees are typically $300 to $600, with puppies at $500 to $900 and already include vaccinations, deworming, microchip and spay or neuter when age-appropriate, versus roughly $2,000 to $5,000 or more to buy a Maltese from a breeder. If you searched "maltese for sale st. john's" or "maltese puppies for sale," adopting gets you a healthy, vetted dog for a fraction of the price.
Where can I buy a Maltese in St. John's, and should I?
You can buy from a registered breeder, but it is worth weighing against adoption first. A reputable Maltese breeder typically charges $2,000 to $5,000 or more and often has a waitlist, while a rescue Maltese costs $300 to $600, with puppies at $500 to $900 fully vetted and may be available now. Be cautious of cheap maltese-for-sale ads on classified sites and marketplaces, which are frequently backyard breeders or puppy-mill resellers with unvetted, sometimes sick animals and no health guarantee. If you do buy, insist on seeing where the puppies were raised and getting vet records. For most families in St. John's, adopting a rescue Maltese is cheaper, faster, and gives a dog in need a home.
Are there free Malteses in St. John's, or malteses under $500?
Adoption is the closest honest answer, and it is not free. A rescue Maltese in St. John's typically costs $300 to $600, with puppies at $500 to $900, so the lower end lands under the "$500" people search for and the rest does not. What the fee buys is work already done, the vaccinations, deworming, microchip and spay or neuter, which would cost more than the fee itself if you arranged it yourself, and it is still far below breeder prices. Be wary of genuinely free maltese listings. An animal advertised free to a good home has usually not been vetted, and free rehoming ads are the route flippers and unregistered breeders use to move animals with no health guarantee and no recourse. Paying a rescue fee buys you a dog someone has already examined, treated, and been honest with you about.
Are there Maltese puppies in St. John's, or only adults?
Both, but adults far outnumber puppies, and it is worth knowing that before you start looking. Most Malteses arriving in St. John's rescue are adolescents and adults, because that is the age at which first homes tend to give up. Puppies do come through, usually as accidental litters or with a surrendered mother, and they are typically spoken for quickly. Setting an alert beats refreshing the page. It is also worth asking whether you actually want one: an adult arrives with a temperament a foster has already observed and described, where a Maltese puppy is a prediction, and for this breed in particular knowing what you are getting is the more useful thing.
Where can I find a Maltese near me in St. John's?
Start with the listings on this page, which pull from St. John's rescues and shelters and are refreshed regularly, so what you see is what is genuinely available rather than a stale directory. If nothing suits today, that is normal for this breed: rescue intake is intermittent rather than steady, and a breed with none listed this week often has several next month. Setting an alert beats checking back, and it is worth widening to nearby towns, since most rescues serving St. John's will adopt out across a reasonable driving distance rather than only inside one municipality.