[OwnedByJezebel]

If you can't decide, you really ought to be around a few of each to see which breed, in general, that you click with.

I've had three of each, and even though dogs are individuals, I can tell you my experience. Years ago, I had two Maltese, and they lived to old age. They are very loving, gentle dogs. Very laid back, friendly. When they passed, I didn't get another for a while because of work responsibilities.

Fourteen years ago, I got another Maltese. She is very much like the first two. When she was about a year old, I decided to get another dog so that she could have a companion while we were at work during the day. I assumed any toy dog would do, and found a Yorkie that was also a year old that needed rehoming.

I had no idea what I was "in for" with a terrier, but boy did I learn fast. They are totally different. Their personality is much stronger than a Maltese. They are much more dominant, but at times can be far on the other side and be more submissive and sweeter than the Maltese. Almost like a split personality. It is like they know how they need to be to get what they want. Very smart and manipulative. (Lukily the dominance thing with a Maltese doesn't cause a problem, because mine doesn't have a dominant bone in her body and has absolutely no interest in bossing anyone or anything around).

I also find them to be better company than the Maltese, always trying to interact with their humans, and they are more amusing and comical at times.

My first Yorkie died at the age of three from an enlarged heart / heart failure, and I immediately got another Yorkie, not a laid-back Maltese. The second one lasted 11 years and died from a heart attack, and I now have my third.

Having had both, I have a clear preference. I will always have a Yorkie, and I'm sure that I will never get another Maltese. I like the strong personality, the spunk, the drive that the average Maltese doesn't have. It's a terrier thing.

You may not click with a dog with a strong personality and prefer one that is more laid back (Maltese). You just need to know what is right for *you*.

That being said, none of my dogs, of either breed, were noisy or yappy. It's all in how you raise them. And out of the six I had, the three Yorkie's coats were so much easier to maintain than the Maltese. The Maltese all tended to mat a lot more, once the Yorkies got their adult coats, mats were rare.