Our journey with the Maltese breed began back in 2012. Like many families searching for the perfect pet, we were looking for a small dog with a gentle temperament, a playful spirit, and a coat that wouldn’t shed all over our home. After a lot of research, we fell in love with the Maltese—not just for their size and beauty, but for their hypoallergenic qualities, loyalty, and affectionate nature. It didn’t take long before we welcomed our very first Maltese, Sierra Honeybell Fluffster, into our family.

Sierra was everything we could have hoped for and more. She quickly became not just a pet, but a true member of our family. She was playful with our daughters, protective of our home, and always ready to snuggle on the couch. As time went on, we noticed that Sierra needed a companion—someone to match her energy and give her a little extra joy in her days. That’s when we brought home Tigger McMuffin. As you might guess, that’s when our journey as Maltese breeders truly began.

What started as a simple desire to give our dog a best friend unexpectedly turned into something much more meaningful. We discovered how rewarding it was to raise Maltese puppies and see the happiness they brought to other families. There’s nothing quite like seeing a child’s face light up when they meet their very first puppy or watching someone’s heart heal after experiencing the loss of a beloved pet. These moments remind us why we do what we do.

At Orange County Maltese, we take great pride in raising healthy, happy, pure bred and well-socialized Maltese puppies. Our parent dogs live with us in our home and are treated like part of the family—they’re not just breeding dogs, they’re our pets first. We believe in doing things the right way, which is why we meet and carefully screen every potential new owner to ensure our puppies go to loving, responsible homes. We do not ship our puppies and only advertise through trusted sources like the American Kennel Club (AKC), because quality and care will always come before convenience.

We are honored to share this incredible breed with others and look forward to continuing to spread the joy that only a Maltese can bring.

Know Your Breeder

It is critically important to meet your breeder! Reputable breeders should be open to meeting you and showing you how they manage their breeding program. Be careful when the breeder breeds more than one type of breed, e.g., Maltese and Yorkies and Maltipoos, etc. Combining multiple breeds into a single program is something a puppy mill would do to increase profits.

Meet the Parents

If you want a good indicator of how large your puppy will grow along with their disposition, meet the sire and dam. Do not take someone's word for it; meet the mom and dad, and if for some reason you cannot, insist on pictures and videos.

Ask Questions

When we receive calls or emails from potential buyers, we like getting lots of questions. It shows that you are taking this decision very seriously. We do not sell our dogs to just anyone; we want to make sure you are a fit and going to treat our dogs well. The biggest red flag for me is when someone calls and only inquires about the price. Price is a consideration, but it should never be the primary consideration.

Know the Price Range

Before contacting a breeder, do some Googling and get a sense of the price range of the breed. Like everything else in life, you get what you pay for. You can find cheap pups on Craigslist, but do you really want the cheapest Maltese you can find?

Avoid the Mills

Buying from pet stores often supports cruel puppy mills where dogs are mistreated and neglected. These places care more about profit than the health and well-being of the animals. Learn the facts in the link below before making a decision.