At Storybook Maltese, we specialize in raising exceptional AKC Champion Maltese puppies for show, service, therapy, and companionship. Formerly located in the rolling foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains of Northern California, we are now proudly based just outside Branson, Missouri, where our legacy continues.


With over three decades of experience and a foundation rooted in some of the top Maltese bloodlines in the United States, we are convinced there is no breed more magical, loyal, or intelligent than the Maltese. These exquisite little dogs have captured our hearts — and the hearts of hundreds of families across the country.


Raised in Our Home, Not a Kennel

Our Maltese are truly part of our family. Each dog lives inside our home, not in a kennel, and enjoys a life of love, freedom, and plenty of lap time. While they each have their own spacious pen outfitted with cozy bedding, potty pad, toys, and fresh food and water, they spend most of their day following us around, curled up in a blanket, or perching sweetly in our laps.


We've often joked — and been told! — that if people had to come back in another life, they'd want to return as one of our dogs. And we don’t blame them.


Where Temperament Meets Purpose

Our goal is to raise Maltese puppies that are not only genetically sound and beautifully bred, but also confident, calm, and emotionally bonded to people. These are the ideal qualities for service dogs, therapy companions, and loving family pets.


Before retirement, our dogs came to work with us daily on rotation — each one had a turn being the “Office Maltese,” greeting clients and bringing joy to everyone who crossed our path. Today, we continue that tradition by training our puppies from the start to be comfortable in arms, bags, and calm in public, setting them up for a life of companionship.


Carefully Matched to Loving Homes

We believe Maltese thrive when they are near their people — they were bred to be constant companions, and their emotional sensitivity means they do best in homes where someone is present most of the time. That’s why we carefully screen each applicant to ensure the homes we place our puppies in are as loving and attentive as the one they came from.


Each Maltese puppy we raise is treated like royalty… but also like family. Because to us, that’s what they are.


For over three decades, our passion for the Maltese breed has been about more than just breeding; it's a dedication to the future of the breed itself. As a respected mentor to other breeders, a contributor to top-selling books on Amazon, and an authority in the AKC show world, my mission is to raise puppies that are not only genetically sound and beautiful but also embody the confident, calm temperament that makes them perfect companions.

About Storybook Maltese – Champion AKC Maltese Breeder

How My Maltese Journey Began — A Childhood Dream Come True


My love affair with the Maltese dog began when I was just 10 years old. Our neighbor had the most beautiful little white Maltese I had ever seen — graceful, gentle, and full of charm. From that day forward, I was hooked. I sat through every televised dog show just to catch a glimpse of those elegant, flowing coats and expressive eyes. I dreamed of owning a Maltese of my own... and that dream never faded.


Decades later, with my children grown and life finally allowing the time and stability needed, I began my search for the perfect AKC Maltese puppy. What I quickly discovered was that well-bred Maltese puppies from ethical breeders were surprisingly hard to find. I refused to buy a puppy sight unseen or support commercial breeding operations. I knew my future dog had to be raised with love and integrity — not treated like a product.


Falling in Love
All Over Again

When I finally brought home my first Maltese puppy, I was ready for anything. I had studied every Maltese care guide I could find — prepared for the challenges they warned about: grooming, housebreaking, separation anxiety... But none of it came. To my surprise, this was the easiest, sweetest dog I had ever owned. She was intelligent, affectionate, clean, and eager to please. I was smitten.


From Puppy Love to Passion-Driven Purpose

That one puppy changed everything. What began as a childhood dream soon became a lifelong mission. Our family fell in love with the Maltese breed so deeply that we began showing, competing in AKC conformation events, and developing our own DNA health-tested, Champion Maltese bloodlines.


Every litter we produce is planned with the future of the breed in mind — not profit. We breed with purpose, heart, and respect for the legacy we’re continuing. Most of our puppies could succeed in the show ring... but we only keep the few who best match our vision for structure, temperament, health, and type.


What Makes Our Maltese Puppies So Special?

We proudly offer the remaining puppies to approved homes as exceptional companions. By the time a Storybook Maltese puppy goes home, they are:



Each one is loved, handled daily, and raised in our home — not in a kennel.


We believe the Maltese is the ultimate companion dog — and we are honored to share the joy, elegance, and emotional connection they bring with families across the country.



In The Beginning...

 Champion Maltese Bloodlines at Storybook Maltese


Our Purpose-Driven Breeding Priorities: Health, Temperament, Beauty, and Structure


At Storybook Maltese, we are blessed to preserve and advance some of the most prestigious AKC Champion Maltese bloodlines in the United States. Our lineage is built upon decades of dedication, featuring multiple generations of Champion Maltese from the most respected breeders in the world. We are honored to carry forward this legacy—carefully, thoughtfully, and with the utmost respect for those who came before us.


Every litter we produce reflects our deep commitment to ethical Maltese breeding, prioritizing health, temperament, and AKC breed standard above all. While we love seeing our Maltese win in the show ring, our highest calling is to raise exceptional companions, therapy dogs, and service dogs for deserving families.


Our Maltese Breeding Priorities — In Order of Importance

🩺 1. Health First

Before beauty or ribbons, health is our #1 priority. We never want a family to fall in love with a Maltese puppy only to lose them to genetic illness. Our breeding dogs are DNA health tested, and we work hard to avoid devastating conditions such as liver shunt, hydrocephalus, or GME. Healthy puppies mean lifelong joy—and that’s what we strive to deliver.


💗 2. Temperament Matters Most

We live with our dogs—they’re not just show dogs, they’re family. Our puppies are socialized from birth, trained for calmness and confidence, and many go on to become certified therapy and medical alert dogs. A sweet, stable temperament is a hallmark of the Storybook Maltese line and critical to every successful placement. As the AKC Maltese Standard states:


“He is among the gentlest mannered of all little dogs, yet he is lively and playful as well as vigorous.”

We couldn’t agree more.


🌟 3. Signature Look – The Baby Doll Face

We carefully select for the ‘baby doll’ face Maltese with large, dark eyes and a shorter muzzle. These endearing features melt hearts—but we never sacrifice health or temperament for looks. If we can combine all three, we do.


🦴 4. Correct Structure

Proper structure is key for long-term wellness, especially in toy breeds. We aim to minimize orthopedic issues like patellar luxation through sound conformation and careful selection.


✨ 5. Silky, Straight Coat

We breed for the correct AKC Maltese coat—flat, silky, pure white, and easy to manage. Coats that are curly, woolly, or frizzy are prone to matting and discomfort. Whether you plan to show your dog or simply enjoy grooming time together, a great coat makes all the difference.


⚖️ 6. Ideal Size for the Breed Standard

Our Maltese fall within the AKC preferred size of 4–6 lbs, with none exceeding the standard’s 7 lb limit. We do not breed oversized Maltese or unhealthy "micro teacup" puppies. Occasionally, a smaller puppy will appear in a litter and requires a special home with experience and time. We never compromise the standard for size.


🖤 7. Black Points – The Finishing Touch

That gorgeous black button nose, dark eyes, and inky lips and pads complete the classic Maltese expression. While pigmentation is cosmetic and less important than health and temperament, we maintain excellent pigmentation throughout our lines as part of the complete package.


Every Maltese puppy from Storybook Maltese is a testament to thoughtful, loving breeding and the result of decades of refinement. Whether destined for the show ring, therapy certification, or simply a cherished lap, each pup carries the heart and legacy of our program.


📧 Ready to meet your dream Maltese puppy?

Email us at storybookmaltese@yahoo.com to learn more about availability, upcoming litters, and how to reserve a well-bred AKC Maltese puppy you’ll cherish for life.

 



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A Lifelong Dream Come True… and a Commitment to the Maltese Breed

I fell in love with the Maltese breed at age 10 and dreamed of having one my entire life. But I waited—until I was in a place where I could devote the time, love, and attention a Maltese truly deserves. These dogs are more than pets... they are heart-connected companions who thrive on human closeness.


At Storybook Maltese, we do not place our Maltese puppies in homes where they will be left alone for long hours. This breed is born to bond deeply. Their intuitive nature and emotional intelligence make them exceptional Therapy Dogs, Emotional Support Dogs, and Medical Service Dogs—but only when their emotional needs are honored.


All of our Maltese puppies are AKC registered and carefully raised in our home as part of the family. Each puppy is placed with a strict spay/neuter contract and will only leave us after a minimum of 12 weeks, ensuring proper development, socialization, and preparation for life with you.


If we don’t currently have Maltese puppies available, we’re happy to connect you with one of our trusted breeder friends who upholds the same high standards. Please—don’t take chances on pet stores, puppy mills, or unethical online sellers. Choosing a reputable, experienced Maltese breeder makes all the difference in the beauty, health, and temperament of your puppy.


If you’ve done your research and are ready to welcome a healthy, well-bred Maltese puppy into your heart and home—or if you have questions about the breed—we’d love to hear from you.


Email us at storybookmaltese@yahoo.com and take the first step into the magical world of Maltese companionship.  


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Why We Raise Champion AKC Maltese Puppies with Purpose and Passion

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Storybook Maltese