Maltese vs Labrador Retriever: Waste, Diet & Cleanup Compared

Side-by-Side Stats

At a glance, the Maltese averages about 0.5 oz of waste per day compared to the Labrador Retriever's 6.5 oz. Over a full year, that translates to roughly 11 lbs vs 148 lbs — a difference that compounds quickly, especially if you have more than one dog.

Which Breed Produces More Waste?

The Labrador Retriever produces significantly more waste than the Maltese — roughly 13.0x as much daily. That 137-lb annual difference means Labrador Retriever owners deal with considerably more yard cleanup.

Body weight is the primary driver of waste volume. The Labrador Retriever averages 68 lbs compared to the Maltese's 6 lbs. Dogs generally produce waste equal to roughly 0.5–0.75% of their body weight each day, so larger breeds invariably fill the yard faster.

GI Issues & Digestive Health Comparison

Understanding each breed's digestive vulnerabilities helps you know what to watch for during yard cleanup. Changes in stool color, consistency, or frequency are often the first visible sign of a health issue.

Maltese: The Maltese has a delicate digestive system. Their white coat shows any yard contamination immediately.

Labrador Retriever: America's favorite family dog produces substantial waste — up to a pound per day. Labs are also notorious for eating things they shouldn't, making yard cleanliness critical.

Cleanup Difficulty & Recommended Frequency

Cleanup difficulty depends on waste volume, frequency, and yard behavior. Here's how these two breeds stack up:

• Maltese: Low difficulty — 2–3 poops/day, moderate activity level, minimal shedding
• Labrador Retriever: Moderate difficulty — 2–5 poops/day, very-high activity level, heavy shedding

A clean yard keeps your Maltese's white coat spotless during outdoor play.

A single Lab can produce over 270 lbs of waste per year. Two Labs? Over 500 lbs.

For the Maltese, we recommend bi-weekly service. For the Labrador Retriever, weekly or bi-weekly service is ideal. If you have both breeds, go with the more frequent schedule to stay ahead of accumulation.

Which Breed Needs Professional Service More?

Between the two, the Labrador Retriever benefits more from professional pet waste removal. At 148 lbs of waste per year, DIY cleanup becomes a significant time commitment — especially combined with the breed's very-high activity level and heavy shedding.

That said, Maltese owners also benefit from professional service. Even at 11 lbs annually, keeping up with 2–3 daily deposits requires consistency that's hard to maintain.

• Higher number of breed-specific GI issues (3 known concerns) means more waste irregularities to manage
• Very High activity level means waste is spread across the entire yard, not concentrated in one spot
• Heavy shedding creates extra yard debris that compounds the cleanup burden
• 148 lbs of annual waste takes roughly 3 minutes per week to clean manually