Maltese can be picky eaters. We use Dry Puppy/Chiot food or Small Breed food from Royal Canin until they are about 6 months old, then we recommend changing to a Salmon based dry food diet. The reason is because it is hypoallergenic to them and it has the Omegas that leave their hair nice and shiny. Bird meat (chicken, duck, turkey, etc…) can cause them skin allergies, so we want to avoid this.
How much to feed? If they are a puppy, start with 1/2 teacup of dry puppy food in the morning and at night. You want to keep fresh food always available to them throughout the day, as we want to avoid them getting low blood sugar problems. If you see that by the end of the day there is a lot of food left over, reduce the amount given, and vice versa, if they eat it too quickly, increase the amount of food. Each puppy is different, so you will need to pay close attention and make sure they are eating. Once they are 6 months old, start limiting their feeding times. You can feed them 2-3 times per day… removing their food after each feeding time. We want them to get accustomed to eating at a certain time. This will be very helpful when you are potty training them. By 10 months they should already be fed only 2 times per day.
When you receive your puppy he/she will already be eating dry food directly from a bowl (no need to feed by hand or using a spoon, or you will be raising a spoiled Maltese and in the long run it can create behavioral problems).
I found this video that shows a variety of foods that other people are feeding their Maltese, and thought I would share it as you may want to mix up their food once in a while. Please note: If you are switching dog foods, this needs to be done gradually over a two week period. This will help the Maltese get accustomed to the new food and avoid them getting an upset stomach.