Maltipoo: Your Complete Guide

Maltipoos are small doodles that are a mix between a Maltese terrier (malti) and a poodle (poo). They aren’t as popular as other doodles like the goldendoodle or labradoodle, but they are an attractive breed for those looking for a small companion.

Since Maltipoos are mixed-breed dogs, there’s much to cover about their qualities. Our article will go over the breed characteristics of these small dogs, from physical traits and temperament to grooming and health. Read to the end to know if the Maltipoo is the right dog for you.

Quick Look at the Maltipoo

Below is a quick table summarizing the characteristics of Maltipoo. We’ll cover each point in much more detail in the later parts of the article.

What Is the History of Maltipoos?

The Maltipoo is a designer dog breed that emerged around the 1990s. Although there surely have been Maltese terrier and poodle mixes before the 90s, the breed gained the most recognition around this time. As mixed dog breeds, Maltipoos don’t have much history to discuss.

As for the purebred parents, the Maltese terrier is believed to have originated in Malta thousands of years ago. The poodle parent, on the other hand, is a water dog with roots in Germany from the 15th century.

What Do Maltipoos Look Like?

Thanks to the poodle parent, Maltipoos can have various coat colors, ranging from black to white. The most common coat colors are white, cream, and red, while darker colors like black, brown, and phantom are the rarest.

While the poodle parent has a big influence on the coat color, Maltipoos may also have white markings around the chest and paws coming from the Maltese terrier parent. Aside from the coat color, Maltipoos tend to have small noses and floppy ears with expressive eyes.

What Size Is a Maltipoo?

Maltipoos are small dogs that can weigh anywhere between 5 and 25 pounds, with an average height between 6 and 14 inches.

There’s some variability in the size of these dogs as a large toy poodle bred with a similarly sized Maltese terrier will result in Maltipoo puppies that will grow up to reach the higher end of the scale. Similarly, a small Maltese terrier bred with a teacup poodle will give you smaller Maltipoos.

Nonetheless, most Maltipoos fall between 7 and 14 pounds, with an expected height of 8 to 10 inches. It would be a surprise for a Maltipoo that is the offspring of an average-sized Maltese terrier and a poodle to grow larger.

What Is a Maltipoos Coat Type and Length?

Maltipoos are long-coated dogs that require regular haircuts. The coat texture is wavy to curly, depending on the generation. F1 Maltipoos tend to have a wavy coat, while F1b Maltipoos almost always have a curly coat texture similar to a poodle.

Maltipoos may require an immense grooming routine depending on the coat structure – more on the exact grooming needs of this breed below.

What Is a Maltipoos Temperament?

Maltipoos are social and outgoing dogs with a big heart for the people and animals they love. They are extremely affectionate dogs that form strong bonds with everyone in the family. Maltipoos enjoy playtime with the people they know and quickly warm up to strangers.

While this gives an introduction to the Maltipoo’s temperament, here are additional points on the breed’s personality features.

Are Maltipoos Good With Kids?

Maltipoos are generally good with kids. They are gentle with children of all ages and pair well with energetic kids. If you have a yard, you’ll have hours of free entertainment as your children and Maltipoo play together.

However, the Maltese terrier side of the Maltipoo may make them snappish with younger children if they feel their boundaries aren’t respected. This, of course, depends on the individual temperament of the dog. Some Maltipoos may never act this way at all.

Regardless, supervision is essential when kids and Maltipoos are spending time together. Also, teaching kids to respect their space and never bother them while eating and drinking is just as important.

Are Maltipoos Good With Other Animals?

Maltipoos get along well with other dogs. When socialized properly, you won’t need to worry about your Maltipoo causing trouble. However, some Maltipoos may be reactive and bark continuously to get the attention of other dogs. This shouldn’t be mistaken for aggression, and you should address reactivity accordingly.

While these are mostly good, it’s worth noting that Maltipoos have a high prey drive. They aren’t the best dogs for families with prey animals, like Guinea pigs and hamsters. Since this can create problems during walks, especially when off the leash, you should start early basic obedience training to ensure your Maltipoo doesn’t chase after anything that triggers them during walks.

Are Maltipoos Aggressive?

Maltipoos are friendly and outgoing dogs that aren’t aggressive. They are gentle with people and other animals. With proper socialization, they become well-behaved dogs that want nothing but play and affection.

However, just as reactivity shouldn’t be mistaken for aggression, it also goes the other way around. As with any other dog breed, whether purebred or mixed, Maltipoos may have behavioral problems. Lack of socialization and neglecting training can result in a Maltipoo developing behavioral issues that may lead to aggression.

If this happens, they should be addressed accordingly with the help of a dog behaviorist. You can also get guidance from appropriate online dog training courses to fix minor behavioral issues.

Do Maltipoos Bark?

Maltipoos aren’t the quietest dogs, but they aren’t barkers, either. They bark moderately and never excessively at everything that grabs their attention. Maltipoo puppies, however, may bark more than adults, but it should ease down as they age.

Even if your Maltipoo barks more than usual, you can teach them to be quiet, making them well-suited for apartments with noise restrictions. They respond well to positive training, so this should be in mind when training a Maltipoo to be quiet – more on the trainability of the breed below.

Are Maltipoos Affectionate?

Maltipoos are affectionate dogs that love cuddling up with their owners. When not interested in play or understand that it isn’t time for it, Maltipoos become the ultimate lap dogs that will sit near you to demand attention.

This loving personality also makes Maltipoos warm up to strangers and unfamiliar dogs quickly. It doesn’t take much time for a Maltipoo to befriend dogs they meet on walks and initiate friendly play. These make socializing Maltipoos effortless.

Are Maltipoos Intelligent?

Maltipoos are highly intelligent dogs that understand social cues and human emotions well. Even before making your feelings clear to them, like raising your voice when they do something they shouldn’t, Maltipoos can understand it by how you approach them and your body language.

This intelligent nature of the Maltipoo sometimes makes them attempt to manipulate their owners in a cute way to get what they want. Often, the effort is there for a treat or more playtime.

Since Maltipoos are intelligent, you can expect them to require a lot of mental stimulation in their lives. All dogs thrive on a routine, but Maltipoos and similarly intelligent dogs need some variation to feel fulfilled.

While daily walks are great, incorporating agility training, dog puzzles, scent work, and other mentally enriching activities are essential for Maltipoos to benefit their mental health and put their minds to work.

Are Maltipoos Energetic?

Maltipoos are high-energy dogs. Daily walks for an hour are recommended to ensure a Maltipoo gets enough exercise. If under-exercised, a Maltipoo may develop behavioral issues that could simply be prevented by 20 to 30 minutes of additional exercise.

Since there’s a poodle part to these dogs, Maltipoos often enjoy swimming. Swimming can be an excellent fix for the exercise needs of Maltipoos if you find it too demanding. Running around the beach and getting in and out of the water for about 20 minutes should provide them with enough daily physical activity and mental stimulation.

Are Maltipoos Easy to Train?

Intelligence doesn’t always mean you’ll have a dog that is easy to train. Livestock guardians, for example, are smart dogs but typically have an independent personality that doesn’t want to listen to others.

Luckily, Maltipoos are eager to please and have an inherent desire to do what they are told. Combined with their drive to get tasty treats, you’ll have a dog that’s generally easy to train with Maltipoos.

You can finish basic obedience training in a matter of a few weeks and introduce advanced tricks appropriate for their size, like retrieving specific objects and giving you hugs. This level of trainability can make the life of Maltipoo owners easy by having a well-behaved dog, provided they spend enough time training.

Are Maltipoos Good Watchdogs?

Although not excessive barkers, which is a great thing, Maltipoos tend to bark at suspicious things to alert their owners. If someone new, whether a human or animal, enters the yard, Maltipoos will make their presence heard by barking.

However, it would be wise for Maltipoo owners not to expect any guarding duty from their dogs as they are small companion dogs.

Are Maltipoos Good Service Dogs?

Maltipoos aren’t the first dogs that come to mind for service animal work – not because they aren’t able to execute the tasks of a service dog but because of their size. For example, they can’t help an individual with a physical disability by performing mobility assistance tasks.

That said, Maltipoos can become service animals only if their duties don’t require strength or mobility. Think psychiatric service animals and hearing assistance dogs.

Although not the go-to choice for service animal work, the affectionate and outgoing personality of the Maltipoo makes them excellent emotional support and therapy animals. They are ideal dogs for these titles that require nothing but love and friendliness.

How to Care for a Maltipoo?

Caring for a Maltipoo takes a lot of work. You can consider these small companions to be high-maintenance dogs that demand daily attention. From their grooming to mental stimulation needs, Maltipoos need an owner who plays an active role in their lives. Here’s a detailed overview of the exact care needs of Maltipoos.

Do You Need to Groom a Maltipoo?

Perhaps the most important care need of a Maltipoo is grooming. Due to the coat texture, Maltipoos require daily brushing to prevent matting. However, you can maintain the coat of Maltipoos with a curly coat by brushing a few times a week. Generally, first-generation Maltipoos require more frequent brushing than F1b or F1bb Maltipoos.

Maltipoos also need regular haircuts. Taking them to a professional groomer every six to eight weeks is necessary for a tidy appearance.

Since Maltipoos have floppy ears, regular ear cleaning is a must to prevent debris and dirt buildup, which can cause severe infections. Whiter color Maltipoos are also prone to tear stains. This is mainly caused by excess tear production. There are dog foods specifically formulated to reduce excess tear production, but the best is to clean the hair around the eyes regularly.

Overall, the grooming routine for a Maltipoo should involve daily brushing and dental care, cleaning the hair around the eye a few times a week if prone to tear stains, ear cleaning and nail trimming every three or four weeks, and trips to a professional groomer once six to eight weeks.

Do Maltipoos Shed?

Maltipoos are hypoallergenic dogs that don’t shed. Both the Maltese terrier and poodle parent are hypoallergenic dogs. Thanks to this, Maltipoos are unlikely to cause allergic reactions in people with pet allergies. However, you may find a few strands of hair here and there in your house, just like how our hair falls to the ground.

What Health Problems Do Maltipoos Have?

Although generally healthy as mixed breed dogs, a few canine health conditions may affect Maltipoos.

Aside from being prone to ear infections and tear stains, Maltipoos have a predisposition to little white shaker syndrome that affects many small dog breeds. This is a condition with an unknown cause that refers to tremors in the body and head. Similarly, Maltipoos may also experience seizures due to epilepsy.

Another condition to watch out for in Maltipoos is luxating patella. The patella may become unaligned and cause abnormalities in mobility. When getting a Maltipoo puppy, it’s important to find a breeder that screens their dogs to ensure your Maltipoo doesn’t have a genetic predisposition to develop these conditions.

How Long Do Maltipoos Live?

Maltipoos can live anywhere between 12 and 15 years. As with any other dog breed, the owner’s care, genetics, environmental factors, diet, and stress levels can significantly impact the lifespan of a Maltipoo.

What Should a Maltipoo Eat?

Maltipoos should eat commercially available dog food appropriate for their weight and energy levels. There are various brands that formulate dog food specifically for breeds like Maltipoo. However, some Maltipoos may have sensitive stomachs. They may require eating gastrointestinal dog food at times to support digestive health.

A homemade diet is also appropriate for many Maltipoos, but it should be carefully balanced to ensure they get all the nutrients and vitamins they need to benefit their health.

For what to feed your Maltipoo, you can seek advice from your veterinarian. They should be able to point you to the best diet for your Maltipoo upon examining their health.

As for how much dog food to feed a Maltipoo, they don’t need a lot. Anywhere between half a cup and one and a half cups of dog food per day should be enough.

Is a Maltipoo the Right Dog for Me?

Maltipoos are small companion dogs with a playful and social temperament. They enjoy making new friends and engaging in playtime with people and animals they love.

Maltipoos are suitable for individuals and families who live an active life. Maltipoos require a lot of mental stimulation and playtime to feel fulfilled. The trainability and the size also make the Maltipoo ideal for first-time dog owners in different living arrangements. They can adapt to living in apartments and small spaces as long as they get enough daily exercise.

If you’re up for their exercise, mental stimulation, and grooming needs, which can be demanding, Maltipoo can be an excellent small companion. They are lively dogs with a huge heart that welcomes everyone.

With all this said, determining if the Maltipoo is the right dog for you boils down to whether or not you’re ready to take care of a high-maintenance dog.