Maltipoo

Possibly the cutest looking dog, the Maltipoo is a delightful little pooch. However, there’s more to a dog than how it looks and we give the lowdown on all the other details in our Maltipoo guide.

Height: 8-14 inches
Weight: 2-9 kilos
Lifespan: 10-15 years
Pedigree? (registered with the KC?): No, this breed is not registered with the Kennel Club.

Positives and Negatives

Check out the below pros and cons related to the Maltipoo:

Pros:

• Highly intelligent and easy to train
• Low exercise and grooming needs
• Ideal therapy/service dogs
• Great for allergy sufferers

Cons:

• Can be prone to health issues
• Doesn’t like to be left alone
• May wander off to explore
• Not good for a first time owner

Overview

The Maltipoo is a well-known designer dog that has won the hearts of owners across the world! They’re small in size, easy to look after, and cute making them an ideal pet. This canine is highly adaptable and can suit a variety of different living conditions.

The toy Maltipoo can live happily in an apartment. It is why they are so popular amongst pet owners living in the city. They will require an owner who can spend lots of time with them. A Maltipoo is prone to separation anxiety and doesn’t like to be separated from their human companions.

This breed isn’t smelly nor does it drool. They’re perfect for those that love dogs, but hate stinky smells! Maltipoos don’t shed their fur making them ideal for allergy suffers. It also means your house won’t be covered in loose strands of fur!

Designer hybrid dogs are quickly becoming popular. If you are interested in a Malti-poo check out your local rehoming centers first. Be sure to purchase a Maltipoo puppy from a reputable breeder. Health issues are a problem with this dog.

They may be cute but they can also be stubborn! Don’t let looks fool you. If you allow this pooch to get away with bad behaviors it will only result in a badly behaved pet and a stressful companionship!

History

The Maltipoo is a hybrid cross between the Maltese and Poodle. The designer breed was developed in the United States, emerging from the 1990s onwards. Since then the breed has boomed in popularity. They were created as a companion and nothing more, making them ideal pets.

The Maltese originate on the Island of Malta just south of Sicily. It is an ancient breed that dates back thousands of years. They were loved by royalty, writers, poets, and artists. You can find multiple art pieces and literature based on this special pooch.

Recommended: Learn all about the amazing Leonberger dog next

The poodle comes in a variety of sizes which explains why there is such thing as a teacup Maltipoo. The standard Poodle was developed in France and has the title of National Dog, but it actually originated from Germany. Large Poodles were used as water retrievers whereas the smaller ones were used to hunt truffles.

The Maltese x Poodle was a perfect match to create the designer dog we have today. The Poodles difference in size allows the Maltipoo to mix and match their size. A black Maltipoo is also available, their coat isn’t always white!

Personality

Maltipoo Temperament:

The Maltipoo dog has a fantastic personality making them an ideal pet for families, couples, and sole owners. They are highly friendly, thrive off attention, and love nothing more than spending time with those they love.

Even though Maltipoos were developed solely as companions, this breed makes a great watchdog! They’ll alert you to anything out of the ordinary. Yet still, they aren’t territorial or overprotective making them ideal to have in the household.

Are Maltipoos Good With Strangers?

Yes, this breed is a stranger friendly pet. Although they have a watchdog instinct, they won’t view those they don’t know as a direct threat. They are generally loveable and friendly to all. Their personality is one of the most ideal when compared to other breeds.

Are Maltipoos Good With Children?

Yes, Maltipoos make an excellent companion for a child! They are very playful and benefit greatly from interactive games. If you own a teacup Maltipoo, supervise play between younger children. Their small size could see your pooch accidentally injured.

Up Next: Looking for a rare and athletic dog breed that can guard your household? Check out our guide to the Thai Ridgeback next.

Are Maltipoos Ok With Other Dogs?

Yes, this canine is very friendly with other dogs! They are the perfect companion to take on group dog walks with other pet owners. You can also have other dogs and cats living side by side with the Maltipoo. All they want to do is interact with others and play!

Exercise

A Maltese x Poodle should generally receive 40 minutes of exercise each day, split into two 20 minute walks. You must keep your pooch fit and healthy. Harnesses are recommended for this breed as the neck is more sensitive on toy/small breeds.

This canine may wander off on an exploration. Their small size could see them get hurt. This is why a Maltipoo dog should not be let off the lead unless in an enclosed area. Keeping an exercise routine will make it easier to leave your pet alone for a few hours.

Maltipoos can pick up bad habits if their exercise needs aren’t met. They can also become hyperactive and over excitable. You don’t want your pooch to pick up a chewing habit or other attention-seeking behaviors.

Health

The Maltipoo is a new hybrid and because of this, they are prone to health conditions. Below are the ones that may be encountered:

• Patellar Luxation- The knee cap temporarily moves out of place. This causes lameness in the affected leg. By hyperextending the knee, it should fall back into position.
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy- A degenerative disease that causes the cells in the eye to deteriorate over a period of time. It will eventually lead to blindness.
• White Dog Shaker Syndrome– This disease affects white dogs. It causes the body to uncontrollably shake. Typically affects West Highland Terriers, the Maltese, Poodles, and Bichons.
• Legg Calves Perthes Disease- A painful condition affecting the hip. It causes a limp and after a period of time, the dog will stop putting weight on the affected leg.
• Portosystemic Shunt– An abnormal vessel lets blood from the intestine bypass the liver. This begins to worsen the deterioration of the liver function.
• Epilepsy- The most common neurological disease in dogs. Epilepsy is caused by an abnormality in the brain resulting in seizures.

Recommended: We give the lowdown on the Greek Kokoni dog next.

Intelligence & Training

The Maltipoo is very intelligent and picks up on commands quickly. What lets them down is their stubborn side. It can sometimes hinder training which is why this breed isn’t recommended for first-time owners.

With praise, affection, and patience your Maltipoo will quickly come round. Harsh training methods will make your dog switch off. Positivity is the way forward with this breed.

From an early age, your dog should be set in a routine. Dedicate 15 minutes each day to training, by repeating this over and over it helps reinforce the commands in your dog’s memory.

Excessive barking can become an issue with this pooch. If you don’t firmly tell this dog what is and isn’t acceptable, their behavior will quickly spiral. Tell your dog to be quiet, wait for them to be silent, then reward them. It is the quickest way to teach your pooch to stop barking.

The Maltese is notorious for being difficult to housebreak. This doesn’t have to be the case with the Maltipoo. As a puppy, your dog should be given access to outdoor space. At one month it should be hourly, at two months two times every hour, and so on so forth. Praise and rewards will quickly show your Maltipoo the right place to potty.

Recommended: Check out our ultimate guide to Norfolk Terriers next.

Grooming

The Maltese Poodle mix sheds little to none. It makes them an ideal breed choice for allergy suffers. Yet because of this brushing will be required multiple times a week to prevent mats. Possibly even daily!  Slicker and pin brushes are the best option for this coat.

Facial hair can overgrow so this may need trimming every once in a while. You will also need to remove any discharge from the eye to prevent tear stains. Water and cotton wool will do the trick.

The Maltese Poodle should be bathed once a month. They require conditioner as opposed to only shampoo due to their coat being prone to mats. Bath products should be completely washed away, any remainders could aggravate your Maltipoos skin. If your dog has thick fur they should then be blow-dried.

Trim the Maltipoos coat twice a year, you won’t need professional help for this. Their nails should be trimmed once every month or two months. Ears need to be checked and cleaned weekly and teeth should be brushed multiple times a week. Maltipoos need to be introduced to grooming from as early as possible.