The Maltipoo - a cute hybrid dog !

The Maltipoo is one of the more petite hybrid dog breeds, and one that is growing in popularity year on year with dog owners here in the UK. The Maltipoo is produced from the crossing of a Maltese dog and a Poodle, offering the owners of these hybrid dogs the best of both worlds! The Maltipoo is generally small (around the size of dogs considered to be toy dogs) and weigh ten pounds or less.

If you are on the lookout for a new dog and wish to own a dog from the smaller end of the size spectrum and are looking for something a little different to the most commonly found toy dogs and lapdogs, the Maltipoo is definitely worth considering. Read on to learn more about this incredibly cute and cheerful hybrid dog breed!

What makes a Maltipoo?

As there is no governing body or breed organisation for the Maltipoo, there is no common consensus as to what the Maltipoo should look like, and the only firm commonality across all Maltipoo dogs is that they all contain mixed Maltese and Poodle parentage!

This can be achieved by a first-generation crossing of a Poodle with a Maltese dog, or the subsequent crossing of an existing Maltipoo dog with another Maltipoo dog, or of a Maltipoo back to a Poodle or Maltese. Because the Maltese dog is a small one and the Maltipoo is also bred to achieve a small size, commonly the Poodle variant used in the crossing is a toy Poodle, or sometimes a miniature Poodle, but never a standard Poodle, as these are too large!

The Maltipoo appearance

The first thing that the Maltipoo’s appearance says to the viewer is “cute!” and these little dogs have smooth lines, pretty faces and a generally delicate appearance. Beyond that the similarities between dogs stop being consistent, and the Maltipoo may appear in a wide range of different colours, due to the colour variance range of the Poodle. Most Maltese dogs are white, ivory or pale coloured, and so this is generally a common colour for the coats of Maltese-cross puppies of all types. The coat itself may be more Poodle-like than Maltese, being curly, wiry or wavy, or it may be straight, silky and long like that of the Maltese dog; or something in between!

The Maltipoo coat and allergy sufferers

One of the reasons why the Poodle is such a popular dog breed in hybrid dog crosses is because their coats are often considered to be hypoallergenic, although this is something of a misnomer. While there is no such thing as a truly hypoallergenic dog, the Poodle does not shed significant quantities of fur, and with regular grooming and sometimes clipping, the presence of allergenic dander on and around the dog can be kept to a bare minimum. This means that many allergy sufferers will not be affected by contact with the Poodle. The Maltese dog is another breed that is considered to be very low shedding, and their very fine, silky locks are correctly referred to as hair rather than fur.

Crossing a low shedding dog with another dog that sheds normally offers a reduced likelihood that all or most of the subsequent puppies will be low-shedding, but crossing two low shedding dogs (such as the Maltese and Poodle) greatly increases the chances.

As both the Poodle and the Maltese dog are considered to be worthy of consideration by allergy sufferers, the Maltipoo also has a lot to recommend it for consideration by people who find that most other dogs trigger their allergies.

Maltipoo care and exercise requirements

The petite Maltipoo makes the perfect lapdog, and loves to cuddle up and sleep alongside of their favourite people. While they are not classed as among the most fastest and energetic dog breeds, nevertheless, both the Maltese dog and the Poodle are relatively active and lively dogs, and so they will need plenty of short walks to keep them fit and happy. Feeding an appropriate balanced diet that is suited for the small dog is important, as is ensuring that you do not slack on training and management just because your dog is cute and tries their luck! As with all toy dogs and small, cute dogs, it is important to remember that your dog is still canine, and ensure that you treat them and respect them as a dog, and not a spoilt child.

The Maltipoo personality

The Maltipoo has a bright, cheerful personality and is generally enthusiastic about life! They enjoy plenty of cuddles and quiet time as well, and may not be suited to families with young children who do not yet understand how to interact with dogs. Maltipoos are quite vocal, and will often bark in excitement, at the sound of the doorbell and to get attention! While this can be addressed with training to some degree, if you are looking for a very quiet dog, the Maltipoo may not be a good pick.

They are generally very social with other dogs when socialised properly from the get-go, and will often happily join in with the games of even much larger dogs. They do not tend to be snappy or grumpy, and are generally friendly and affectionate with newcomers and strangers, after they have barked their initial warning!

Over all, the Maltipoo is a strong contender as a potential pet for many different types of dog lovers, and generally fits in well to new situations and enjoys being included in family life.