What is a Maltipoo Dog?
Heritage:
Maltese Poodle Mix
Other Names:
Malti-Doodle, Malt-A-Doodle, Maltidoodle, Maltedoodle, Malt-oodle, Malt-A-Poo, Malta-Poo, Malta Poo, Malti-Poodle, Malte-Poo, Maltepoo, Maltesepoo, Maltese-Poodle, Maltese Doodle, Moodle, Maltese Poodle Mix
Maltese Poodle Mix Breed History
Maltese Breed History:
The Maltese was named after the island of Malta, located 60 miles south of Sicily in the Mediterranean. The island’s history goes back to 3500 BC with a variety of ancient empires laying claim to it during the times since.
It was the Greeks of the fourth and fifth centuries B.C. that started leaving us traces of this breed in ancient depictions and artifacts. Roman aristocrats elevated the Maltese as a status symbol and it was even a reoccurring character in poems, myths, and fables.
After the fall of Rome, the Chinese kept the Maltese from extinction and refined it further before the breed spread to Europe, and eventually, the United States. When first introduced at New York’s Westminster show in 1877 it was referred to as the Maltese Lion Dog.
Poodle Breed History:
While commonly associated with the French, the Poodle actually originated as a duck hunter in Germany over 400 years ago. In German, “pudelin” refers to the splashing in water that the dogs would do to retrieve waterfowl. The Poodle’s curly, weatherproof coat as well as its natural swimming ability and high intelligence made it an excellent retriever.
Eventually, Poodles made their way from the lake to the life of luxury as they were the breed of choice by French nobles, and eventually royalty across all of Europe. To this day, the Poodle is still the national dog of France. The entertainment industry then caught on to the Poodle’s showy looks, intelligence, and ease of trainability and gave them a prominent role in circus acts across the world.
While the Poodle started out as the “standard” variety, eventually the miniature and toy variations were bred. The Toy Poodle started in the United States in the early 20th century to be a city-dwelling companion dog. Due to the many positive personality traits and its hypoallergenic coat, Poodles are now commonly bred with a wide variety of other breeds to produce the “designer” hybrid dogs known and loved by many as “doodles.”
Maltipoo Breed History:
Like most types of Doodles, the Maltipoo breed origins are a bit murky. It’s likely that they were first bred around 20-30 years ago and originated in the United States. It was created to be a small, affectionate companion and a great family dog.
Maltese Poodle Mix Appearance & Grooming
How Big Do Maltipoos Get?
A Maltipoo’s size is determined mostly by whether its Poodle parent was a standard, miniature, or toy. On top of that, the gender of the puppy and the genetics of the parents play important factors as well.
With that in mind, a Toy Maltipoo (also known as a Teacup Maltipoo) will typically weigh between 5-15 pounds and have a height of 8-11 inches. A Miniature Maltiopoo will weigh in at around 15-25 pounds and stand roughly 11-14 inches tall. The Maltipoo dog is rarely, if ever, bred from Standard Poodles.
Read More: Maltipoo Size Full Grown: How Big Do Maltipoos Get? (Toy & Mini)
Maltipoo Dog Breed Coat & Grooming:
The coat of a Maltese Poodle Mix can be one or more colors, with the most popular being white, cream, and apricot. Their fur can range anywhere from straight, like the Maltese to curly like the Poodle and usually is of medium length.
A minimum of brushing every other day is required for the Maltipoo dog, with the ideal frequency being every day to prevent matting and tangles. Expect to take your Maltipoo to the groomer for a haircut every 6-12 weeks.
Related: Short Maltipoo Haircut Ideas: 15 Before and After Photos!
Are Maltipoos Hypoallergenic?
Do Maltipoos Shed?
Due to the unpredictability of genetics, there is no guarantee that any particular dog, or litter of dogs will be hypoallergenic and/or non-shedding. Some individuals’ allergies are more sensitive to certain breeds than other breeds, but there is no scientific evidence that shows that certain hybrid breeds are universally more or less hypoallergenic than others.
With that being said, as the Poodle Maltese Mix is a cross between two hypoallergenic breeds, it’s typically a safe bet that Maltipoo puppies will be hypoallergenic and non-shedding as well.
Maltese Poodle Mix Health & Wellness
Maltipoo Dog Breed Lifespan:
The life expectancy of a healthy and well-cared-for Maltipoo dog is around 10-15 years.
Maltipoo Dog Breed Common Health Concerns:
Maltipoos may be susceptible to the common health problems of both the Maltese and the Poodle. However, due to the genetic diversity from crossing these two breeds, the result may be a lower chance of developing these inherited health concerns.
Read More: Maltipoo Health Issues: 9 Common Maltipoo Health Problems to Look Out For!
Some of the more common genetic disorders to be on the lookout for in the Maltese Poodle Mix include Cryptorchidism, Epilepsy, Hypoglycaemia, Pancreatitis, Patellar Luxation, Patent Ductus Arteriosus, Portosystemic Shunt, Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Sabaceous Adenitis, and White Shaker Syndrome.
Due to the cost of treating these common health concerns, we highly encourage all dog owners invest in pet insurance. We recommend getting a free online quote from Healthy Paws Pet Insurance.
Maltese Poodle Mix Temperament & Personality
Maltipoo Dog Breed Behavioral Traits:
Maltipoos are cuddly, docile dogs that are a great option for Doodle lovers with smaller living spaces. The only caveat to this is that those who live in apartments have to be concerned with the Maltipoo’s tendency to bark excessively, as it might cause tension between neighbors. Luckily Maltipoos are easy to train and, if executed and practiced properly early on, can learn to respond to the “quiet” command.
This breed is great with pets and children alike, though be careful that children handle the dog with care and don’t drop them. Maltipoos are sensitive dogs and as such respond much better to positive reinforcement. Raising your voice is almost never effective with this breed.
Maltipoo Dog Breed Activity Requirements:
Maltipoo dogs are energetic, but don’t demand extended periods of vigorous exercise like other Doodle breeds. A short 20-30 minute walk daily will suffice, with more time needed if living in a small space or apartment and less needed with more ample space and a yard to roam and play.
Maltese Poodle Mix Pictures
