Malt-A-Poo, Maltese × Poodle
Maltipoo Breed Guide
Cloud-soft, deeply affectionate, and low-shedding — the original designer lap dog.
- Weight
- 5–15 lbs
- Lifespan
- 12–15 years
- Energy
- Moderate
- Shedding
- Minimal
- Trainability
- Easy
- Coat
- Wavy to curly, soft — minimal shedding, grows continuously
- Good with kids
- Yes
- Good with other dogs
- Yes
The Maltipoo (Maltese × Toy or Miniature Poodle) is one of the most popular hybrid breeds in America. Combining the Maltese's silky affection with the Poodle's sharp intelligence and low-shedding coat, Maltipoos produce a gentle, playful, deeply people-oriented companion that thrives in apartments, houses, and everywhere in between.
Personality
Maltipoos are famously loving and people-focused. They live for connection with their families and are happiest when included in daily life — on the couch, at your feet while you work, or carried through errands. They're playful and spirited but not hyper. They tend to be friendly with strangers and socialize well with other pets when properly introduced. The Maltese influence makes some Maltipoos slightly vocal — they benefit from early training on barking.
Appearance
Maltipoos have a soft, fluffy coat ranging from slightly wavy (more Maltese influence) to tightly curly (more Poodle influence). Colors include white, cream, apricot, gold, and occasionally brown or black. Most Maltipoos are kept in a teddy-bear or puppy clip for ease of care. Their faces are expressive and round with large dark eyes — they genuinely look like stuffed animals.
Feeding
Small, frequent meals (2–3 per day) of a high-quality small-breed formula. Maltipoos can be prone to hypoglycemia as puppies. Choose a food with real meat as the first ingredient. The Maltese side may contribute to food sensitivities — white-coated dogs in general can show tear-staining that worsens with certain ingredients (particularly artificial dyes and some protein sources).
Grooming
The Maltipoo coat requires brushing 4–5 times per week to prevent matting. Professional grooming every 6–8 weeks is essential. Keep the area around the eyes clean daily — tear staining is common in white and light-coated dogs. Ear cleaning, nail trimming, and dental care complete the routine.
Exercise
Maltipoos need moderate daily activity: 20–30 minutes of walks plus indoor play. They're adaptable — they can match the energy of an active household or be quite content with a quieter lifestyle as long as they have engagement and companionship.
Training
Maltipoos are intelligent and eager to please, making them very trainable with positive reinforcement. Short, consistent training sessions from puppyhood establish excellent manners. Barking can be a tendency — redirect and reward quiet behavior rather than scolding. Housetraining requires patience; small breeds have small bladders and need more frequent opportunities.
Health
Generally healthy with a lifespan of 12–15 years. Common concerns include luxating patella, dental disease (very common in small breeds), epilepsy (which can be inherited from the Poodle side), and white shaker syndrome (a tremor disorder seen in some white small dogs). DNA testing screens parents for many inheritable conditions.
Health Concerns to Know
- Luxating patella
- Dental disease
- Epilepsy
- White shaker syndrome
- Progressive retinal atrophy
- Hypoglycemia (puppies)
- Tear staining / eye irritation
Fun Facts
- The Maltese is one of the oldest toy breeds — records of silky white toy dogs on Malta date back over 2,000 years.
- Maltipoos were among the first 'designer breeds' deliberately created in the US in the 1990s.
- Despite their small size, Maltipoos are used as therapy and emotional support dogs in hospitals and care facilities.
- The curly-coated Maltipoos from more Poodle-influenced generations (F1B or F2B) shed the least.