A Maltipoo is a companion dog developed by crossing a Maltese with a Toy or Miniature Poodle. The result is usually a small, affectionate, bright dog, but Maltipoos are not uniform: adult size, coat texture, shedding, energy level, and trainability can differ depending on the parents and the individual puppy.
They can be an excellent fit for households that want an interactive dog and can commit to regular grooming. They are less suitable for people who need a dog that can spend most of the day alone or requires very little coat care.
What is a Maltipoo?
A Maltipoo—also called a Malt-a-poo or Maltese Poodle—is a cross between a Maltese and a Toy or Miniature Poodle. It is a designer crossbreed, not a breed with one universally accepted conformation or temperament standard. In the United States, the American Kennel Club does not recognize the Maltipoo as an official breed.
That lack of a breed standard matters when comparing puppies. Two Maltipoos from different breeders may look and behave quite differently. A puppy can inherit the Maltese parent’s small size and sociability, the Poodle parent’s athleticism and intelligence, or a mixture of traits from both.
#1 Best Overall
- Professional Dog & Cat Grooming Brush: Premium slicker brush for dogs and cats designed for daily grooming and coat maintenance. A versatile dog brush and cat brush, also suitable as a pet brush that supports healthy coats and salon-quality grooming at home.
- Removes Mats, Tangles & Loose Hair: Fine wire pins reach the undercoat to remove loose hair before it sheds while gently smoothing tangles and mats. Functions as a dog brush for shedding, deshedding dog brush, and cat brush for shedding to help keep fur off furniture and clothing..
- Gentle on Skin, Tough on Tangles: Rounded stainless-steel pin tips glide smoothly through sensitive areas while removing light mats and tangles without scratching. A safe, comfortable cat hair brush and dog grooming brush for pets with delicate or sensitive skin, including seniors.
- Designed for All Coat Types & Breeds: Effective on long, short, curly, thick, or fine coats — including poodles, doodles, goldendoodles, mixed breeds, kittens, adult cats, and rabbits. One versatile slicker brush for dogs and cats that delivers consistent grooming results.
- Durable & Groomer-Approved: Built with rust-resistant stainless steel pins and a non-slip ergonomic handle for comfort and control. Trusted by professional groomers and pet owners as a dependable dog brush and cat brush for complete at-home grooming.
Maltipoo size and appearance
Most Maltipoos are small, but there is no guaranteed adult size. Toy Poodle crosses are generally smaller than crosses involving a Miniature Poodle. Many adults weigh roughly 5–20 pounds, although individual dogs can fall outside that range.
Terms such as “teacup,” “tiny,” and “micro” are marketing labels rather than standardized Maltipoo varieties. Extremely small puppies may have increased vulnerability to injuries, low blood sugar, dental crowding, and other health problems. Ask about the parents’ actual weights and expected adult size instead of relying on a label.
Maltipoos may have a straight, wavy, or curly coat. Common colors include white, cream, apricot, red, and combinations of these, although color can fade or change with age. A puppy’s soft coat is not a reliable guarantee of its adult texture.
Temperament
Maltipoos are commonly affectionate, playful, alert, and strongly attached to their people. Both parent breeds are companion dogs, and many Maltipoos enjoy being involved in household activities. Their small size does not make them passive: a bored Maltipoo may bark, follow people from room to room, steal objects, or invent its own games.
Temperament is shaped by genetics, early handling, socialization, training, health, and daily routine. Some Maltipoos are outgoing with strangers; others are cautious or easily overstimulated. Early, positive exposure to visitors, calm dogs, household sounds, grooming equipment, car travel, and different surfaces can help build confidence.
They can live successfully with children, but young children must be supervised. A small dog can be seriously injured by being dropped, stepped on, hugged tightly, or encouraged into rough play. Teach children to let the dog approach them and to leave it alone while eating, sleeping, or resting.
Rank #2
- 【Easy Desheding】: Swihauk self cleaning dog brush for long haired dogs with release bottom helps effortlessly reduce shedding. A must have dog brush for short haired dogs, cat brush for indoor cats, cat brush for shedding, slicker brush for dogs.
- 【Safe Design】: Soft and protective plastic round head bristles creating a comfortable feeling while deshedding without hurting your pet. Ideal puppy brush for small dogs, dog brush for shedding and grooming.
- 【Sturdy & Durable】: Premium stainless steel metal and compact design make our product sturdy and durable for long term use.
- 【Ergonomic Design】: Press bottom for easy cleaning, high-quality & lightweight TPR handle make your grooming effortlessly.
- 【Effective to Remove Loose Fur】: Swihauk pet grooming brush is effective to remove loose fur, suitable for dogs, cat with long and short hair, perfect for your lovely pet like puppies, golden retriever, rabbit, kitten, bunny, yokie and more.
Separation and barking
Maltipoos often form close bonds with their owners. Without deliberate independence training, some develop separation-related distress. Warning signs include persistent barking or howling when alone, frantic door behavior, destruction near exits, house-soiling, drooling, or attempts to escape.
Start with absences short enough that the dog remains calm. Gradually increase the time, provide a safe resting area and a food puzzle, and keep departures and arrivals low-key. Do not punish destruction or vocalizing caused by anxiety; punishment can increase fear and does not teach the dog how to cope. Severe or persistent signs warrant help from a veterinarian or qualified behavior professional.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Alert barking is also common in small companion dogs. Reward quiet behavior, reduce opportunities to rehearse barking at windows, and teach a cue such as “quiet” rather than shouting over the dog.
Exercise and mental stimulation
A healthy adult Maltipoo usually needs light to moderate daily exercise. A practical routine may include:
- One or two walks suited to the dog’s age and fitness
- Several short play sessions
- Brief reward-based training
- Sniffing and exploration
- Food puzzles or scatter feeding
Many Maltipoos enjoy learning tricks, finding hidden treats, and beginner-level activities such as rally or agility adapted for a small dog. Mental work is important because Poodle ancestry can contribute considerable problem-solving ability.
Puppies need frequent, controlled activity rather than forced running, repetitive jumping, or long hikes. Their exercise limits depend on age, health, flooring, and body structure. A veterinarian can help set appropriate limits. Protect a small Maltipoo from falls, large-dog collisions, and jumping off furniture.
Rank #3
- 【Premium Dog Grooming Kit】Owning a professional dog slicker brush and a comb, you can effectively remove tangles, knots, and mats, significantly reducing brushing and drying time. Let you, as the groomer, give your furry companion a shiny, healthy coat , Goldendoodle Must Haves - The Best Dog Gifts - Merry Christmas
- 【Professional Slicker Brush for Dogs】Designed for medium-length and curly-haired pets with thick, difficult-to-manage coats, our slicker brush features extra-long angled pins that penetrate deeply to remove dead hair and loose undercoat. It is the best choice for deep combing undercoat for Goldendoodles, Poodles, Labradoodles, etc.Ergonomic handle minimizes hand and arm fatigue during grooming sessions, making it an essential tool for shedding season
- 【High Quality Dog Comb】Made of high quality stainless steel, this comb is durable, corrosion resistant and will not fade, good for avoiding static electricity.Rounded pin ends are gentle to the skin.it’s perfect to promote blood circulation and massage skin
- 【Optimize Combing Function】Pin Length ≈ 1in,Tilt Angle ≈ 45° Extra-long pins effortlessly reach through dense coats, while the angled design protects sensitive skin. This innovative structure simplifies detangling by effectively accessing the undercoat.Ideal for Poodles, Bichons, Labradoodles, Goldendoodles, and Other Doodle Breeds
- 【2-Year Warranty & Support】As a professional pet care brand, we are committed to providing safe, practical, and affordable solutions. Enjoy peace of mind with our 7*24 customer support and 2-year quality guarantee covering any manufacturing defects
Training and socialization
Maltipoos often learn quickly with reward-based methods. Use tiny treats, toys, praise, and sessions lasting only a few minutes at first. Training goals should include name recognition, recall, loose-leash walking, settling on a mat, handling, and polite greetings.
- House-training: Take the puppy out after waking, eating, playing, and napping. Supervise closely and reward outdoor elimination immediately.
- Crate or pen training: Pair the space with meals, chews, and rest. Never use it as punishment or leave a distressed puppy confined for excessive periods.
- Alone-time practice: Begin with brief separations while the puppy is calm, then increase duration gradually.
- Cooperative care: Reward touching the paws, ears, mouth, tail, and face before introducing nail clippers, a brush, or a dryer.
Small dogs are sometimes allowed to get away with behaviors that would be corrected in a larger dog. Consistent boundaries matter just as much for a Maltipoo. Avoid leash corrections, hitting, intimidation, and other punishment-based techniques.
Grooming requirements
A Maltipoo’s coat can mat quickly, especially when it is wavy or curly. “Low shedding” does not mean low maintenance. Dead hair may remain trapped in the coat instead of falling onto furniture, while mats pull painfully on the skin.
| Task | Typical starting point | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Brushing | At least three or four times weekly; daily for some longer or curlier coats | Mats behind the ears, under the legs, around the collar, and at the tail |
| Professional haircut | About every 4–8 weeks, depending on coat length and growth | Waiting too long can turn small tangles into painful mats |
| Nail trimming | Usually every 3–6 weeks | Overgrown nails alter foot posture and may catch on surfaces |
| Ear checks | Weekly visual checks | Odor, redness, discharge, head shaking, or repeated scratching |
| Dental care | Tooth-brushing as close to daily as possible | Small dogs are prone to plaque, tartar, and crowded teeth |
Use a metal comb after brushing to check whether you have reached the skin, not just smoothed the surface. If a comb cannot pass through a mat, do not pull aggressively. A groomer or veterinarian may need to clip severely matted areas.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Keep hair around the eyes clean and have persistent tearing, squinting, redness, cloudiness, or discharge examined by a veterinarian. Do not put human products or unprescribed ear cleaners into the ears.
Are Maltipoos hypoallergenic?
No dog is completely hypoallergenic. Some Maltipoos shed relatively little, particularly when they inherit a Poodle-like coat, but they can still spread allergens through dander, saliva, and skin oils. Coat type also varies considerably within the cross.
Rank #4
- 🐱🐕Premium Pet Slicker Brush for Small Breeds, Long & Short Hair, Dense & Long Coats: this grooming kit is expertly designed for Maine Coon cats, Golden Puppies, Great Pyrenees Puppies, and Toy Poodles dogs (Cockapoo, Cavapoo,Maltipoo, Yorkipoo, Chipoo, Shih-Poo, Pomapoo, Bichpoo, Chipoo), making it easy to detangle and smooth even the thickest fur.
- 🐶🐱High Quality Materials with Comfortable Ergonomic Handle: Pins are crafted with durable stainless steel needles and an eco-friendly oak wood handle, ensuring long-lasting use and superior grooming performance. Ergonomically designed handle provides a comfortable grip, making grooming sessions easier and more enjoyable for both you and your pet.
- 🐶🐱Effectively Tackles Matted Hair and Shedding – The slicker brush and comb work together to remove dead fur, reduce shedding, and prevent mats, ensuring your pet’s coat remains healthy and manageable.
- ❤️Bonus Cleaning Comb for Easy Maintenance: The included stainless steel comb not only aids in pet grooming but also effectively cleans the hair collected on the slicker brush, ensuring your grooming tools stay in top condition and last longer.
- 🎁Thoughtful Gift for Pet Owners – The ENUKYCOM Pet Grooming Comb Set makes an ideal gift for friends and family with Maine Coon cats, or Toy Poodles, Cockapoo, Cavapoo,Maltipoo, Pomeranian, showing your care for their pets’ well-being and grooming needs.
If someone in the household has allergies, spend time with the specific adult dog or puppy before committing. Regular grooming and household cleaning may reduce exposure, but they cannot guarantee an allergy-free home.
Common health concerns
A Maltipoo can inherit health problems associated with either parent. Being a crossbreed does not automatically make a dog healthier, and a DNA panel alone cannot rule out every important condition.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →- Dental disease: Small mouths can produce crowded teeth and rapid plaque accumulation. Begin home dental care early and ask the veterinarian about professional cleanings.
- Patellar luxation: The kneecap can slip out of position, sometimes causing intermittent skipping or lameness.
- Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease: This hip disorder can occur in small dogs and may cause pain, stiffness, or progressive hind-leg lameness.
- Eye disease: Maltese and Poodle lines can carry inherited eye problems, including progressive retinal atrophy in some family lines.
- White Shaker Syndrome: Some small white dogs develop tremors or coordination problems. A sudden tremor or seizure-like episode requires veterinary assessment.
- Allergies and ear infections: Itching, recurrent redness, odor, head shaking, or skin infections should not be dismissed as normal Maltipoo behavior.
- Heart disease: Mitral valve disease can occur in small older dogs and may present as a murmur, cough, reduced stamina, or breathing changes.
Seek prompt veterinary care for breathing difficulty, collapse, sudden weakness, severe pain, repeated vomiting, seizures, or a marked change in behavior. Routine examinations are useful because small dogs can hide discomfort.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Choosing a responsible breeder
Assess the parents, records, and breeding environment—not just the puppy’s color or teddy-bear appearance. A responsible breeder should let you see where the dogs are raised, explain the parents’ temperaments, provide veterinary records, and answer questions without pressure.
Ask for documented, parent-appropriate health screening. Depending on the Poodle variety and family lines, this may include patella evaluation, eye examination, hip assessment, and DNA testing for relevant inherited conditions. For the Maltese parent, ask about patella and eye health as well as the family history of cardiac, liver, and other problems. A generic “health guarantee” is not a substitute for actual test results.
Be cautious if a seller:
- Promises that every puppy will be non-shedding, allergy-safe, or a specific adult weight
- Uses “teacup” or “micro” as the main selling point
- Will not show the mother, living conditions, or health documents
- Has many breeds and frequent litters with immediate availability
- Wants to hand over a puppy before it is properly weaned and socialized
A written contract should identify veterinary responsibilities, vaccination and parasite-control records, return arrangements, and what happens if the owner can no longer keep the dog.
Recommended Free Tools
Best Value
- Clean Pets, Clean House: Depets cat & dog brush for shedding can easily remove loose hair, shedding mats, dander and dirt of your pet, which not only keep your pet clean, but also provide you with a clean and hygienic home environment
- Great Brush, Healthy Pets: The cat grooming brush with round beads can do massage for pets and prevent scratching. The stainless steel needles of dog brush are designed with a 60 degree bend to better reach pet's skin and promote blood circulation
- One-click Cleaning Button: Cat brush with release button, you just have to simply push the button and the hair will be super simple removed from the cat hair brush. And our dog grooming brush is washable, which can be kept in clean
- Comfortable and Nonslip Handle: Our cat shedding brush is designed with a comfort-grip and nonslip handle, and this self cleaning cat brush also has a massage function for your hand and you won't get tired easily when you brush your pet
- Enjoyable Brushing Experience: Grooming your pet can promote bonding with your pet. Our pet brush is suitable for long-haired or short-haired pets (non-applicable types: curly-haired, wire-haired, hairless pets). With Depets dog and cat shedding brush, your beloved pet will enjoy the time of grooming
Feeding and weight control
Feed a complete, balanced diet appropriate for the dog’s life stage. Use the food label as a starting point, then adjust portions according to body condition, activity, growth, and veterinary advice. Weighing food with a kitchen scale is more accurate than estimating by eye.
Maltipoos can gain weight quickly because they are small and often receive frequent treats. Keep treats and extras to no more than about 10% of daily calories. Watch for a visible waist, a slight abdominal tuck, and ribs that can be felt beneath a thin covering. Puppies may need several small meals, particularly if they are very small, but weakness, shaking, extreme sleepiness, or refusal to eat needs prompt veterinary advice.
Is a Maltipoo right for you?
| A Maltipoo may suit you if you can provide… | Look elsewhere if you need… |
|---|---|
| Daily companionship, training, and interactive play | A dog that is routinely alone for long workdays |
| Frequent brushing, regular haircuts, and dental care | A nearly maintenance-free coat |
| Gentle handling and supervision around children | A sturdy dog for rough play |
| Patience with barking and gradual alone-time training | A guaranteed quiet, independent temperament |
| Ongoing veterinary and grooming costs | A dog whose small size means low overall expense |
The appeal of a Maltipoo is easy to understand: many are affectionate, portable, bright, and adaptable. The less obvious commitment is the combination of coat maintenance, dental care, companionship needs, and possible separation or barking problems. Meet individual dogs, investigate the parent lines, and choose based on lifestyle fit rather than promises about a perfect coat or personality.
FAQ
How big does a Maltipoo get?
Most Maltipoos are small and weigh roughly 5–20 pounds as adults, but size varies. A Toy Poodle parent usually produces a smaller dog than a Miniature Poodle parent, and no breeder can guarantee an exact adult weight.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallDo Maltipoos shed?
Some Maltipoos shed very little, especially those with a curly Poodle-like coat, while others shed more. They are not reliably hypoallergenic, and every coat type needs regular brushing and grooming.
Are Maltipoos good family dogs?
They can be good family companions when children are taught gentle handling and interactions are supervised. Their small bones make them vulnerable to falls, accidental kicks, and rough play.
How often does a Maltipoo need grooming?
Brush at least three or four times per week, checking down to the skin for mats. Many Maltipoos need a professional haircut every 4–8 weeks, with the interval adjusted for coat length, growth, and lifestyle.
The Bottom Line
Maltipoos are affectionate, intelligent small companions, but they are not maintenance-free or guaranteed to be hypoallergenic. Plan for regular brushing and haircuts, daily interaction, reward-based training, dental care, and careful health screening when choosing a puppy.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesQuick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
