Maltipoo

What is a Maltipoo?

A cross between a Maltese and a Toy or Miniature Poodle, weighing anywhere from 2kg to 9kg depending on which Poodle was used. Soft, wavy or curly coat, usually white or cream, sometimes apricot or grey.

Not a recognised breed and with no standard, so size and coat vary considerably even within a litter.

History and origins

An American designer cross from the 1990s, bred for the Maltese's affectionate temperament and the Poodle's low-shedding coat. It is one of the more established doodle crosses and now widely bred in Britain, with all the variability in breeder quality that popularity brings.

Appearance and size

20-36cm, 2-9kg. The coat is soft and ranges from loosely wavy to tightly curled. White and cream predominate. Dark eyes and nose against a pale coat is the usual look, and tear staining shows on it.

Temperament and personality

Affectionate, lively and entirely oriented around their people. They are lap dogs by inclination and want to be with somebody nearly all the time.

That is also the problem. Separation anxiety is very common - barking, destruction and house soiling when left - and it is the main reason Maltipoos are given up. A household out at work all day is not a good home for one without serious planning.

They can be yappy, and small-dog barking is easily reinforced.

Intelligence and trainability

Bright from both sides and quick to pick things up. They do well with reward-based training and enjoy tricks.

House training is slow, as with most toy crosses - small bladder, dislike of wet grass. Crate training and frequency are what work.

Children and other pets

Fine with older, gentle children. Less suitable with toddlers, purely on fragility - a 3kg dog dropped or trodden on breaks bones.

Good with other dogs and usually with cats.

Health problems

Luxating patella. Common from both parent breeds. Both parents should be patella graded.

Progressive retinal atrophy (prcd), DNA testable from the Poodle side.

Dental disease. Small crowded jaws, early tartar, and often extractions by middle age. Daily brushing genuinely changes the outcome.

White shaker syndrome, a tremor condition seen in small white dogs, usually treatable with steroids.

Portosystemic shunt from the Maltese side, a liver blood-vessel abnormality that shows as stunted growth and neurological signs after meals.

Hypoglycaemia in very young puppies, which is why no reputable breeder lets one go before twelve weeks.

Daily care routine

Brushing, teeth, a short walk, and company. Face wiped daily for tear staining, which is conspicuous on a white coat.

Grooming and coat care

Every six to eight weeks at a groomer, £40-£65 a time, for the dog's life - plus brushing to the skin at home three or four times a week. The coat does not shed, so it mats instead, and a matted Maltipoo has to be clipped off.

The face, ears and feet need the most attention.

Exercise needs

Modest. Two twenty to thirty minute walks and some play. They are happy to do more and do not need it. Mental stimulation matters more than distance for keeping one settled.

Feeding and diet

Small measured meals of a good quality food, two or three a day. Watch the calories - treats are a large share of a 4kg dog's intake. Dental-friendly food helps but does not replace brushing.

Price

£800-£2,000. As with all doodle crosses, prices often exceed the purebred parents.

Grooming £300-£500 a year. Insurance £25-£50 a month. Dentistry is the recurring cost most owners meet by middle age.

Buying advice

Ask for patella grades on both parents and the prcd-PRA DNA result on the Poodle side. These are inexpensive and a serious breeder will have done them.

Do not collect before twelve weeks. Toy crosses leaving at eight are the ones that crash on low blood sugar.

Ask the adult weights of both parents, because "teacup" and "micro" marketing attaches to this cross heavily and undersized dogs are consistently less healthy.

Then think about your hours. This is an affectionate dog that struggles alone, and that single fact decides more Maltipoo rehomings than every health problem combined.