Maltipoo dog breed profile

Whether your dog is a purebred Maltipoo, or a Maltipoo mix, learning about their breed can explain a lot about your pet’s personality, habits and overall health. Or maybe you're looking to adopt a Maltipoo and want to do a bit of research first — we can help with that.

Maltipoos make great family pets because of their friendly, affectionate nature and ability to understand basic training commands. Here’s why you should start training this dog breed while they’re puppies.

‍What do Maltipoos look like?

“Maltipoos are a cross of Maltese and toy or miniature poodles,” Dr. Yui Shapard, DVM, the medical director of Pawp, says. “Due to their cross breed of two toy dogs, they remain fairly small in size.” 

Depending on the parent dogs, there can be variations in size, but in most cases, Maltipoos range from 5 to 20 pounds and 8 to 14 inches in height. 

The most common coat color Maltipoos come in is apricot, cream and white, while darker colors are rare. This dog breed’s fur is usually light, curly and soft to the touch.

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What is a Maltipoo’s personality like?

“When trained and raised well, Maltipoos are very loving, sweet and affectionate and can get along with different types of dogs, people and young children,” Dr. Shapard says. 

Although, if a Maltipoo isn’t properly trained or socialized with other pups, they can develop anxiety, fear-based aggression and a challenging temperament. However, this risk isn’t unique to Maltipoos and can affect all dog breeds, Dr. Shapard explains.“It's important for people to know that every dog comes with a responsibility for parents to train them properly,” she adds.  

‍What common health issues do Maltipoos face?

Maltipoos are susceptible to skin and ear conditions, orthopedic issues, gastrointestinal disease, neurologic disease (think: epilepsy) and liver disease. Some Maltipoos may experience patellar luxation, which is when a pup’s kneecap dislocates, Dr. Shapard says. 

‍How to integrate a Maltipoo into your home

When bringing these pups into their new home, Dr. Shapard recommends letting them adjust for at least 2 to 3 weeks, especially if they’re puppies, as it’s their first time away from their siblings and mom. It’s important to give them their time and space while trying to minimize exposing them to multiple environments. 

A great way to prepare for your new family member is to create a space just for your pup, which could include a comfortable crate with toys, bedding and a blanket.  

If there’s another pet in the house, Dr. Shapard doesn’t recommend forcing an interaction, as it can lead to inter-pet aggression and potential injury. Instead, introduce the pets slowly and gradually, usually by giving each a blanket or cushion the other pet has used to get them accustomed to each other's scents. Slowly introduce pets in open spaces until they’re friendly around each other, Dr. Shapard suggests. 

“The key here is to be patient and open to taking a step or two back and trying again,” Dr. Shapard says. ”At the end of it all, it’ll be worth it, and they’ll learn to co-exist if not become best of friends.” 

‍Adopting a Maltipoo

Are you interested in adopting a Maltipoo, Maltipoo mix or any pet at all? We think every pet deserves a home and encourage you to check out our shelter partners. 

‍The Dig, Fetch by The Dodo’s expert-backed editorial, answers all of the questions you forget to ask your vet or are too embarrassed to ask at the dog park. We help make sure you and your best friend have more good days, but we’re there on bad days, too. Fetch provides the most comprehensive pet insurance and is the only provider recommended by the #1 animal brand in the world, The Dodo.