Maltipoo Dog Breed

The Maltipoo, as a crossbreed, is not an official member of any breed group--but its Maltese and Mini or Toy Poodle parents both belong to the Toy group, so these hybrids would certainly fit in that category. Maltipoos are designer companion dogs that were likely first developed during the designer dog craze in the U.S. in the late twentieth century. These little dogs make excellent pets for singles, seniors, and families of any size. A few Maltipoo facts:

• Small-sized (an average of 11 inches at the shoulders in height and 12 pounds in weight)
• Medium-length coat that is soft, and straight, wavy, or curly
• AKC Rank: None

And some pros and cons of owning this crossbreed:

Some general Maltipoo information: these little dogs are perfect examples of the old "man's best friend" adage. Maltipoos can get along with any- and everyone: family, friends, strangers, other pets, even the proverbial mailman! Both playful and affectionate, they're willing to accompany their owners on any outing--then curl up on the couch with them after returning home.

Even better: Maltipoos are very intelligent, and more easily trained than most toy-sized designer dogs.

The Maltipoo Dogs 101 is that these hybrids form deep bonds with their owners, and are very affectionate with their people--but on the flip side, they easily suffer separation anxiety, and will become lonely and upset if left alone for extended periods. This loneliness may cause a Maltipoo to become highly destructive--and before you laugh, consider that these dogs have sharp teeth, and can turn anything small enough to fit in their mouths into trash! It's safe to say that these little companion dogs are best suited for owners willing to return the TLC Maltipoos so willingly give.

Maltipoos are also energetic and lively, and will need some exercise every single day. Due to their small size, they won't need a ton of sustained physical activity, but a couple of short walks and a brief period of play are recommended on a daily basis.

These crossbred little dogs are usually "teddy-bearish" in appearance--which makes them highly prized (and expensive!) for people seeking an adorable companion pet.

Maltipoos are normally about equal in length and height. They have round heads, medium-length, floppy ears, and short muzzles with some facial hair. Maltipoo eyes--one of this hybrid's signature features--are big, round, usually brown in color, and highly expressive. The chest is fairly shallow, the legs short, and the tail is medium-length and curved slightly.

This crossbreed's coat, because its parent breeds have very different coats, can have some variation in length and texture--but most common is medium-length, thick, and wavy, in a variety of colors.

Breeders can offer different Maltese-Poodle mixes. An F1 Maltipoo, for example, is the offspring of a purebred Maltese and a purebred Toy or Mini Poodle; an F1b Maltipoo, meanwhile, is half Maltipoo and half Maltese or Poodle. And an F2 Maltipoo is the offspring of two F1 Maltipoos.

Size can also vary some with Maltipoos, and will depend on whether the Poodle parent is of the Toy (averaging eight pounds in weight) or Miniature (16 pounds in weight) variety. A Teacup Maltipoo, weighing as few as five pounds, is usually the offspring of a particularly small Toy Poodle.

Maltipoos see some variety in coat length and texture as well. The Maltese coat is long, flowing, and white in color, while the Poodle coat is shorter, wavy to curly, and comes in a variety of colors. The most common Maltipoo coat, though, is medium in length, wavy, and light in color.

Affectionate, lively, friendly, feisty, and very sensitive, the Maltipoo temperament is one of energy and love. These crossbreeds are extremely social, and can get along with practically anyone and anything! They're companion dogs for a reason: they form deep bonds with their owners, and suffer separation anxiety if left alone. The naturally scrappy Maltipoo personality can make these dogs a little stubborn at times, but their desire for what they want is definitely overshadowed by their willingness to please. Maltipoos socialize well with kids, other pets, and strangers alike.

They're also easily trained. These hybrids' intelligence makes them quick to learn tasks and commands, and with positive, reward-based training methods, they'll pick up on things quickly.

One downside to these Maltipoo characteristics is that they're frequent barkers--but this "yappiness" makes them good watch-dogs; they're very likely to sound a vocal alarm if they detect an unknown sight, sound, or smell.

Maltipoos are considered generally healthy, in part because of hybrid vigor, in which crossbred dogs inherit the healthiest traits of their purebred parents. Even so, these dogs can suffer medical issues including nervous-system problems like epilepsy and White Dog Shaker Syndrome; they can also be prone to structural issues including patellar luxation and Legg-Perthes disease, along with Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), an incurable eye condition.

Life expectancy for Maltipoos is 10-13 years.