Maltipoo
The Maltipoo is a 3-6 kg cross of the Maltese and the Toy Poodle, with a coat of silky waves.
Last reviewed: October 2026
AI illustration Overview
The Maltipoo is a 3-6 kg cross of the Maltese and the Toy Poodle, with a coat of silky waves. Bred purely for companionship, it is a devoted, portable little shadow that thrives on human company and asks mostly for grooming and presence in return.
A designer cross: the Maltipoo is a Maltese × Toy Poodle mix, not a standardised breed - individuals vary more than purebreds, in coat, size and temperament alike. No study has measured how long this cross lives; for the parent breeds the AKC lists 12-15 years (Maltese) and 10-18 years (Poodle).
History & Origins
An American toy-cross of the late 20th century, designed as an allergy-friendlier Maltese alternative; now a fixture of city apartments worldwide.
Demand for the cross is documented. A 2022 Royal Veterinary College paper quotes Pets4Homes figures for June 2021, when each Maltipoo advert drew 216 would-be buyers, the same as the Cockapoo and about twice the 102 per advert for French Bulldogs and Pugs. Both parent lines are old companions: the AKC connects the Maltese with the ancient Mediterranean island of Malta and traces the Poodle to Germany, where it began as a water retriever more than 400 years ago.
Appearance
Tiny and cloud-coated in white, cream and apricot; dark button eyes under a soft topknot. The coat is silkier than bigger doodles - and mats just as readily. Typical size: Toy, 3-6 kg. Coat: Silky-wavy, very low-shed (varies).
Size follows the parents. The Royal Kennel Club (UK) standard caps the Maltese at 25 cm, and the AKC gives it a weight under 7 pounds; the Toy Poodle stands under 28 cm in the UK standard and weighs 4-6 pounds on the AKC page. The coats differ: the Maltese coat is straight, silky and "without woolly undercoat", the Poodle's dense and curly, so a Maltipoo can be wavy, curly or close to straight.
Temperament & Character
Affectionate, gentle and alert - a classic velcro toy dog that adores its person, gets along with polite dogs and cats, and will announce the doorbell. Fragile around boisterous toddlers purely on physics.
Care
Short walks plus indoor play cover exercise; the coat wants near-daily brushing and 6-weekly clips, plus daily eye-area wiping on white faces. Dental care is critical - toy mouths crowd teeth.
Health & Lifespan
There is no lifespan study for the Maltipoo; the overview shows the AKC figures for its parent breeds.
PetMD's Maltipoo page names patellar luxation, dental disease, Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease and epilepsy as health issues of the cross. The parent breeds explain most of that list. The American Maltese Association's recommended tests on the AKC page are patella evaluation, a cardiac exam and serum bile acids, the last to look for congenital liver problems such as a liver shunt; the page adds that no screening test exists yet for the brain inflammation GME seen in some Maltese. The Toy Poodle club lists patella and eye evaluations and a PRA-prcd DNA test, and the AKC notes that Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease and luxating patellas are more likely in Toy and Miniature Poodles than in Standards. In UK primary-care records from 2019, the Maltese and the Miniature Poodle each had 2.17 times the odds of acute diarrhoea of crossbred dogs. We give no veterinary advice; the parents' test results and your vet's examination are what count for a particular puppy.
Feeding & Nutrition
Small measured meals of quality toy-breed food; hypoglycemia risk in tiny puppies means regular feeding when young.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Portable companion
- Gentle and affectionate
- Suits apartments perfectly
Cons
- Fragile: not for rough households
- Daily coat and eye upkeep
- Separation anxiety-prone
- Teeth need lifelong attention
Best Suited For
- Apartment dwellers
- Seniors wanting a devoted companion
- Gentle families with older kids
- Frequent-travellers who take the dog along
Sources
- Burnett et al., Canine Medicine and Genetics 2022: buyers per advert for designer crossbreeds (Pets4Homes, June 2021): doi.org
- AKC, Maltese: history, size and recommended tests: akc.org
- AKC, Poodle (Standard): history of the breed: akc.org
- Royal Kennel Club, Maltese breed standard: size and coat: royalkennelclub.com
- Royal Kennel Club, Poodle (Toy) breed standard: size and coat: royalkennelclub.com
- AKC, Poodle (Toy): weight, health and recommended tests: akc.org
- PetMD, Maltipoo: health issues: petmd.com
- O'Neill et al., PLOS ONE 2025: acute diarrhoea in UK dogs: doi.org
Sources opened and checked on 16 October 2026.
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Maltipoo puppy growth chart
A typical growth curve for a toy breed like the Maltipoo, estimated from its adult weight of 3-6 kg. Puppies vary with sex, genetics and diet, so treat this as a guide - for your own puppy, use the puppy weight predictor.
| Age | Typical weight | % of adult |
|---|---|---|
| 2 mo | 1-2 kg | 33% |
| 3 mo | 1.4-2.7 kg | 45% |
| 4 mo | 1.7-3.3 kg | 55% |
| 6 mo | 2.3-4.5 kg | 75% |
| 9 mo | 2.8-5.7 kg | 95% |
| 12 mo | 3-6 kg | 100% |
| Adult | 3-6 kg | 100% |
Maltipoo - frequently asked questions
Are Maltipoos good with children?
With gentle, older children, lovely - but at 3-6 kg they're breakable, so toddler households should choose something sturdier.
Why do white faces stain?
Tear staining - daily gentle wiping and keeping face hair trimmed manages it; sudden heavy staining warrants a vet check of eyes and teeth.
How much grooming, really?
Near-daily brushing of a silky coat that mats, plus professional grooming every 6 weeks. Budget it like a utility bill.
Test yourself: guess the dog
Three clues from our quiz bank, each about another of our dogs. Can you name them?
Clue 1.This affectionate Hungarian hunting dog has no undercoat, so it feels the cold and seeks human contact for warmth.
It's the Vizsla - read the full profile →
Clue 2.This small wrinkly-faced dog with a tightly curled tail and big round eyes was bred as a companion for Chinese emperors.
It's the Pug - read the full profile →
Clue 3.This powerful black-and-tan guardian was once used by Roman armies to drive and protect herds of cattle.
It's the Rottweiler - read the full profile →
Adoptable Maltipoos near you
Real dogs of this breed (and close mixes) waiting in shelters and rescues right now, live from Petfinder. We have no affiliation and earn nothing - if someone catches your eye, the link goes straight to their shelter. New to adopting? Start with our adoption guide.
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