Poodle mix with Maltese

The Poodle mix with Maltese is a cross between the greatly adored Poodle (Toy variety) and the royal Maltese dog breeds.

This designer dog is admirable for its smartness and classic look as well as being hypoallergenic, a great choice even for individuals that are allergic to puppy dander. The Poodle Maltese mix is famous for its white coat in silk and large puppy eyes. They retain their cute pup appearance and are between 8 to 14 inches tall with a weight of 5 to 20 lbs.

Does it seem like a mixed breed you want to take home? Well, before you smile in anticipation, there is more to owning a pooch than just the looks. Designer dog breeds are unique in their own way and knowing how to live with them is paramount.

In our article today, we have gathered all the information you need to know about the Poodle mix with Maltese. From temperament to resemblance, dietary needs, training, grooming, exercise needs, health issues, and lifespan, we have all corners covered. Continue reading to know what to expect from this hybrid.

Can you mix Poodle with Maltese?

Yes, mixing a Maltese and a Poodle results in an adorable yet classy hybrid known as the Maltipoo. These cute doggies are also known as Moodles.

Because the Maltipoo is a designer dog, the American Kennel Club (AKC) does not recognize it as a breed and neither does the Kennel Club. We are not

Why mix with Poodle?

The reason why breeders mix a Maltese with a Poodle is due to its much-desired traits. Poodles are very cute and intelligent with a gentle, loyal, and kind disposition that balances other dog breeds’ personalities plus a range of sizes that suit many individual and family needs. Their hypoallergenic coat that does not shed much is good news for people sensitive to pet fur.

And did we mention that mixed breeds are prone to fewer health issues than their parents? That is also a reason for crossing other dog breeds with the Poodle.

History of the Breed

As with most designer dogs, there is vague information on when the cross between a Maltese and a Poodle happened. Sometimes these pups are a result of accidental breeding. But intentional breeding of these designer dogs has not been around for too long, maybe two to three decades.

The best way to understand what the Poodle mix with Maltese is by looking at their parents.

Table

Feature	Description
Size	8 to 14 inches
Weight	5 to 20 lbs.
Lifespan	12 to 16 years
Grooming	High-maintenance coats
Temperament	Affectionate, playful, calm, social
Coat	Wooly
Color varieties	Chocolate, apricot, black, gray, or white

Parents

The Poodle – According to the AKC, Poodles initially came from Germany and are a breed of water dog. However, Poodles did develop into their own unique breed when they made their way to France which brings confusion about their origin and was used in circus to entertain folks. The breed is now France’s national dog. Poodles were originally developed as hunting pooches that helped wildfowl hunters retrieve birds and ducks.

This dog breed is famous for its intelligence and ease of training. Poodles are active, lively, loyal, and comical which are the characteristics that most owners love about them. Their high dog IQ level makes them very smart, especially in terms of obedience and work training. The breed has been recognized by the AKC since 1887.

There are five varieties of the Poodle dog breed including the Toy, Miniature, Standard, and Medium Poodles but only the first 3 are universally recognized. Their sizes range from 9.4 to 24 inches in height with a range of cute colors. Poodles have a lifespan of 12 to 15 years but are prone to health issues like epilepsy, Addison’s disease, bloat, hip dysplasia, and thyroid issues.

The Maltese – One of the ancient dog breeds today, the Maltese has been around for thousands of years, but its true origin is unknown. This dog breed was the royalty’s preferred companions with Queen Elizabeth I and Mary Queen being examples of royals that had them in their palaces. The Maltese made its way to the US in the late 1800s and is in the top 40 of AKC’s most popular dog breeds. The AKC recognized the Maltese as a dog breed in 1888.

This dog breed helped protect food rations in ships from rodents, others say they may have been exchanged with food, but were used as companion dogs in Malta. The sweet-tempered Maltese is notorious for its coat that hangs as well as its playful, affectionate, lively, and calm disposition. The Maltese have a below-average dog IQ when it comes to obedience and work, but it is not dumb.

A Maltese has a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years and is predisposed to common health issues like hypothyroidism as well as viral and bacterial infections. They are also prone to tear stains but, they can be controlled with the right diet.

Appearance

It is hard to predict what your Maltese Poodle mix will look like because it mainly depends on which parent the offspring favors most. Even though from the same litter, some pups might resemble both parents while others favor either the Poodle or the Maltese parent.

For instance, a Maltipoo may inherit a scruffy or a curly coat. Expect your Poodle mix with Maltese to have a strong build like that of the Poodle parent and the beauty of the Maltese parent. Their small size makes them extremely fragile.

When it comes to the size, the Poodle parent tends to influence how big your Maltipoo will be since it can either be a toy or a miniature variety. That being said, most Maltipoos will stand between 8 and 14 inches tall at the shoulders with a weight of 5 to 20 lbs.

Maltipoos coats can be thick & curly, soft & silky, or wiry & wavy, but the most common one in this mix is the thick and curly type. It is also hypoallergenic. The Maltese parent comes in a stunning white color which means that the color variation of the Maltipoo will be determined by the Poodle parent. Possible coat colors include chocolate, apricot, black, gray, or white.

Temperament and Characteristics

The Poodle mix with Maltese is developed as a companion dog which makes them excellent with families. They are known to be affectionate and calm, playful, and very amusing, especially as pups but this tends to decrease with age. But if they favor the Poodle parent more, they will be very energetic even in adulthood.

A Maltipoo will thrive well in a home with playful kids and their affection for humans makes them want to cuddle. They also will do anything to get your attention when you are together and are very loyal to their owners and family. Moodles are extremely social and always willing to make friends with the people they meet. If you are looking for a guard dog, look further.

Unfortunately, the Maltipoo can suffer from anxiety if you deny them the attention they crave or leave them alone for long. When this happens, they can exhibit very destructive behaviors or be very yappy which is unhealthy, particularlyfor apartment dwellers.

Ease of Training

Because of the Poodle parent’s famous intelligence, the Maltese Poodle mix is very easy to train but this has to be done from puppyhood. Like all canines, Maltipoos will respond better during training sessions with positive reinforcement. You will also need to be patient and use their calm nature and smartness to your advantage to teach them commands.

Although Moodles are good with other pets and kids, you have to introduce socialization when they are young. Take them out for walks and in dog parks (on a leash) to meet new friends. You should also train your kids how to handle their fragile bodies if you want them to relate well.

Exercise Needs

As mentioned above in the temperament section, some Maltipoos will be active as pups and others even in adulthood. Therefore, the amount of exercise entirely depends on what traits your mix has. Did they favor the Poodle parent more or the Maltese? If they are more like their Poodle parent, they will be very active with high exercise needs.

That being said, most Maltipoos will do fine with 30 minutes of exercise per day or more as well as 1 or 2 walks daily. Also, give them ample time to play, and join with them to increase the bond, so they can get rid of the excess energy they would use destructively when bored. Exercising them adequately also prevents the risk of weight gain.

It is recommended that Maltipoos play inside since they can suffer heat exhaustion or dehydrate quickly.

Nutritional Requirements

The Maltipoo is a small breed that will thrive well with a moderate amount of food. As such, you should feed them 1 cup of high-quality dog food per day split into several servings (3 to 4). You can always check the feeding guidelines given by the dog food manufacturer at the back of the bag. Talking to your vet about the right amount of food is also a good option if you are unsure. Make sure that the kibble is formulated for small dog breeds.

The Poodle Maltese mix is prone to weight gain, so do not spoil them too much by giving them treats just because you are together at home.

Health Issues

Despite being a designer dog, a Maltipoo can inherit some of the health issues that both parents have. While generally healthy, they are prone to health conditions such as epilepsy, patellar luxation, white shaker syndrome, PRA, Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, and portosystemic shunt.

To make sure that your Poodle mix with Maltese remains healthy, take them for regular vet visits. Your vet will help detect any possible or underlying health issues your mix may have.

Life Expectancy

A healthy Poodle mix with Maltese has a lifespan of approx. 12 to 16 years. Your mix can live longer and happier if you feed them properly, take them for vet checkups, and exercise them adequately.

How to Care for them

Caring for your Poodle mix with Maltese involves proper grooming, feeding, exercising, and taking them for checkups as planned with your vet.

Grooming

While the Poodle Maltese mix does not shed a lot, they do have high-maintenance coats that require a bit of grooming attention. The Maltipoo’s wooly coat should be brushed daily from a tender age so that they do not refuse to be tended to when they become adults.

Unless your Maltipoo gets very dirty and messy playing, giving them a bath once a month is enough to keep them clean. Clip their nails once a month and take them to a professional groomer at least once a month to keep them attractive.

Oral health is paramount for your doggie friend. And since they are predisposed to dental issues. brush your Maltipoo’s teeth daily.

Cost: How much does a Maltese and Poodle mix cost?

A Poodle mix with Maltese has an average price tag of between $500 and $4,000 depending on the breeder’s reputation and why the pup was bred. If you go for the show dog type, the price is higher.

It is recommended that you collect the pup yourself so that you can see the environment in which your mix was bred. This also gives you a chance to see the health records of the parent breeds so you can know what you expect from the Maltipoo pup you are taking home.

Where to Adopt

If you opt to adopt a Poodle mix with Maltese, you can start from your local shelter or consult with workers from the rescue centers of the Maltese and Poodle parents.

FAQs