Maltipoo
Maltese × Poodle. Tiny, fluffy, affectionate. Dental care is the #1 daily commitment.
Coat
curly
Size
toy · 5-20 lbs
Life expectancy
10-15 yrs
Activity
moderate
The breed
Where the Maltipoo comes from, and what living with one actually asks of you.
About the Maltipoo
The Maltipoo is a Maltese x toy or miniature Poodle cross, usually bred as a small companion with a soft coat and affectionate personality. As with other designer crosses, the name does not guarantee adult size, coat, shedding, allergy tolerance, or temperament. The actual parents, generation, and breeder selection matter more.
Living with a Maltipoo is often companion-focused. Many are affectionate, playful, bright, and attached to their people. They can fit apartments and smaller homes, but they still need training, dental care, grooming, and protection from rough handling. Toy-sized dogs are easy to overfeed, easy to injure accidentally, and easy to undertrain if owners excuse barking or separation distress as cuteness.
Health planning should follow Maltese and Poodle risks. Local data flags patellar luxation, dental disease, PRA, epilepsy, and portosystemic shunt. Maltese bring dental disease, knees, liver shunt, eye concerns, and small-dog fragility. Poodles can contribute PRA, patellar luxation in toy and miniature lines, epilepsy in some lines, Addison's disease, and dental disease in smaller sizes.
Living with a Maltipoo
Maltipoos are often affectionate, playful, alert, and people-oriented. Many are good with gentle children, but they are not built for rough play. They may live well with other small dogs, while larger dogs need careful introductions because of size mismatch.
Training should include alone-time skills, polite greetings, quiet cues, cooperative grooming, and house-training consistency. Some Maltipoos are sensitive and do best with predictable routines.
Daily care
Feeding, exercise, and coat — plus how the routine shifts from puppy to senior.
Feeding a Maltipoo
Maltese × Poodle. Calorie needs vary with adult size, age, neuter status, and activity. Dental care is the top priority.
Key nutrients
- —dental support
- —omega-3
Portion notes: 2-3 small meals daily.
Exercise & enrichment
Maltipoos need daily walks, play, and training, but exercise should match size and structure. Feed measured meals to body condition, age, neuter status, and activity; treats can make up too much of a tiny dog's daily intake quickly.
Grooming routine
Most Maltipoos need frequent brushing and regular professional grooming. Fine, soft coats mat easily. Brush teeth daily when possible, trim nails, check ears, wipe tear staining gently as advised, and monitor skin under mats.
The Maltipoo through the years
Maltipoo puppies need gentle handling, house-training routines, grooming practice, dental-care foundations, and protection from jumping off furniture or being stepped on.
Adult Maltipoos need coat care, dental care, measured meals, and monitoring for knee skipping, eye changes, seizures, poor appetite, vomiting, or odd behavior after meals.
Senior Maltipoos benefit from dental planning, lower-impact activity, arthritis support, eye checks, and prompt evaluation of weight loss, cough, appetite shifts, or mobility changes.
Health
What Maltipoos are prone to, the signs worth catching early, and what supports them.
Health concerns to watch
Dental disease from Maltese side — daily dental care essential.
Low-shedding coat needs regular grooming.
Small size means hypoglycemia risk in puppies.
Gear & services
Food, gear, training, and what the first year with a Maltipoo actually costs.
Fresh food picks for Maltipoos
Our recommended fresh-food subscriptions for toy dogs.
The Farmer's Dog
Fresh, human-grade food portioned for your dog
- —Human-grade fresh food
- —Portioned per dog
- —Vet-developed recipes
- —50% off first box
Nom Nom
Restaurant-quality fresh food with microbiome testing
- —Pre-portioned pouches
- —Vet-formulated
- —Microbiome testing available
- —50% off first order
Spot & Tango
Fresh or UnKibble — whole-food nutrition, your choice
- —Fresh or UnKibble options
- —Human-grade ingredients
- —Shelf-stable storage option
- —50% off first order
What to budget for a Maltipoo in year one.
A practical range for routine care and first-year setup. It assumes a dry or mixed diet and mostly at-home care; purchase and adoption fees are excluded.
Practical first-year range
$1,050-$3,250
A typical ongoing year runs $875-$2,225before optional services and unexpected medical care.
Food (year one)
Dry or mixed diet; fresh food can cost more
$350-$750
Gear & supplies (year one)
Crate, bed, harness, bowls, toys
$150-$350
Routine vet + preventatives
Wellness, vaccines, flea/tick and heartworm; no emergencies
$400-$700
Grooming
high needs; DIY to periodic professional help
$50-$600
Training
At-home work to group classes
$0-$400
Optional supplements
Not included in the headline totals
$0-$180
Other first-year
Microchip, license, spay/neuter if needed
$100-$450
Optional pet insurance
Not included above; premiums vary by age, ZIP and coverage.
$400-$950/yr
Also not included: fresh-food-only diets, boarding or day care, emergencies, and condition-specific treatment. Breed health risks are planning flags—not guaranteed annual bills.
Size-adjusted U.S. planning ranges, updated July 2026 and benchmarked against Rover's 2026 cost report and Synchrony's 2025 study. Actual costs vary by region and lifestyle.
Gear for Maltipoos
Breed-size-appropriate picks. Links go to Amazon.
Training for Maltipoos
Matched to Maltipoo temperament (affectionate, gentle, playful).
BAXTER & Bella
Online puppy training program, lifetime access
- —Lifetime membership
- —Self-paced video lessons
- —Puppy + adult content
- —Behavior troubleshooting
GoodPup
1-on-1 virtual dog training with certified trainers
- —1-on-1 live video sessions
- —Certified trainers
- —Custom per-dog plan
- —Weekly structure
Dogo
App-based training with daily structure
- —App-based daily plans
- —AI-guided feedback
- —Affordable monthly cost
- —Trick training library
GPS trackers for Maltipoos
Size-appropriate picks for tracking, activity monitoring, and escape alerts.
Tractive
Affordable GPS tracker with unlimited range
- —Attaches to any collar
- —Worldwide GPS coverage
- —Activity monitoring
- —Budget-friendly
Curious about their DNA?
Confirm breed mix, check for genetic health risks, and get actionable insights.
Embark
The most comprehensive dog DNA test
- —350+ breeds identified
- —250+ health conditions screened
- —Cornell-partnered science
- —Relatives finder
Wisdom Panel
Breed identification + health screening
- —350+ breeds
- —Genetic health insights
- —Budget-friendly option
- —Fast results
More on the Maltipoo
Compare the Maltipoo
Similar-size breeds
Maltipoo questions, answered.
Are Maltipoos hypoallergenic?+
Do Maltipoos need dental care?+
Are Maltipoos good for children?+
Are Maltipoos healthier than Maltese?+
What health testing should I ask about?+
How long do Maltipoos live?+
How big do Maltipoos get?+
How much exercise does a Maltipoo need?+
What health problems do Maltipoos commonly have?+
Are Maltipoos hard to groom?+
What should I feed a Maltipoo?+
Are Maltipoos good for first-time owners?+
Ask Searchbreed about your Maltipoo
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