Are Maltipoos the right dog breed for you?

When it comes to deciding on which dog breed suits you the most, many people are baffled by the sheer number of different breeds! Hence, I want to introduce a breed that not many are familiar of: the Maltipoo!

Introduction of the Maltipoo

My pupper Nugget

Not really an actual dog breed in essence, the Maltipoo is a popular cross of the Maltese and Poodle, known for their carefree and loving nature. Being affectionate and active, they will fit into a wide range of houses big or small; and households with very different family dynamics. 

They are small dogs that vary in size, depending on what variant their poodle parent is (toy, teacup, etc). Typically, they stand at 8 to 14 inches tall, and weigh around 20 pounds.

Maltipoos are extremely loving and tender, making them the ideal dog for beginner pet parents. However, while they can be so temptingly cute, they are also very sensitive creatures, and dislike to be left alone for long stretches of the day. Having the potential to be companion dogs, they desire the fellowship of their owners, and can be prone to develop separation anxiety if they are left alone and unattended to, not receiving the attention that they love. 

Despite all these, they will certainly be an excellent add-on to the family if you are able to accomodate and cater to them, you can have an irreplaceble furry friend that can enjoy your company from the comforts of your home. 

Characteristics of Maltipoo

There are a few key characteristics to maltipoos that sets this special breed apart from other dogs, making them the ideal dog for many families

Having Malteses and Poodles as their parents, Maltipoos adopt this specific trait that their parents have as well. Malitpoos are non-shedders, meaning that they are good pets for owners who tend to be allergic to dogs. Also, since they hardly or never shed fur naturally, the house would naturally stay clean, without loose strands of fur everywhere.

Maltipoos are easy to train, and are intellegent dogs that learn quickly through positive reinforcement training. Their tender and somewhat gentle nature makes them very appropriate for families with members that could be nervous and timid around dogs. As such, they would make great family pets for households with elderly or children, since they are gentle and sensitive enough to understand their owners' needs.

Maltipoos also adapt well to any type of house, be it small apartments or larger houses. Being rather small dogs, they will be happy playing around the house with their owner, even if the space is more confined than usual. However, a key thing to note would be that they should not live outdoors without their owners, since they are companion pets. They love to be around their owners, and should always have the option of being close to them.

Maltipoos can be barkers, and will try to be helpful by letting you know what's going on. They can bark to let you know that certain things are happening. For example, they might bark at ringing doorbells to alert you that someone is at the door, bark at ringing telephones to remind you to pick up the call, and bark when it starts to rain, so that you will know when to close the windows. While this can definitely be helpful at times, it can be disruptive and noisy as well. Hence, it is important to train them well, so that they will know what to bark at.

Nugget enjoying a snooze

Conclusion

I hope that you have learnt a thing or two about maltipoos, and that this will help when choosing your dog breed. Either way, do try and adopt one in shelters and rescues first, as there might be some poor pups that would love for you to adopt them.