Trying to decide what kind of toy dog breed you’d like to adopt? Not sure which breed is the healthiest? Well before you make any decisions, we here at IndulgeYourPet would encourage you to take a look at the Maltipoo!
This is because…
This cute little guy is a part of a growing trend right now where responsible dog breeders are purposely choosing to mix highly desirable dog breeds together to create what is called a “hybrid” or “designer” dog breed.
And while…
Neither of these names seem all that flattering, the truth is many of these “designer” dogs are really cute and super fun to have around. Plus they’re also playing an important role in responsible dog breeding today.
You see…
The Maltipoo is actually a “mixed” breed that combines the Maltese dog breed with that of a Toy Poodle dog breed. And sure the puppies are super cute, and the adult dog is definitely a cuttie as well, but more importantly, by combining these two different dog breeds together, what responsible dog breeders are learning is that the resulting litters tend to have a lower risk of developing many of the common heritable illnesses each of the parent breeds have on their own.
So…
Not only do you get a great looking puppy, generally, you also get a much healthier one too!
But…
Is a Matipoo going to be the “right” dog for you? That’s the million dollar question and one that we hope this article will help you answer for yourself. So, without further ado, let’s dive right in.
Maltipoo Dog Breed Fast Facts
Country of Origin: United States
Original Purpose: Companion animal
Height: Up to 14 inches
Weight: 5 to 15 pounds
Dog Breed Classification: Not officially recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC)
Life Span: 10 to 15 years
Origin of the Maltipoo Dog Breed
While deciding to “cross breed” different dog breeds has always been something that humans have done since the domestication of the wolf, nowadays, there seems to be a concerted effort to do so, not to necessarily “improve” on a particular breed, but rather to help prevent the deterioration of certain dog breeds that have been overbred in the past!
Which is why…
It was only a matter of time before someone (most likely in the United States) decided to give it a go by cross breeding the Maltese breed with a Poodle. After all, both of these breeds are wildly popular worldwide and both are prone to developing certain recessive diseases that could be avoided with an “infusion” of new genetic material… AKA a win/win situation.
Designer Dog “Complications”
The thing with crossbreeds, designer dogs or hybrid dogs is that you never know what you’re going to get with them.
You can hope…
To get the best of both breeds, but this is not always the case. The breeder is not always in control of the breeding program and there is no way to tell how the genes manifest themselves. This is why some folks are against the idea of creating designer dogs particularly if the breeders aren’t respectful and loving of all the puppies that are created!
This is also…
Something to keep in mind when bringing a hybrid dog such as a Maltipoo Poodle Mix home, because while you may have a picture in your mind as to what your Maltipoo is going to look like when they are all grown up, sometimes this picture doesn’t match the reality of the situation, and in cases where folks are adopting a dog for all the “wrong” reasons, this can end badly for the “unwanted” Maltipoo!
Additionally…
This is one of the main reasons why the Maltipoo is not recognized by the American Kennel Club as it is a cross-breed and not a pure breed which basically makes creating a “standard” for the breed impossible.
Physical Characteristics
Maltipoos are generally very lightweight – they weight between 5 and 15 pounds and hardly reach up to a height of 14 inches. They are small enough to be carried around and they will resemble Poodles and Maltipoo puppies in a lot of ways.
Most will have…
A scruffy coat, similar to the Maltese. But some Maltipoos have a curly coat, more like the Poodle. The coat can come in many different colors, but it is generally of the colors white, pure white or cream.
Again…
Like we mentioned before, it’s somewhat of a toss up when guessing what your Maltipoo will look like. It also proves that “cuteness” can come in a lot of shapes and sizes!
Maltipoo Personality and Temperament
Maltipoos are affectionate dogs that are very loyal to their family. They love human company and happy to socialize with strangers.
You can always…
Expect this cute little dog to wag his tail when someone pats him on his head. He craves attention and wants to make people happy. He is by no means an aggressive dog, and mixes well with other pets as well.
Very clever too…
The Maltipoo is a very clever breed, perhaps one of the smartest small dogs out there. He is quick to learn new tricks, and is a bit of a show off. He is very easy to train and loves being with people.
He responds very well to your commands and does much better when you show him kindness and encouragement. The Maltipoo is like a child in many ways. Be good to him and he will dote on you forever.
But be warned…
Maltipoo’s tend to bark a lot! The thing about this Maltipoo and Poodle mix is that he likes to bark. He barks all the time, and gets excited every time someone approaches the house. He is not unfriendly by any means: People find his barking enthusiastic and welcoming rather than threatening. He wags his tail a lot too, so you can forgive him for that!
Most people that is…
But if your living in an apartment, there’s probably a good chance that your nextdoor neighbor might not find it so endearing. For this reason, if you live in close quarters with others, you may want to factor this in to your decision making process.
Health Problems
The Maltipoo is a very healthy breed, and has a life expectancy of 10 to 15 years. High life expectancy is something you notice with most small breeds.
That said…
We would be remiss if we didn’t mention that these guys do have a tendency to overeat, which could lead to obesity or stomach pain. That’s why you must strictly monitor what he gets to eat. Only give him high-quality dog food and limit his food intake.
Also…
Since the Maltipoo is a crossbreed, which means he can suffer from certain genetic conditions or health issues common to his parents, the Poodle and the Maltese dog. The good news is that because many of the conditions which affect each breed do tend to be “recessive” in nature, the Maltipoo remains at risk but much lower than their parent breeds.
That said however…
We would encourage all of our readers to only work with reputable and responsible breeders who not only actively try and produce healthy litters but are also aware of their dogs family histories regarding the following medical conditions:
- Cryptorchidism,
- Epilepsy,
- Hypoglycaemia,
- Pancreatitis,
- Patellar luxation,
- Patent ductus arteriosus,
- Portosystemic shunt,
- Progressive retinal atrophy,
- Sebaceous adenitis,
- White shaker syndrome,
- Legg-calve-perthes Disease.
And while…
Many of these conditions may not be life threatening, they can certainly become quite expensive to deal with particularly if they become recurring issues.
This is why…
We here at IndulgeYourPet also recommend that any new pet owner take a moment and see what it might cost for you to purchase a pet insurance policy for your new animal.
Now will a pet insurance policy be right for everyone?
No, probably not. But until you fully understand what these policies “will” and “won’t” cover and how much these pet insurance policies cost, how will you know if one might be right for you?
For more information on who we feel currently offers the “best” pet insurance policies out there, we would encourage you to check out our Best Pet Insurance Policies article.
so true!