Maltipoo Training Profile

Weight: 5 to 20 pounds

Height: 8 to 14 inches

Lifespan: 10 to 15 years

Maltipoo Temperament and History

The Maltipoo is a designer dog, which involves crossbreeding two existing purebred dogs. These dogs are a result of breeding a Maltese with a Miniature or Toy Poodle.

Maltipoos were first bred in the United States as companion dogs. One of the most common beliefs is that they were bred to take advantage of the hypoallergenic trait of poodles, which allows people who are allergic to fur to still be able to to have a cuddly friend.

However, because it’s a designer — or crossbreed — dog, the Maltipoo is not recognized by the American Kennel Club. But there are some other dog clubs that recognize the breed.

Being a cross between two dog breeds, the Maltipoo often has characteristics of both Maltese and Poodles. You can generally expect Maltipoos to be playful, loving and intelligent.

Oftentimes, their personalities remain the same as they age; they tend to retain their puppy-like behavior through most of their lives.

Maltipoos make great family dogs; they get along with children and other pets, including cats. However, due to their small size, children can accidentally injure these dogs if they get too rough while playing with them.

Giving them opportunities to socialize at a young age will help ensure Maltippos understand how to behave around children and other animals.

Maltipoos typically get along with strangers, but they may get more vocal. They tend to bark more than other breeds in general, which may be a concern depending on whether they live in an apartment or a house.

Maltipoo Training Tips

Maltipoos work best as indoor pets, due to their small size. They also don’t handle extreme temperatures well. Maltipoos are energetic dogs, but they don’t require much daily exercise.

Taking them on a 15-minute walk or playing games with them should help them get enough exercise. Don’t skimp on daily activity; if they’re not given enough opportunities to exercise, Maltipoos tent to develop destructive behaviors.

Part of their loving and caring nature is that they require a lot of attention. Maltipoos are susceptible to developing separation anxiety if they are left alone for too long.

Since Maltipoos are a cross between two breeds, they stand a chance of inheriting some of the less-desirable traits from both parents. In most cases, this means aggressive behavior.

Other potential causes of aggression in these dogs are health problems and exposure to improper training methods. Maltipoos respond best to positive training techniques; they are very sensitive dogs, and will typically not respond to negative training techniques.