The Maltipoo
Sweet, playful, and devoted to their people — Maltipoos blend the soft, silky charm of the Maltese with the intelligence and low-shedding coat of the Toy Poodle.
History & Origin
The Maltipoo emerged in the United States in the late 1990s as breeders sought a small, affectionate companion with a low-shedding coat suitable for allergy-sensitive families. By crossing the ancient Maltese — a centuries-old aristocratic lap dog — with the Toy Poodle, breeders produced a charming, intelligent, and gentle hybrid that quickly became one of the most popular small doodle breeds.
Demeanor & Personality
Maltipoos are affectionate, playful, and people-oriented. They form strong bonds with their families and are happiest curled up in a lap or trotting beside you through the day. They are alert but not yappy when properly socialized, and their gentle nature makes them excellent companions for quiet households.
Friendliness
Wonderful with children (older, gentle children especially), other dogs, and visitors. They thrive in attentive homes and are ideal for first-time owners, retirees, and multigenerational families. Like all toy breeds, they should be supervised around very young children.
Exercise Needs
Low to moderate — about 20 to 40 minutes per day. A short walk, indoor play, and a few enrichment games keep them content. They are equally happy lounging on the couch and adapt beautifully to apartment living.
Feeding
High-quality small-breed puppy food, ¼ to ½ cup divided into 3–4 meals per day until 12 weeks, then 3 meals until 6 months, then 2 meals daily. Adults typically eat ½ to ¾ cup per day depending on size and activity. Always provide fresh water.
Coat & Grooming
Soft, wavy to curly coat — very low-shedding and a strong fit for many allergy-sensitive families. Brush 3–4 times per week to prevent matting, professional groom every 6–8 weeks, and clean tear-stains gently with a damp cloth daily.
Size & Lifespan
Adults stand 8–14 inches tall and weigh 5–20 lb depending on the Poodle parent. Lifespan is 12–16 years. Reputable breeders screen parents for patellar luxation, progressive retinal atrophy, white shaker syndrome, and dental issues — we do.
Best Fit For
Families with older children, first-time owners, apartment dwellers, retirees, and allergy-sensitive households. Not ideal for owners who travel constantly, want a rugged outdoor companion, or have very young, boisterous children.
The Parent Breeds
Maltese
An ancient companion breed cherished for centuries — gentle, affectionate, and famously devoted, with a flowing, silky white coat.
Toy / Miniature Poodle
Highly intelligent, athletic, and low-shedding. Poodles bring trainability and a hypoallergenic-leaning coat to every doodle cross.
We are pairing our Maltipoo dams back with our Toy Poodle stud to produce F1B Maltipoos — even curlier coats, even less shedding, and the most allergy-friendly version of the breed. Join the waitlist to be notified when these litters are announced.
F1, F1B, F2 — what does it all mean?
Doodle generations describe how much Poodle is in the cross. Higher Poodle percentages generally produce curlier, lower-shedding coats that are friendlier for allergy-sensitive families. Our program is currently F1 (Cavalier × Toy Poodle, Yorkshire Terrier × Toy Poodle), F1B with planned multigenerational pairings using Toy Poodle and Cavapoo studs back to our Maltipoo, Cavapoo and Yorkiepoo dams.
| Generation | Cross | Coat / Shedding | Hypoallergenic-leaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Purebred parent × Purebred Toy Poodle (e.g. Cavalier × Toy Poodle = F1 Cavapoo) | Wavy, light shedding | Often, varies puppy to puppy |
| F1B | F1 doodle × Toy Poodle (e.g. F1 Cavapoo × Toy Poodle) | Curlier, very low shedding | Most allergy-friendly option |
| F1BB | F1B × Toy Poodle | Tightest curl, lowest shedding | Highest |
| F2 | F1 × F1 doodle | Variable — wavy to curly | Variable |
| F2B | F2 × Toy Poodle, or F1 × F1B | Curlier, low shedding | High |
| F2BB | F2B × Toy Poodle | Very curly, very low shedding | Very high |
| F3 / Multigen | F2 or later × F2 or later doodle (or backcross) | Consistent curly coats | Predictable, high |
A note on allergies: no dog is 100% hypoallergenic. High-Poodle-percentage doodles (F1B and beyond) shed minimally and produce far less dander, making them an excellent fit for many allergy-sensitive families. We always recommend spending time with your puppy's parents before committing.