Maltipoo

Overview

What Is a Maltipoo?

Last updated October 8, 2026

The Maltipoo is a cross between a Maltese and a Toy or Miniature Poodle, bred purely as a companion. It combines the Maltese's devotion with the Poodle's brains in a small body, often with a coat that sheds little hair. That combination is the whole appeal: a people-focused dog that fits in an apartment and travels in a carrier.

The Maltipoo isn't an AKC breed, though it can join the AKC's Canine Partners program for mixed breeds. We couldn't find any US Maltipoo club or registry that sets health-testing requirements, and none of the hybrid registries named on breeder websites publishes testing rules that we could find. A registration certificate tells you nothing about the parents' health.

That leaves the two purebred parents. The Maltese side brings kneecap and liver-shunt concerns, and its breed club also screens hearts for a birth defect called PDA; the Poodle side adds inherited eye disease and more kneecap risk. Both parent clubs publish the tests their breeding dogs should have, and this guide walks through them, along with why “teacup” marketing is a warning sign.

Physical

What does a Maltipoo look like?

Size: think 5–20 lbs, not a fixed number

PetMD gives full-grown Maltipoos as 8–14 inches tall and 5–20 lbs. That wide range comes straight from the parents. The AKC's Maltese stands 7–9 inches and weighs under 7 lbs, the Toy Poodle is 10 inches or under at 4–6 lbs, and the Miniature Poodle is 10–15 inches at 10–15 lbs. A Toy Poodle cross usually lands near Maltese size, while a Miniature Poodle cross runs larger. Both parents' adult weights are a better guide than any puppy estimate, so ask for them.

Why “teacup” is a red flag

Some sellers market “teacup” or “micro” Maltipoos as a premium size. Treat that as a warning, not a feature. The AKC tells buyers to question breeders who market toy-breed puppies as teacups, says such puppies can be prone to a range of health problems, starting with trouble keeping their blood sugar up, and notes that “teacup” isn't a recognized size in any AKC breed. The research on small size points the same way. In UK veterinary records, the odds of gum disease rose as adult bodyweight fell (O'Neill et al., 2021), and dogs lighter than average for their breed and sex had 1.4 times the odds of a slipping kneecap (O'Neill et al., 2016). A healthy Maltipoo can be small. A breeder selecting for the smallest possible dog is selecting for problems.

Coat and color

The Maltese has a long, silky, all-white coat with no undercoat; the Poodle has a dense, curly coat in many colors. Maltipoos fall anywhere between, from silky and straight to wavy or curly, and come in white, cream, apricot and other Poodle colors. Light faces show tear staining easily. PetMD lists tear stains among common Maltipoo issues, and the AKC says excessive tear staining in a Maltese is a reason to see the vet.

Personality

What is the temperament of a Maltipoo?

PetMD describes Maltipoos as friendly, outgoing dogs that are gentle with people and other pets once well socialized, sensitive, happiest with a routine, and eager to please. That fits the parents. The AKC sums up the Maltese as affectionate and sprightly, and the Toy Poodle as agile, self-confident and intelligent. Maltipoos are bred as companions, and PetMD notes they form strong bonds and can be prone to separation anxiety, so they're lovely to live with and a poor match for long hours alone.

Two things to plan for. First, socialization: early, gentle exposure to new people, other dogs, everyday sounds and handling builds a confident adult, while a tiny dog that's carried everywhere and rarely meets the world on its own four feet can grow into a nervous one. Second, barking: PetMD warns Maltipoos can be particularly barky, acting as self-appointed watchdogs for everything from the mail carrier to a squirrel. In an apartment, reward calm behavior and teach a quiet cue early.

With children, a Maltipoo does best with gentle, older kids. A 5–10 lb dog can be badly hurt if it's dropped, stepped on or squeezed, and a frightened small dog may snap. Individuals vary a lot, too: a 2022 study of 18,385 dogs found breed explained only about 9% of the behavioral differences between dogs (Morrill et al.). Meet the parents if you can and judge the puppy in front of you.

A Realistic Take

What I'd Tell a Friend Thinking About a Maltipoo

For the right home, a Maltipoo is an easy dog to love: small, affectionate, trainable and happy with apartment-sized exercise. For older owners, singles and couples without toddlers, it can be close to ideal. My advice is mostly about where the risks hide.

Smaller isn't better. The things people find most appealing, the tiny body and tiny face, are where the health costs come from. In a large UK veterinary study, the Toy Poodle had the highest odds of periodontal disease of any breed, nearly four times the odds of crossbreeds, and gum disease got more likely as body size shrank (O'Neill et al., 2021). Kneecap problems cluster in toy breeds too. Choose a Maltipoo from parents of sensible size, and never pay extra for small.

Ask about the liver. Liver shunts are rare in absolute terms, but in US veterinary teaching-hospital records they were diagnosed in 1.6% of Maltese versus 0.05% of mixed-breed dogs (Tobias & Rohrbach, 2003). The American Maltese Association recommends a bile acid blood test, especially for puppies (the AKC and OFA also recommend it). Ask whether the Maltese parent has been tested, and ask your own vet whether your puppy should have one.

Budget for teeth from day one, and skip the allergy promise. Daily brushing takes a couple of minutes and costs far less than repeated dental work under anesthesia. As for “hypoallergenic,” studies of so-called hypoallergenic breeds found more of the main dog allergen in their coats than other dogs, no less airborne allergen in their homes (Vredegoor et al., 2012), and no difference in household dust (Nicholas et al., 2011). Our hypoallergenic breeds guide explains what low-shedding can and can't do.

Daily Life

How much exercise and grooming does a Maltipoo need?

Exercise

A daily walk plus indoor or backyard play covers most Maltipoos, roughly 20–40 minutes in total. The AKC says Maltese need only occasional exercise, but Poodles of every size need good exercise daily, so a Miniature Poodle cross may want more. Many owners of tiny dogs walk them on a body harness rather than a neck collar to keep pressure off the windpipe; ACVS recommends a harness over a neck lead for dogs treated for tracheal collapse, a small-breed problem that includes Poodles.

Mental Stimulation

Short training sessions, tricks, food puzzles and sniffing games keep the Poodle brain busy. The AKC's Canine Partners program also opens rally, obedience, agility and scent work to spayed or neutered mixed breeds.

Grooming

• Brushing: Daily, down to the skin. PetMD calls daily brushing essential, and the AKC recommends daily gentle brushing and combing for Maltese to prevent mats.
• Professional grooming: Every 4–6 weeks (PetMD). A short clip makes home care easier.
• Eyes and face: Wipe around the eyes daily and keep hair trimmed away from them; ask your vet if tear staining is heavy or new.
• Ears and teeth: Check ears weekly and brush teeth frequently, as the AKC recommends for Maltese; daily tooth brushing is best. PetMD notes ear infections are common in Maltipoos because hair grows inside the ear, so clean and dry ears after baths.

Our Maltese grooming guide covers face and coat routines that carry over to Maltipoos.

Training

PetMD calls training relatively easy, thanks to the Maltipoo's eager-to-please nature and intelligence; short, reward-based sessions work best. Build alone time gradually from the first weeks. Housetraining is the slow part, so keep a consistent schedule and use a crate or pen. Feed a toy-size puppy on the schedule your breeder and vet recommend.

Wellness

What health problems are common in the Maltipoo?

There's no Maltipoo-specific health study. A 2024 UK study comparing Cockapoos, Cavapoos and Labradoodles with their parent breeds found no difference in 86.6% of comparisons, and little support for the idea that these crosses are healthier for being crosses (Bryson et al.). Maltipoos weren't included, but there's no reason to expect a hybrid-health bonus. A Maltipoo's risks are its parents' risks plus the risks of being a very small dog.

Lifespan estimates vary: PetMD gives 12–16 years, and the AKC gives 12–15 for the Maltese and 10–18 for Toy and Miniature Poodles.

Ask breeders for (by parent): Maltese parent: OFA patella, OFA congenital cardiac and a serum bile acid result. Poodle parent: OFA patella, an ophthalmologist eye exam within the last year and a prcd-PRA DNA result, plus hips for a Miniature Poodle. An OFA Legg-Calvé-Perthes evaluation is a bonus. Look up both parents by registered name at ofa.org.

Budget

How much does a Maltipoo cost?

No survey tracks Maltipoo puppy prices; the breeder line is PetMD's published estimate for a reputable breeder, which sits inside Rover's 2026 all-breed range of $675–$4,440. Everything below is an estimated range. Most lines are Rover's 2026 figures for all breeds and sizes; Rover says small adult dogs can cost up to 63% less a year than large and giant breeds, so a 5–20 lb Maltipoo should land in the lower part of the food, supplies and insurance ranges. Rover's annual table has no professional-grooming line, so we added it at Thumbtack's national averages ($79–$136 a session) every 4–6 weeks.

Add grooming to Rover's totals, and swap the adoption fee for the puppy price if you buy. Rover puts lifetime care for a small breed at about $19,840, which matters more than the purchase price for a dog that can live into its teens. The North American Pet Health Insurance Association reports the average US accident-and-illness premium for a dog was $836 in 2025. Under the NAIC's model pet insurance law, which states adopt individually, insurers must disclose hereditary, congenital and pre-existing-condition exclusions, and the model names patellar luxation as an orthopedic condition, so read the policy before you enroll.

Fit Assessment

Is a Maltipoo Right for You?

Next Steps

Where can you find a Maltipoo puppy or rescue?

Buying from a Breeder

No Maltipoo club or registry verifies health testing, so judge the breeder by the parents. Get both parents' registered names and adult weights, and check their results (listed under Health above) in the OFA database. Our guide on how to find a responsible breeder explains how to read them. For benchmarks on the purebred side, see the American Maltese Association's Find a Breeder list and the Poodle Club of America breeder referral. Puppies should be at least 8 weeks old at pickup, and toy breeds often stay with the breeder until closer to 12 weeks, as our breeder guide explains.

Red flags: “teacup,” “micro” or “pocket” marketing; no bile acid, patella or eye results; puppies offered before 8 weeks; litters that are always available; and offers to ship a puppy you've never seen with its mother. In a UK study, only 41% of designer-cross buyers asked for and saw the parents' health-screening results, versus 54% of purebred buyers (Burnett et al., 2022). Our puppy scams guide covers the payment and shipping tricks, and our Doodle breeding ethics guide covers the wider Poodle-cross market.

Rescue

Search Petfinder and Adopt a Pet by breed and set alerts. Breed rescues focus on purebreds but are worth asking about mixes: American Maltese Association Rescue is a national volunteer foster network for Maltese, and the Poodle Club of America Rescue Foundation points adopters to regional Poodle rescues. An adult Maltipoo comes with a known size and temperament, and teeth a vet can check before you commit. Weighing both routes? Read our adopt or shop guide.

Explore More

Similar Breeds

• Maltese — The Maltese parent: smaller, all white, the same devotion and coat care
• Miniature Poodle — The Poodle parent: sturdier, very trainable, reliably curly coat
• Cavapoo — Another small Doodle, with a Cavalier parent and heart testing to check
• Bichon Frise — A purebred alternative: small, white, cheerful and more predictable