How Has the Pandemic Affected Pet Adoption? (New Pet Study by Money.com)

The pandemic has deepened the bond between Americans and their pets, and a majority of those who acquired new pets during the pandemic did so in part from loneliness. Money.com found this out and more in their new survey study revealing how people have adopted, treated, and feel about their pets during the pandemic.

These results are among the key findings from the first comprehensive survey, by Money.com, of how people have treated and felt about, their pets during the pandemic.

Why is My Maltipoo Whining or Crying

While there is no exact science as to why your maltipoo is whining or crying here are a couple of things we do know as we try to understand how to address and care for our maltipoo.

New Puppies

When you first bring your new maltipoo puppy home there will almost always be an adjust period for your puppy. Sometimes it will only last a day or two. Sometimes it can last up to a week. Every dog is different and adjusts slower or faster.

The adjustment period usually consists of your new maltipoo puppy, crying or whining whenever he/she is left alone. This is because the poor thing is in a new environment without anything familiar. We suggest asking your breeder for a blanket or toy that is familiar and has a familiar scent that you can take home with you. It will help your maltipoo feel safe and secure until he/she can get used to the new home.

Communication

Just like barking, dogs who whimper or whine are trying to communicate. Excitement, anxiety, frustration, pain, attention seeking, are all common reasons dogs whine at their owners.

Most commonly, whining or crying is aimed at conveying the desire for food, water, a potty break, a toy, attention, etc. This is similar to how puppies interact with their mothers, by “asking” for something with a whimper or whine. So it’s no wonder adult dogs recruit this same vocal impulse when communicating with their owners.

To be sure, whimpering and whining is an instict. But it’s also learned. After all, it doesn’t take long for puppies to understand there’s a direct connection between letting out a little whine and getting what they want, and that’s how dog “crying” can turn into a problem behavior. Just as barky dogs can drive their owners crazy should they do so constantly in search of attention or anything else they might want, whiny dogs can stress out a household with their regular whining.

Separation Anxiety

Separation anxiety is another condition that can lead to chronic crying. When leaving your dog alone they will sometimes spend their entire days barking and/or whining.

Luckily, there is help! First, consult with your veterinarian to help rule out medical problems (like pain or cognitive decline). If the problem is likely behavioral, a well-recommended maltipoo trainer is an ideal choice for those who seek to end excessive crying behavior.

Keep in mind, most dogs tend not to whine when they’re suffering chronic pain. So although your maltipoo may cry out when stepped on by accident or whimper during recovery, dogs who suffer from constant pain (as with dental pain or the orthopedic pain of osteoarthritis) typically do not display their discomfort vocally. Though counterintuitive to humans, it’s an important point for all dog owners to keep in mind.

Pet Allergies

Allergies are widespread and almost expected to have; they are the most common chronic condition in the world. Probably every one of us has at least one allergy. 

But what are allergies actually? They occur when our body confuses a harmless substance with an invader, and then overreacts. The reaction to an allergen can be mild to life-threatening, which is why we need to avoid contact with all potential allergens.

Pet Allergies

Pet allergies are an allergic reaction to proteins that are found in animal's skin cells, urine, and saliva. Most commonly, pet allergies are connected to cats or dogs because of the fur and the dead flakes of skin that pets shed. However, not only cats and dogs are the cause of allergic reactions.

Symptoms

There are a lot of different types of allergic reactions. Some of the symptoms include:

• Sneezing

• Runny nose

• Itchy, red, and watery eyes

• Itchy nose

• Nasal congestion

• Cough

• Swollen, blue-colored skin under the eyes

• Facial pressure or pain

• Frequent awakening

• Asthma

• Wheezing

• Chest tightening and pain

• Trouble sleeping because of the wheezing.

Skin Symptoms

Some people with pet allergies could also have a skin allergic reaction known as allergic dermatitis. Allergic dermatitis could occur with direct contact with an allergy-causing pet. The symptoms can be:

• Itchy skin

• Raised, red patches of skin

• Eczema.

Prevention and Treatment

The best way to prevent pet allergies is to keep the pets outside as much as possible (if possible) and to wash them regularly with special shampoos.

Also, there are lots of medications to treat allergies, such as tablets, liquids, or nasal sprays, depending on the reaction. There are some things that cause itchiness which are not related to allergies and other ways you should treat your dog for itch relief.

When to See a Doctor?

Symptoms such as the runny nose, sneezing, or itching can easily be mistaken with a regular cold. If those symptoms last for more than two weeks, it is probably an allergy. There are many ways to check what your body is allergic to, with blood tests being the most common method.

If the allergic reaction happens to be serious, such as difficulty with breathing or drinking and eating, go see a doctor as soon as possible.

Author: Mira Rakicevic

How Much Does a Maltipoo Cost?

This Maltipoo Pricing Guide will help you in learning the costs of purchasing as well as continued costs of a Maltipoo. There are many factors to consider when looking for a maltipoo and the costs and value of these factors can vary. We’ll go through a few of the most common items to consider when looking for a Maltipoo Puppy.

• The initial purchase of a Maltipoo

• Things to watch out for when purchasing a Maltipoo

• The lifetime cost associated with raising Maltipoos

Cost of a Maltipoo

The cost of a Maltipoo can range anywhere from $600 - $4,000 depending on whether you adopt from a shelter or purchase from a reputable breeder. There are also other factors to consider in price as well such as health guarantees, microchipping, and more.

Adopting a Maltipoo from a Rescue Shelter ~ $100 - $600

Maltipoos from rescue shelters can cost around $100 - $600. There is nothing wrong with wanting to adopt a pet from a rescue shelter. Pet’s often find their way to these shelters through no fault of their own and it is noble to want to rescue an animal and potentially save a life.

Many people consider adopting through a shelter but it is more rare to find a particular breed that you have in mind. Sometimes you have to wait months for the chance of a Maltipoo showing up at a shelter and you’ll often be on a waiting list. If you’re interested in adopting a Maltipoo from a shelter, the best chance is to call your local shelters and discuss with them the costs and chance of adopting.

Keep in mind, when adopting from a shelter there can be many unknowns, and for some that is completely okay. Not knowing where your maltipoo came from means not knowing the origins of the parents or knowing what conditions they lived in previously. Maltipoos are very affectionate breeds that need lots of love. If they come from an abandoned or abusive environment, it can be more challenging to build a trusting relationship with your Maltipoo and it can take more time to correct any less than ideal behaviors.

Cost of a Maltipoo from a Puppy Classifieds $1,000 - $4,000

Purchasing a Maltipoo from a puppy classifieds can cost anywhere from $1,000 - $4,000. When browsing websites like Craigslist, PuppyFind or PuppySpot you want to do your homework and not assume you’re covered by any breeding standards that a classifieds lists. It’s often hard for these classified sites to guarantee breeders meet a certain breeding standard. The risk of buying from a classifieds is not knowing the reputation of the breeder and their ethics in raising their puppies.

The range of risks in purchasing a Maltipoo puppy are likely the highest when purchasing from these classifieds. There are many stories of irresponsible breeders meeting people at a central location to sell puppies and when they finally purchase the puppy, they find out there are health problems or other issues and they have no way of contacting the breeder again for any resolution.

If you do find a puppy you’re in love with on one of these sites, there are a few things you want to consider like the living conditions, health guarantee, and breeding standards. We’ve put together a helpful article to guide on how to verify a breeder is not a scammer, which will help if you go this route.

A good rule of thumb, if you see a Maltipoo puppy placed below $1,000 it’s more likely to be a scam. If they want you to meet somewhere other than their home, it is often because they don’t want you to know where they live in case the puppy gets sick or something goes wrong.

Cost of a Maltipoo from a Reputable breeder $2,000 to $4,000

Purchasing a Maltipoo from a breeders website is where the price can really range from $2,000 to $4,000. Our available maltipoo puppies are on the higher end at $4,000 but our breeding standards are bar-none. Our puppies come with an amazing 10 - year health guarantee that far surpasses the typical 6-month health guarantee, or the less common 2-year guarantee some breeders give. There can be many advantages to buying a puppy from a breeders website as opposed to a classifieds. A website can offer more information and transparency than a simple puppy listing. You can read more about a breeder and their history with Maltipoos and not just about the puppy itself and you can know exactly what kind of puppy you’re getting and the environment they’re being raised in.

Although purchasing from a breeder’s website can make you feel more confident about the quality of puppy you are buying, it’s also easy for a breeder to tell you what you want to hear and make you feel confident in your purchase. The truth is you can still get caught up with the same risks as purchasing from a classified site but the risks are far less likely and are reduced greatly when doing your homework which we’ll guide you through below.

What to look for when purchasing a Maltipoo Puppy

Now that we went over a few places you can find a Maltipoo, here is a list of things you should watch out for when considering your options:

• The more information the better - Don’t just get caught up in the emotions of puppy pictures. When checking out a classified listing or a breeders listing on their site, look out for the details they offer in the listing.

• Make sure the Maltipoo comes from a loving home - If a breeder is local, you want to ask if you can visit and see the living and whelping conditions in their home. If they are not local, ask if you can meet them and the puppies via facetime or another real time video solution. Those that are not comfortable with you in their home or initiating a video chat, likely means they have something to hide.

• DO NOT meet anyone in a public place to look at their puppies - There are many stories of irresponsible breeders meeting people at a central location to sell puppies and when they finally purchase the puppy, they find out there are health problems or other issues and they have no way of contacting the breeder again for any resolution.

• Review all pictures on the site - Many breeders will showcase dozens of puppy pictures on their site and some sketchy breeders can easily take photos from other places and showcase them as their own. Look for some consistency in the images and see whether they’re all taken in a similar environment. You can also look on their instagram pages or other social sites to see what kind of images they are sharing there as well as what others are saying.

• Maltipoo Health Guaranty - You want to make sure the breeder has a clear and easy to understand health guaranty such as our 10 year health guarantee.

• Look for videos - When breeders showcase videos on their website or classifieds, it’s much harder to falsify a video than images and there’s a lot more you can learn about a breeder. A video that includes puppies and the breeder can help you become acquainted with a breeder and see the relationship between a breeder and their Maltipoos. You also have an easier time seeing the nature of the maltipoos.

• Look for a breeder with training programs - Now it’s rare for breeders to also offer puppy obedience training and I wouldn’t consider it a requirement when looking for a puppy but more of a bonus. You may or may not be interested in including your Maltipoo in puppy obedience training but finding a breeder that does offer training tells you they have a lot of experience with these breeds and are dedicated to the relationship they have with their Maltipoos.

Recurring Costs of a Maltipoo ~ $1,000 per year

Aside from the one-time expenses, there are also recurring costs associated with the care of your Maltipoo. Some of these include supplies, food, toys, and healthcare. Let’s go over some of these in more detail:

Food for your Maltipoo ~ $200 to $400 per year

Maltipoos are small which is great for the cost of food but you’ll want to make sure you get healthy dog food to support the energy level and lifespan of your Maltipoo.

We buy Purina Pro-Plan for our Maltipoos which is around $25 on amazon. One 5 lb bag can generally last 2 months per dog. But the cost variance can depend on other brands of dog food and the size and eating schedule of your dog. Purina Pro-Plan has an option for puppy food which helps with bone and body growth and adult dog food when they get 6 months old and up.

• Puppy Food - Toy Breed Dry Puppy Food

• Adult Food - Toy Breed Dog Food

Toys for your Maltipoo ~ $50 per year

The Maltipoo is much more comfortable as an indoor dog so outdoor toys are not mandatory. But to save them from boredom, you’ll want a few chew toys and dog balls on hand. These toys need to be replaced over time depending on how aggresive your maltipoo is with them. We have a few suggestions on Toys for your Maltipoos if you’re interested in what our Maltipoos love!

Maltipoo Care ~ $600 per year

Your Maltipoos wellbeing is very important and this not only includes the food they eat and their exercise but also making sure they have regular vet checks and vaccinations. Now Maltipoo healthcare varies considerably and can be the highest driving cost of your Maltipoo but there are things you can do to help prevent any illnesses or diseases from arising in your Maltipoos life. Let’s break some of these down.

• Spay/neuter service ~$200 one time - This service can be much less expensive for maltipoos since the charge typically depends on the dogs weight. The cost can be around $200

• Vaccinations ~ $50 per year - Some vaccines you can give to your Maltipoo yourself or you can take them to a Vet. In the first year of your puppies life they’ll have more vaccinations so the first year will cost more but it gets reasonably less expensive each year.

• Maltipoo Dental Care $100 to $300 per year - Dental care is an important part of your Maltipoos health because poor teeth can lead to more serious health problems. Some veterinary clinics offer dental cleaning and polishing for around $100 - $300 depending on the service you’d like.

• Maltipoo Grooming ~ $360 per year - Because the Maltipoos coat is low to non shedding, it’s crucial to maintain a healthy and groomed coat. Groomers are usually between $30 - $60 for each groom and it’s ideal to have your maltipoo groomed every 30 - 60 days.

Although it’s very rare, your Maltipoo could have the risk of a number of hereditary problems that could drive the cost in your Maltipoos health care considerably. Some of the possible health problems are Epilepsy, Pancreatitis, Progressive Retinal Atrophy, White Shaker Syndrome, Cryptorchidism, and Hypoglycemia. These shouldn’t stop you from getting a Maltipoo as every single breed or mixed breed has their own risks of health problems, but they’re important to look out for and make sure you have proper screening processes in place.

How to Calm a Hyper Maltipoo

Having a pet Maltipoo puppy means that you most likely have a hyper and active dog. Does it ever stop? You may be surprised to know that Maltipoos are one of the calmest breeds of smaller dogs. But just like most dogs, they have their days, and mostly when they are younger. So how do you calm a Maltipoo when it's hyper? We’ve put together some categories to consider when your maltipoo is hyper and how to deal with the energy.

Your Maltipoo is Growing Up

When a Maltipoo is first beginning to learn how to bark, walk and run, it is super exciting, and they love it. Running around and barking is one of their favorite things. They love to have fun and enjoy life. But fear not it does go away after age. Once a dog starts into it's growing up phase, it starts to fade slowly. Less noise and running around and more cuddles and laying down. However, it may not ever stop entirely.

Training Your Maltipoo

Yay! The best is yet to come. Maltipoos are super knowledgable and usually easy to train. With determination and patience, you can get your Maltipoo trained in no time. You can teach them how to sit stand and even to take a nap. 

Training your Maltipoo will help direct their energy into learning and obedience. Engaging your puppy in training can also be a fun way to spend time connecting and building trust between each other.

Playing with Your Maltipoo Outside

If your Maltipoo is hyper and you don't know what to do, try taking them outside for some fun. Unlike indoors, outside tends to be a lot more spacious for playing and running around. It is a great way for your puppy to get tired and need to rest when they have a variety of things they can do. 

Exercising Your Maltipoo

Every dog needs exercise, whether they are big, small, or even fluffy. If you need to find toys or exercise equipment that your dog can play with, we have a few toy recommendations for your Maltipoo. Being hyper and energetic is what they are made for. If you can keep them entertained with exercise, they will start getting tired and want to relax.

Keeping a Peaceful Home

The feeling in the home tends to be the main thing that can make your dog hyper or calm. If you naturally have a quiet, peaceful home, your Maltipoo will usually be compatible with it. But if you have a rough more hyper unorganized home your Maltipoos can often be consistent with that as well. If a dog feels unsafe or as if there is an uneasy feeling toward its territory or property that could cause the dog to be hyper too. Make sure your Maltipoo feels safe around its area of food or space. Do not walk around or by its bowl during mealtime or while there is food inside it. A Maltipoo's toys are unique to them so unless you are playing a game with them or you are helping them get their toy don't touch it or take it from them. It could cause hyper behavior from feeling betrayed or at harm. 

Getting Your Maltipoo Familiar with Their Environment

When your Maltipoo is young, they are still getting used to the way of life. New noises such as a washing machine, a vacuum, or even the television might make them hyper seeing as they are not used to that sort of life yet. Other things like having new pets in the home such as a dog, cat, or another type of animal may be causing your Maltipoo to feel less attention or love and could cause them to be more hyperactive. 

Helping Your Maltipoo Release Energy

If your dog doesn't have enough space or area to move around in that may cause it to be hyper. Maltipoos need a healthy way to release energy and exercise. Not allowing them the chance to have the right amount or type of activity decreases their happiness. It may even cause them to be hyper or loud to make up for their loss of current time. 

Giving Your Maltipoo the Proper Attention

If you give your Maltipoo too much attention and are only giving them active time when they are with you, they might start to cling to you, and they will start to need you with them to have fun, causing them to be hyper and loud in order to get your attention.

Thank you for reading this article. If you are interested in adopting a Maltipoo from us, you can visit our adopt page or contact us online. We have the best selection of Maltipoo puppies and offer to train your puppy before they join your family.

Maltese vs. Maltipoo

How does a Maltipoo Compare to a Maltese?

Let’s start with the obvious. The Maltese is a purebred dog and the Maltipoo is a hybrid dog. In order for a dog to be considered 'purebred' he must be a descendant of known purebreds of the same breed. Most purebred dogs are registered with a kennel club, but it is not required. The clubs were created to keep a guideline that dictates the expected size of the dog, coloring, ear set, tail set etc.. This helps keep a consistent appearance within the breed.

The Maltese has been around for about 2,800 years and has had the same appearance for most of that time. We know this from the Ancient Greek ceramic artwork.

The Maltipoo is a crossbreed and has no history and no consistency of size, coat, color or temperament. This should not prevent you from falling in love with the Maltipoo. They are generally very smart, friendly dogs that love to cuddle. The Maltipoo lifespan also tends to be long because of their smaller size.

Face Shape Comparison

You will find that most Maltipoos have a muzzle similar to the Maltese.

• Poodles have long, narrow snouts.

• Maltese have moderate snouts. The skull is 'slightly rounded' and ears are drop ears (they hang by the side of the face) and set low (the base is on the side of the head, not on top).

Since many Maltipoo dogs have these same facial structures, it's easy to see the Maltese influence.

Differences in Coat

Maltipoos can inherit their coat type from either their Maltese parent or their Poodle parent. You might get a silky coat like the Maltese, a tightly curled and frizzled poodle coat or a coat that combines these traits.

Both the Maltese and Poodle are single coated breeds. However, the Maltese hair is usually soft and silky and can be wavy or straight depending on the length of the hair. The Poodle hair is dense, curly and somewhat water resistant.

Maltipoos, on the other hand, have both Maltese and Poodle genes affecting the coat. Many Maltipoo dogs have slight to moderately wavy hair; this is a result of more Maltese genes influencing the coat. The more curls, the more Poodle there is.

Differences in Color

Another huge difference between these two types of dogs is their coloring. Many people think that Maltese are only found in pure, solid white, but they can actually have a little bit of color too. Light tan or lemon may appear on the ears.

The Maltipoo can be found in a wide range of colors and markings. Any color that is found on a Poodle can appear on a Maltipoo. However, in most cases the white of the Maltese will water down or lighten the coloring.

This coat makes them different from the Maltese, which has one type of coat - long, silky coat and generally one color - white.

Size Differences

Both Maltese and Maltipoo dogs are considered to be toy size. The Maltese is officially a toy sized dog with a weight of 4 -7 lbs. The size of a Maltipoo depends on the size of the Poodle parent. It can either come from a Toy sized Poodle (4 to 10 lbs.) or a mini (15 to 17 lbs.)

The majority of Maltipoo will be slightly larger than Maltese dogs because it can come from either a toy or mini size poodle.

In regard to height, which is measured from the top of the shoulder blades to the floor, both Maltese and Maltipoo have a starting range of 8 inches.

Maltese can be as tall as 10 inches and Maltipoos may sometimes be as tall as 14 inches.

So, on average, a Maltipoo may be slightly larger than a Maltese in both weight and height. However, it is still considered to be a small lap dog.

Personality

Each dog has his or her own unique personality. How a dog is raised plays a huge role in his behavior and general disposition.

The Maltese is charming, gentle and playful. With the Maltipoo, we must look at the other gene influence: the Poodle. The poodle is a smart and very proud dog. Poodles are considered one of the most intelligent breeds in the world. It places 2nd in the Intelligence of Dogs, a book published in 1994 and still serving as the main reference for the intelligence of canines. The Maltese places 59 out of 79.

Most Maltipoos are very friendly, outgoing and personable dogs with high loyalty to owners and a good record of being obedient. Puppies of both breeds are outgoing and energetic, often calming down as they reach the 12 to 18 month old range. Adult Maltese dogs tend to be rather mellow and calm and some Maltipoos can be a bit more active and outgoing.

Both typically get along very well with children and other dogs, yet may be a bit wary of strangers. Due to their strong bonding capabilities, both Maltese and Maltipoo dogs can have some separation anxiety issues when left home alone.

Summary

The Maltese and Maltipoo are very similar in most ways. Although, the Maltipoo definitely gets some things, like its energy and zest for life, from its Poodle parent.

If you are interested in a Maltipoo puppy, you can take a look at some of our Maltipoo Puppies that are available to adopt.

Maltipoo Lifespan

Although the average lifespan of all dogs is about 10 - 13 years. Smaller dogs, such as the Maltipoo tend to have a bit longer of a life of 12 to 16 years.

You may also find it interesting that female dogs generally live longer than males by about 1 to 1 1/2 years.

Some also speculate that mixed breeds such as the Maltipoo might live longer than purebreds but we have found no conclusive studies to back this up.

There have been some studies that have shown that some health issues show up less in cross-breeds; but not all.

The Leading Cause of Death in Maltipoos

Although we don’t have enough information to determine the leading cause of death in maltipoos, we can estimate this a few ways. First let’s look at the common causes of death in mixed-breeds which are Musculoskeletal disease, Cancer, and trauma.

We can also look at the Poodle and Maltese causes. The Leading cause of death in the toy poodle are Neurological, Trauma, and Cancer. For the Maltese it’s Cardiovascular, Congenital, and Cancer.

How can I Help My Maltipoo Live a Long and Healthy Life?

There are things we can include in our maltipoo puppies life to help increase their life and make them healthier and more active overall. A few of these things include:

Spaying or Neutering

You might think you would spay or neuter your puppy to prevent unwanted litters but doing this can also reduce or eliminate some specific health risks including certain cancers.

Feeding Your Maltipoo a Healthy Diet

Diet plays a huge part in your maltipoos health. Making sure your maltipoo avoids certain foods and ensuring her dog food has the most healthy ingredients, will help her live a long and healthy life.

Keeping a Safe Environment for your Maltipoo

It’s important to consider the environment around a maltipoo is safe. They are small and some things a larger dog might be able to cope with, a Maltipoo may not.

Keeping your maltipoo primarily indoors is almost a certainty. They are not able to handle extreme temperatures and don’t do well outside. When your maltipoo is outside, a fenced yard is recommended. They can get very curious and wander off in dangerous areas.

Watch your step around Maltipoos. This is also especially important with small children in the home. Maltipoos might be very active and agile, but they are still small dogs and accidentally stepping, sitting, or falling on them can cause major injuries or death whereas a larger dog may be okay.

Keep your maltipoo on a leash when walking her will also ensure she is safely by your side and away from the harm of oncoming traffic or other potential dangers.

Stay Current on Vet visits

When you get your new puppy, it’s important to get their needed initial shots. they should come with their first shots already but there are some following shots such as Rabies shot that come a few weeks after.

It’s a good idea to visit the vet once per year for a checkup so you can catch any potential issues early on.

Read my article on When to Vaccinate Your Maltipoo Puppy for a schedule of recommended vet visits.

Size of a Full Grown Maltipoo

Because maltipoos are a hybrid between a poodle and a Maltese, your puppies weight can vary from 5 to 20 pounds with a height of 8 to 14 inches. The size will also depend on whether a poodle parent was a toy or miniature.

You may have heard of a “miniature” or “teacup” Maltipoo, but there are no official standards for these names and breeders can use them loosely to define dogs in a broad range. 

Most breeders use these terms and adopt the size standards of the poodle that the Maltipoo comes from.

So if you hear of a miniature Maltipoo or toy Maltipoo, etc it could fall in one of the same size categories of the poodle which are listed below.

• Teacup Poodle 2-4 lbs

• Toy Poodle 5-9 lbs 10 inches tall

• Miniature Poodle 15-17 lbs 11 to 15 inches tall.

The best way to estimate the weight of your puppy is by averaging the weights of their parents. Some breeders also have weight history of previous litters to give you a better idea.

Is a Maltipoo Right for You?

Getting a dog or puppy on impulse is not usually a good idea.  Each breed of dog was designed to do specific things. You need to decide what you want in a dog and what your dog will be doing before deciding on a breed.  There are a lot of pros and cons you should weigh when looking at Maltipoos or any other breed.

There are so many different breeds to choose from. When different breeds were originally developed, there was a greater emphasis on the ability to do a job, such as herding, guarding, hunting, drafting, etc., than appearance.  If a particular breed interests you, find out what the dog was bred to do.

The Maltipoo breed was originally bred to be a hypoallergenic companion dog for allergy sufferers.  They were bred to receive the intelligence, affection, and trainability from both the Poodle and Maltese breed as well as the low to no shedding.

Maltipoos hate being left alone and get separation anxiety very easily, so they are not an ideal breed for families that are not going to be home often.

So DO get a Maltipoo if you are looking for:

• Companionship

• Playmate for the Kids

and DON’T get a Maltipoo if you are looking for:

• Protection

• A special activity, such as hunting or herding

Do Maltipoos Have Hair or Fur?

Most breeds have fur consisting of multiple layers and usually denser but the maltipoo has hair which is a single layer. This is because both the poodle and the maltese are breeds with hair.

Some people that are allergic to fur prefer a dog, such as the maltipoo, with hair so they can avoid allergic problems. But did you know the allergic reactions are not because of the fur or hair?

Fur and hair only act as carriers to these allergens which are actually the skin, saliva, and other parts of the dogs body. Because hair sheds far less often than fur, people with allergic reactions have found it is safe to own a breed such as a maltipoo.

What is the biggest differences between hair and fur on Animals?

The main difference is that hair grows to be much longer and has a much slower growth cycle which means dogs with hair shed less.

Hair is generally smooth, longer and finer than fur. Because the maltipoo is a hybrid between the maltese and poodle, the look of the hair will vary from straight, wavy, or curly.

Usually when a maltipoos hair is more curly, it is able to trap more dander which results in allergies being triggered less often or not at all.

Fur is almost always shorter in length and denser than hair and grows much faster which means it sheds more heavily carrying some of the dander with it.

How do I tell if I’m allergic to a Maltipoo?

There’s only one way to be certain. It’s a good idea to visit the puppy you are considering being home and spending at least 15 minutes close to the puppy. Playing with it and see if you have any allergic reactions. Chances are, you are going to be okay but if you’re not a fan of chances, this is a good solution.

Are Maltipoos Hypoallergenic?

Maltipoos are Hypoallergenic and a great option for those with allergies. If you’re looking for a short answer to this question, there it is. But the more accurate answer to this question “Are Maltipoos Hypoallergenic” has a bit more detail we need to cover.

What does “Hypoallergenic" mean?

The Oxford Dictionary gives the definition relatively unlikely to cause an allergic reaction. So when people are measuring the pros and cons of Maltipoos and ask if Maltipoos are hypoallergenic, although Maltipoos are hypoallergenic the real question you’re asking is “Will I or a member of my family be allergic to my new Maltipoo puppy?”

Maltipoos are low to non-shedding dogs which means there is very little chance “relatively unlikely” your allergies will be triggered like with other breeds. The Maltipoo breed has hair instead of fur, which most people think is the reason for being hypoallergenic. But most people that have allergies are allergic to the dander (dead skin cells that fall off and collect in the fur) and not the coat of the dog. Both dogs with fur and dogs with hair have dander. The top layer of skin is in a constant state of renewal where the dead cells are replaced with new ones, just like humans.

The thing that makes the difference in the severity of the allergic response is that fur is usually a lot thicker than hair. Because fur is thicker, it holds onto and collects the dander. The Maltipoo hair is silky and soft, which allows the dander to fall out. When a person that suffers from allergies pets or grooms a dog, they come into contact with whatever is on the coat. With the Maltipoo, there is much less dander that has collected so a person may have a smaller or no allergic response when handling the dog.

Also, Maltipoos are said to be non-shedding, but this is not entirely true. The coat will shed any dead hairs and replace with new ones just like the skin. This happens at a much slower rate than dogs with fur so there will be less dead hairs around the house to cause allergic reactions.

To conclude, the Maltipoo is hypoallergenic but that doesn’t mean there’s a zero percent chance you will have an allergic reaction. Maltipoos as much as any other breed should be considered Low Allergenic.

What can I do to reduce the risk of allergic reactions?

When you are considering purchasing a Maltipoo and you or a family member have allergies, it is recommended that you hold the dog or puppy for at least 20 minutes and play with them to see if they cause any kind of reaction. Be sure to do this indoors since the air outside can push the dander away and give false results. To date, we have never had a complaint from someone with allergies that has adopted a Maltipoo from us which gives us high confidence in saying Maltipoo could be a great option for you!