House Training Your Maltipoo

Maltipoo Training by Age

Training can begin when you first bring your Maltipoo puppy home, usually between the ages of 8 and 12 weeks old. It usually takes 3 to 6 months for a puppy to be completely house trained.

You should have reasonable expectations, take your Maltipoo outside frequently and reward them for their successes. It is important to know the limits of your puppy. A 2 month old puppy can only hold their urine for 2 hours and a 3 month old puppy can only hold their urine for 3 hours maximum.

A 4 month old has a limit of 4 hours…and so on…until your Maltipoo is about 8 to 9 months old and can hold on for 8 hours. No dog should be expected to hold on to their urine for more than those 8 hours.

Puppies tend to have bowel movements approximately 20 minutes after a meal which is something to keep in mind.

These times should be kept in mind when leaving your dog alone.

Taking Your Maltipoo Outside

It is suggested that you take your dog outside:

• Immediately after any confinement (being in their playpen, being in a gated area, etc.)

• When he/she first wakes up (Morning bathroom time must be as SOON as your puppy wakes.

• 20 minutes or so before bedtime

• 15-20 minutes after your Maltipoo eats.

• Every 2 hours for a 2 month old, every 3 hours for a 3 month old, etc.

• Any time your puppy makes a motion to go. Some pups will circle around, act skittish or bark. Once you have your puppy for a few weeks, you'll learn to read his/her cues.

House Training Details

Choose one specific spot for your Maltipoo to use as the bathroom area. It should be close to the house but not an area that is used for any other purpose. Think about how accessible the area will be during different times of the year, especially if you live in an area that gets a lot of snow in the winter. 

With your puppy on a leash, stand in the center of the bathroom area, allowing your puppy to sniff around and decide on the perfect spot. Dogs like to pick their spot to go to the bathroom, but by using the leash, this will allow your pet to choose a spot within the bathroom area. It will also let your puppy know that it is not time to run and play.

Each time you bring him out, take note of the time and allow him at least 10 minutes to go to the bathroom. Many puppies have weak bladders and don’t take very long, however some spend their first 10 minutes sniffing and exploring and then will pee once they relax. Dress appropriately for the weather, bring along your phone and remember that while you may need to get back inside and tend to your dinner, children etc., your puppy does need time to learn the rules. 

Any time that you are home with your puppy, do not allow him to run loose in the home. You must be close by in order to properly house train him.  You can use a leash by looping one end of it to your belt or keep him in his gated area if you cannot keep a close eye on him. Young puppies can release their bladder in the blink of an eye. 

Always give some type of reward any time your Maltipoo pees or poos in the correct area. This should be praise, pats and/or reward them with healthy and soft puppy treats that would be really helpful in the training.

Never scold a puppy for housebreaking accidents. Despite how it may appear, puppies do not pee or poo on purpose. Going potty is a basic bodily function. Any punishment given to the puppy for accidents will just confuse them and make them think it is not ok to go potty. Some puppies will even try and “clean it up” (eat their poo) before you can see it and punish them, and we don’t want that to happen.

After your new puppy is well adjusted to their new living environment, you can introduce a new method of telling you when they need to go outside to go to the bathroom. Or you can show your Maltipoo how to use a doggy door to get out whenever he/she needs to. If you are like me and have a glass door that doesn’t allow a doggy door to be installed, you can use bells that hang on the door so your puppy can ring them anytime he/she wants out.

Potty Training Supplies

2 Pack Dog Doorbells

Anytime I took my Maltipoo out to go to the bathroom, I would first show her how to ring the bells and then immediately open the door for her. I did this every time I took her out for two days. On the third day of training her to use the bells, I would walk her to the door and she would ring them without any help from me. After about a week of using the bells, my Maltipoo puppy didn’t have any accidents in the house. She will now ring the bells and sit and wait for the door to open.

To see our little maltipoo take advantage of these bells, visit our instagram.

Potty Training Infographic

We’ve embedded a nice little graphic below to help you grasp some key ideas for house training. If you still considering getting a Maltipoo puppy, you can visit our Maltipoo Puppies for Sale page to learn more about what we have to offer and join our waitlist. We also include house training basics in our optional professional obedience training program.

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

Traveling In The Car with Your Maltipoo

Does your Maltipoo hate getting into the car? Once you get him in the car does he spend the entire trip whining or barking? If his previous car rides were an unpleasant experience, he will remember and try to avoid it at all costs. Things like slamming the brakes and speeding up too fast can cause your Maltipoo to suddenly lurch forward or backward. Having their bodies sway with each turn can be very frustrating for them and cause them to become sick.

When a Maltipoo experiences car sickness, it can cause him to develop a fear of getting into the car in the future. Car sickness is an awful nauseating condition that can happen with no warning and is very hard to cure until you get out of the car, so you can’t blame him for not wanting that to happen again, right? Some symptoms of Car Sickness include:

• Excessive Drooling

• Vomiting

• Whining

• Change in Behavior (restlessness or inactivity)

• Repetitive Lip Smacking

• Looped Yawning

Car sickness happens when your eyes see one thing and your ears and body sense something different. When your Maltipoo is in the car he sees the inside of the car is not moving, but his inner ears (balance) and body are sensing movement.

If your Maltipoo is a young puppy, car sickness may affect him more than it would an older Maltipoo. A puppy’s inner ear structures are not fully developed, making car sickness more pronounced.

There are a few things you can do to help prevent your Maltipoo from getting sick during a car ride.

1. No Food 1-2 Hours Before a Car Ride - Your Maltipoo may do best if he does not eat within 1 to 2 hours of a car trip. Full meals can increase nausea and vomiting. 

2. Give Your Maltipoo a Snack 15 Minutes Before a Car Ride - A few small dry treats can help cushion the stomach to cut down on stomach acid churning around and bile rising up.
   A small amount of sugar can help calm a queasy stomach. Offer 1/8 to 1/4 cup of 100% pure apple juice. Or you may offer a jelly bean; just be sure that it is made with real sugar and not a sugar substitute, which can be toxic to dogs. 

3. Regulate Temperate Inside the Car - Most Maltipoos do best when the air inside the car is slightly cool. In the summer, use the AC to cool off the car before placing your Maltipoo in. In the winter, don’t let it get to warm when you have the heater on.

4. Use a Car Seat - A car seat has many benefits that not only help cure motion sickness, but can also save your Maltipoo’s life:

   • Allows for line-of-sight - This is a key component. When positioned high enough, a Maltipoo will be able to have a clear view out of both the front and side windows. 

   • Keeps the body stable - Each time you brake, accelerate, or take turns, an unrestrained dog will be forced to bear the pressure and weight of those maneuvers. However, a car seat offers a sturdy structure that not only keeps a dog in place, but also offers four secure walls to limit involuntary movement. 

   • Keeps a dog closer to partially opened windows I- When in a raised car seat, a Maltipoo will have his face closer to windows opened to some degree. 

   • Protects from severe bodily harm and fatal injuries - Even in slow-moving accidents, dogs can be terrible injured.

   • This article by Bone & Yarn goes over the best and safest car seats to use for your dog. READ ARTICLE HERE

5. Let Fresh Air In - Driving with both the AC and the windows open is not the most fuel efficient method, but it will help your Maltipoo feel better. Because Maltipoos are small dogs, don’t have your windows 100% open, this much air can be too overwhelming. Instead, leave your windows 1/4 - 1/2 open.

6. Take breaks - Every dog that dislikes the car will reach a point at which car sickness or restlessness will eventually kick in. It’s just a matter of time, whether this is 20 minutes, an hour, or two hours. So, a big part of helping your Maltipoo learn to enjoy car trips is to take a break before it reaches this stage. 
   If you are not sure when your Maltipoo will reach his limit, play it safe by stopping every 20 to 25 minutes. Pull over to safe area, have your dog on leash, let him stretch his legs, go to the bathroom, and have a small snack and a drink.

Next time you go on a trip with your Maltipoo, try all or a few of these suggestions to help him feel better and decrease the chance of getting sick. Who knows, he might just begin to love the car rides!

Are Maltipoos Aggressive?

Maltipoos are very intelligent animals and easy to train as long as you are consistent and train them correctly, which means no yelling or aggressive tactics. Using these tactics will make it more difficult for your maltipoo to learn obedience and aggression might increase if you don’t handle it right.

Although maltipoos are not commonly known to be aggressive, let’s look at a few reasons why a maltipoo might be aggressive.

Trying to establish dominance

Your little maltipoo might be showing signs of aggression such as growling, showing her teeth, or nipping at you when you try to take something away or when you get near her food. If this is the case, she may be trying to protect her status as a pack leader and exercise her perceived dominance over you.

Some ways to train your maltipoo to learn that humans are the pack leaders, is by ignoring your maltipoo if she barks at you because she wants something you have. Don’t let your little maltipoo do things you wouldn’t let a larger animal do such as jump up on you and walk all over you. If your maltipoo has something she shouldn’t, don’t try to fight her for it until she releases, but instead make sure things she’s not supposed to have are not available around the house. If she does have something she shouldn’t, present her with something that she can have and then remove the item you would not like her to have from being available in the future.

Pain or Health Issues

If your maltipoo is normally a happy non-aggressive dog but starts to show signs of aggression later on, it could be because of pain she’s feeling which can sometimes be internal. If your maltipoo begins to growl or nip at you if you touch her, I would advise you take her to the vet to be examined to make sure there is nothing wrong and that your maltipoo is not sick.

Aggressive during play time

Almost all dogs love playtime. It’s a great way to let out energy but it can easily get out of hand. Biting during play might seem fun and harmless when your puppy is 10 weeks old, but it can really get out of hand as they get older.

Here are a few things you could try to reduce or eliminate biting during play time:

When puppies play with other puppies, you’ll often see them chasing and nipping at each other. This all seems innocent until one of them lets out a YELP! and they both jump back wondering what happened. This yelp actually helps the other dog understand that they are being a little too rough and should learn to tone down their level of play.

If you use this technique while playing, your puppy will quickly learn how to be more gentle. Play around with her until she bites you and once she does, let out a yelp and hold your hand still and limp. Your puppy might be a little shocked and wonder what happened. Wait 5 or 10 seconds and then continue to play again. Continue this each time she bites and you might find she will stop using her teeth during play.

If this doesn’t work and biting gets to be too much, you can also use something like peppermint spray or a harmless spray that a puppy might not like. As you play with her and she bites you, let out the same yelp and then spray in the puppies mouth. This will help your puppy learn that every time she bites, she’ll get a bitter taste and will eventually learn that teeth are not for human skin.

Aggressive because of fear

This case may be unfortunate but if you have an adopted maltipoo and she has had experience of being abused, or if she is naturally just a more timid puppy, she may bite or run away because she feels intimidated. If this is the case with your puppy, it’s important to develop a pattern of trust. Make sure you’re not using any negative or harsh words or tactics and that you are calm and patient during training.

If you reach out your hand to pet your maltipoo and she shows her teeth or growls, consider giving her a treat to keep her occupied while you slowly and softly pet her. Some might think this is rewarding bad behavior but it’s quite the opposite. Your dog is growling or nipping because of fear. If she gets a treat during these times, her thoughts focus more on the love and affection and the treats. The more comfortable and at ease she feels, the less she is likely to show aggression in the future.

Consider hiring a professional trainer

Although I have given you a few guidelines, no 2 dogs are alike and situations can vary tremendously so there may be times it is recommended to hire a professional trainer. If your maltipoo shows continued aggression, especially if you have children in the house, talk to a professional trainer and ask for recommended steps to solve this aggression.

Do Maltipoos Bark a Lot?

All dogs will bark at one time or another, it’s just what dogs do. To determine whether the Maltipoo barks a lot, we must look at the Poodle and Maltese breeds. Neither breed is has a reputation of being an excessive barker. Some dogs are bred to be barkers for different reasons. There are guard dogs and watch dogs that bark when they sense any kind of threat. There are also hunting dogs that are trained to bark to scare prey out of their hiding places for hunters.

There are no real statistics of which dogs bark the most, it is all matter of opinion. Small dogs have the reputation of being the biggest barkers, but most barking depends on the dog’s environment. There is usually a specific reason for barking and if you make sure your Maltipoo is well taken care of, there shouldn’t be very much barking going on. Below, I will talk about the different reasons for barking and how to prevent it.

Boredom

Maltipoos get bored just like any other dog if they don’t have any activities to keep them busy. If a dog is bored, the barking will be a constant/rhythmic barking. It will sound like the dog is barking just to hear her own voice and can last for hours. A bored dog barks out of loneliness or to get rid of excess energy.

To keep your Maltipoo from getting bored, you should have a variety of toys for them to play with. It will teach them to play independently. Be sure to have toys for chewing and reward-giving toys. Rewards can be either treat-releasing toys or toys that respond with noise or movement when touched. Refer to my Best Toys for Your Maltipoo article. It is also a good idea to have 2 sets of toys for you Maltipoo to be switched out every week so they don’t get bored with them. Just be sure to leave their favorite toy out at all times as Maltipoos can become attached to certain toys.

Attention

When a dog is left alone for long periods of time they can become lonely and crave attention, which causes them to bark or whine. Some dogs will bark and whine together, sounding like a whining child when they want attention.

To prevent attention-seeking barking, keep you Maltipoo on a schedule for activities. If you have a set time for walking, training, playing etc., your Maltipoo will get used to the schedule and know that he will be getting attention soon. Older Maltipoos are great at knowing when things are supposed to happen, and if it doesn’t it can cause barking. Maltipoo puppies live in the moment and will bark as soon as they need/want something so it’s a good idea to keep them on a strict schedule.

Fear/Anxiety

Every dog has fears just like humans. If they hear a new sound, it can scare them and cause them to bark or whine. Feeling cornered may also cause them to be aggressive. Or if they see someone that they don’t know, they might go into protection mode and bark. The barking is usually high pitched if they are anxious or scared.

There isn’t much you can do about the noises outside or the neighbors coming home every night. The best thing you can do for your Maltipoo in these situations is to offer them some reassurance that there is no danger and distract them with something to do.

While both the Maltese and the Toy Poodle are sometimes said to be barkers, neither breed has a very bad reputation for being an excessive barker. These two breeds are neither hunting dogs or watchdogs. So looking at this purely by the breed, the Maltipoo is not an excessive barker. 

With this being said, a Maltipoo will bark. There are very few dogs that do not.

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!

Welcome To The World Of Maltipoos!

If this is your first time considering a Maltipoo, you’re probably full of many questions. In this blog we’ll aim to answer all your questions and more to help you really understand the traits and character of the Maltipoo breed and how to best care for your new puppy.

For the most basic information, please visit our About Maltipoos page.

Also, we’re available on instagram and facebook if you ever want to pop in and ask questions.