Maltese vs. Maltipoo

appearancefacts

Jul 9

How does a Maltipoo Compare to a Maltese?

A Maltese is a purebred toy breed that weighs 4 to 7 pounds and is almost always white. A Maltipoo, sometimes called a Maltese Poodle, is a cross between a Maltese and a Toy or Miniature Poodle. It weighs 5 to 20 pounds and comes in many colors. Maltipoos are usually a little larger, more energetic and easier to train, while Maltese are more consistent in looks and a bit calmer as adults.

Maltese vs. Maltipoo at a glance

Weight: Maltese 4-7 lbs, Maltipoo 5-20 lbs
Height: Maltese 8-10 inches, Maltipoo 8-14 inches
Coat: Maltese long and silky, Maltipoo silky, wavy or curly
Colors: Maltese white, Maltipoo nearly any Poodle color
Lifespan: Maltese 12-15 years, Maltipoo 12-16 years
Shedding: both are low-shedding

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 with a much shorter history, going back only a few decades, so its size, coat, color and temperament are less predictable. 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 6 lbs.) or a Miniature Poodle (10 to 15 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.

Health and Lifespan

Both are small, long-lived dogs. The Maltese usually lives 12 to 15 years, and the Maltipoo 12 to 16 years. Maltese are prone to dental disease, tear staining and luxating patellas. Maltipoos can inherit issues from either parent, including dental disease, luxating patellas and eye conditions like progressive retinal atrophy, which is why genetic testing on both parents matters.