Maltipoo vs Maltese vs toy poodle: differences in a table

The Maltese and the poodle are recognised breeds with pedigrees, and the maltipoo is their cross with no breed standard. In the maltipoo vs Maltese question, the key difference is this: with a Maltese or a poodle you know what kind of dog you'll get, while with a maltipoo a lot depends on the actual parents.

Below is a side-by-side table and a short guide to who should pick which dog.

Maltese, maltipoo and poodle in one table

Poodle weights are from the AKC, heights from the FCI standard. For the maltipoo every number is a range, because the toy and mini categories are not official.

Coat and shedding: there is no hypoallergenic breed

Neither the Maltese nor the poodle has an undercoat. That's why all three dogs shed little, but they get cold quickly and need regular clipping or brushing.

A straight Maltese-type coat is easier to brush, but tear stains and dust show more. A curly poodle-type coat sheds least and mats fastest.

Allergies are caused by proteins, mainly Can f 1 from saliva and dander, not by hair itself. In a 2012 study, dogs of breeds considered "hypoallergenic", including poodles, had 2.26 µg/g of this allergen in their coat, against 0.77 µg/g in the comparison group. If you have allergies, spend time with the specific dog before you decide.

Temperament: closeness from the Maltese, brains from the poodle

The Maltese has been a companion dog for more than 2,000 years. It wants to be near its person. The poodle was a hunting dog that retrieved ducks from water, and it still picks up new commands quickly.

A maltipoo takes from both sides, in varying proportions. I go into more detail in the article on maltipoo temperament day to day.

Pedigree and predictability

Buy a pedigree Maltese or poodle and you know what the adult dog will look like. With a maltipoo, looks, size and coat can differ even within one litter. The generation tells you a lot: F1 is the least predictable, F1b has more poodle traits. I explain the differences in the article on F1, F1b and F2 generations.

An adult maltipoo's size depends mostly on which poodle is among the parents: a toy poodle usually gives a toy maltipoo, a miniature gives a mini. Details are in toy vs mini maltipoo.

When I bought Zuzi, what mattered most to me was her parents: who they are, how they look and what level the dogs are. Her mother is a friend's own dog, not from a mass breeder. Zuzi weighs 4–4.3 kg and has a light cream coat with a champagne tone.

Who should pick which: Maltese, poodle or maltipoo

1. A Maltese, if you want the smallest dog with a pedigree, predictable looks and a straight coat, and daily brushing and eye wiping don't put you off.
2. A toy or miniature poodle, if you want a dog to teach tricks to, with a pedigree and hair that hardly falls out, and you accept regular clipping.
3. A maltipoo, if you like the mix of both temperaments and can live with knowing the adult size and coat only roughly.

In every case, ask the breeder about the parents' health tests: a DNA test for PRA-prcd, a kneecap assessment and an eye exam. With a maltipoo this is the only guarantee, because nobody makes these tests compulsory. There's more on the breed in our maltipoo guide.