Also known the Moodle, Malt-i-poo, and the Maltidoodle, the Maltipoo is a playful and affectionate breed. But how do you know whether you are ready to purchase a pet and if this breed is right for you? This information is absolutely necessary in making the decision to purchase a pet.
History
The exact origin of the Maltipoo has not been well documented. Enthusiasts believe the breed to originate in the United States during the 1980’s, though this is yet to be proven scientifically or otherwise.
The Maltipoo was created by crossing the Maltese and the Poodle, in hopes of creating a superior companion dog with a low shedding, hypoallergenic coat. Throughout its history, the Maltipoo has been most commonly kept as a companion, proving its incredible abilities to entertain while providing gentle friendship.
Today, the Maltipoo has attained a world wide popularity as a show dog, family pet, and companion.
Personality Traits
Best known for its spunky and playful nature, the Maltipoo is full of character. These dogs thrive on strong and dependable relationships with humans, love attention and playing the role of lap dog. This breed is highly intelligent and generally very easy to train. As a pet, the Maltipoo is obedient, loyal, loving, and affectionate. The Maltipoo adapts well to full-time indoor and apartment living, yet still enjoys spending time outdoors, taking long walks, and playing games such as fetch and tug-of-war.
Train-ability
Due to its need for human attention and willingness to learn, the Maltipoo generally responds well to basic training and commands. These intelligent dogs have the ability to learn to perform most any task their trainer is willing to take the time to teach.
Establishing immediate dominance, trust, and respect is key to successfully training the Maltipoo. This breed requires a confident, patient, and caring handler with a stern yet gentle approach to repetitive exercises and tasks.
Benefits and Disadvantages of the Breed
There are many benefits to owning a Maltipoo, such as its low shedding, hypoallergenic coat. These curious dogs are always on the go, and often quite amusing and entertaining to watch while at play. This breed is very bright, easy to train, and capable of learning to perform many impressive tricks and tasks. When properly socialized from a young age, the Maltipoo gets along well with children and other pets, known for its sweet and gentle approach to small children. The Maltipoo is obedient, loyal, loving, and affectionate, making an excellent family pet and companion alike.
Unfortunately, there are also disadvantages of owning a Maltipoo. Like many companion breeds, the Maltipoo is known to suffer from separation anxiety. Individuals seeking to purchase this breed who travel frequently, have full-time work, or are away from the home on a daily basis are advised to begin researching another breed. During an attack of separation anxiety, the Maltipoo will act out of nervous destruction and may destroy property, chew, dig, bark, whine, and ignore housebreaking training.
The Maltipoo has a thick and curly coat which requires almost constant attention such as brushing and grooming in order to prevent tangling and maintain its attractive appearance.
For reasons unknown, the Maltipoo is known to love to dig, and is quite good at doing so. It is not unusual for this breed to dig a hole under a fence within the matter of only a few minutes. The Maltipoo must be supervised or properly secured at all times when outdoors.
While the Maltipoo is typically known as a healthy and hearty breed, they do suffer from a few health problems, including: hip dysplasia, patellar luxation – dislocation of the knee, epilepsy, congenital heart defects, likeliness to develop cancer, distichiasis – ingrown eye lashes, hearing problems – sometimes leading to deafness, and various dental issues.
Now that you know all about the breed, do you think you are ready to own a Maltipoo? Remember, purchasing a pet is a big decision and should be discussed thoroughly and seriously with your entire family.
