Toy Maltipoo Breed Guide – Size, Temperament, Care & Puppy Essentials
A gentle, joyful companion with a heart full of love — and a coat that barely sheds.
If you are bringing home a Toy Maltipoo, this guide covers the things owners usually want to know most: size, temperament, coat type, grooming, crate size, sleep routine, walking, feeding and the puppy essentials that work especially well for very small dogs.
Already preparing for your puppy? Our most popular small-breed setup starts with a 24-inch Posh Poos crate, a fitted luxury crate cover and a supportive crate mattress.
What Is a Toy Maltipoo?
The Toy Maltipoo is a cross between a Toy Poodle and a Maltese. They are small companion dogs, typically affectionate, bright and very people-focused.
Size & Weight
- Adult weight: 2–3.5kg
- Height at shoulder: Up to 10 inches (25cm)
- 8 weeks: Typically 850 grams- 1.2kg
- Fully grown by: 6-8 months
Because they are genuinely tiny puppies, Toy Maltipoos often need accessories made specifically for toy breeds rather than simply buying the smallest size in a standard dog range.
Personality & Temperament
- Affectionate & loyal – Bond deeply and love to be involved in family life
- Gentle & intuitive – Great for calm households and kind children
- Cheerful & playful – Always up for a cuddle or game
- Quietly alert – Not yappy, but will let you know if something’s up
Maltipoos tend to enjoy being close to their people, which is one reason a consistent sleep routine and a calm, comfortable crate space can be so useful from the first week home.
Maltipoo Generations
F1 Maltipoo: A straight cross between a purebred Toy Poodle and a purebred Maltese
- Balanced mix of both breeds
- Softer, wavy coat
F1b Maltipoo: A cross between a Toy Poodle and an F1 Maltipoo (75% Poodle)
- Stronger coat colour and tighter curl
- Often more Poodle-like in coat texture
Coat Types & Colours
Colours: Off-white, cream, apricot, caramel, and light red
Textures:
- Wavy / Shaggy (“Teddy Bear”) – Soft and tousled
- Fleecy / Loose Curls – Poodle-like texture but not tight curls
✨ Both coat types are non-shedding and hypoallergenic. Regular brushing keeps them beautiful and tangle-free.
What Size Crate Is Best for a Maltipoo?
A 24-inch dog crate is the best size for most Maltipoo puppies and adults. It will usually take a Maltipoo from puppyhood through to adulthood, provided they can stand, turn around and lie down comfortably.
Owners of a larger adult Maltipoo may prefer a 30-inch crate for a little extra room, but for the typical Toy Maltipoo, a 24-inch crate is almost always the most suitable choice.
Our bestselling crate: the Posh Poos Black Metal Dog Crate is our strongest-selling product and is available in a 24-inch size that works particularly well for Toy Maltipoos.
Create a Calm Maltipoo Sleep Routine
A crate is most useful when it feels like a comfortable, predictable place to sleep rather than somewhere a puppy is simply shut away. Keep the setup soft, calm and consistent, and introduce it gradually with treats, naps and quiet time.
One of the easiest ways to make a wire crate feel softer and more like part of the home is to add a fitted cover and mattress.
Luxury Bouclé Dog Crate Cover – Cream
One of our bestselling crate covers and an especially easy neutral choice for a small Maltipoo puppy setup.
Bouclé Dog Crate Mattress – Cream
Soft, padded and sized to fit our 24-inch crate.
Bouclé & Sherpa Backed Blanket – Cream
A cosy extra layer for settling into the crate, sofa or puppy bed.
Prefer Heritage Stripe?
The Taupe Heritage Stripe collection is another of our strongest-selling ranges and works beautifully for owners who prefer a softer country-house look.
Shop the Taupe Heritage Stripe Dog Crate Cover
Shop coordinating Bouclé beds and accessories
Cold Weather & Your Maltipoo
While Maltipoo coats are soft, non-shedding and come in a range of beautiful colours, they don’t always provide enough warmth in the colder months. Because of their petite size and fine coat texture, Maltipoos can be more sensitive to cold, damp or windy weather than many other breeds. A well-fitted dog coat helps keep them comfortable and protected on winter walks.
Our Posh Poos Hunter Waterproof Coat comes in a tiny XS size designed for very small puppies.
Daily Exercise & First Walks
- Short walks with plenty of sniffing
- Gentle play indoors or in the garden
- Short training sessions for mental stimulation
- Rest breaks while puppies are still very young
For young Maltipoo puppies, exercise should be gentle and controlled. A lightweight harness is often more comfortable than walking from the collar, especially on a tiny puppy.
Teddy Puppy Harness – Oatmeal and Bouclé Puppy Harness – Cream are two of our bestselling toy-breed harnesses, available in Teacup and Petite sizing.
Why a Puppy Carrier Is So Useful for Maltipoos
Toy Maltipoo puppies are tiny. A carrier is useful for journeys, busy places, socialisation outings before a puppy can comfortably walk far, and simply giving little legs a rest.
Teddy Fleece Dog Sling Carrier – Oatmeal is one of our bestselling carriers and is especially practical for very small puppies.
Grooming & Coat Care
- Brush daily to prevent tangles
- Professional grooming every 4–6 weeks
- Wipe eyes and clean ears regularly
- Bath every 3–4 weeks or when needed
The Posh Poos Towelling Drying Coat helps absorb moisture after baths or wet walks while keeping a tiny puppy warm during drying.
Feeding a Toy Maltipoo
Toy Maltipoos are very small dogs, so portion size matters. Use the feeding guide for the food you choose as a starting point, monitor your puppy’s body condition and adjust as they grow.
Training treats should be tiny, particularly for toy puppies, because a surprisingly small amount can make up a meaningful proportion of their daily calories.
Shop Small Breed Food & Treats
Training & Socialisation
Maltipoos are bright, people-focused dogs and usually respond well to calm, reward-based training. Keep sessions short and positive.
- Introduce the crate gradually and positively
- Reward calm behaviour as well as tricks and commands
- Practise short periods of independence from the beginning
- Introduce new people, surfaces, sounds and environments gently
First Week Home Checklist for a Toy Maltipoo
- 24-inch puppy crate
- Fitted crate cover
- Crate mattress
- Puppy sling or carrier
- Teacup or Petite harness
- Complete puppy food and tiny training treats
- Food and water bowls
- Soft blanket
- Puppy-safe toys
- Brush and grooming essentials
Maltipoo FAQs
How big do Toy Maltipoos get?
Our Toy Maltipoos are typically 2–3.5kg as adults, up to 10 inches (25cm) at the shoulder, and around 850 grams–1.2kg at 8 weeks.
What size crate is best for a Maltipoo?
A 24-inch crate is the best size for most Toy Maltipoo puppies and adults. A larger adult may prefer a 30-inch crate for extra room.
Do Maltipoos need a puppy carrier?
It is not essential, but for a tiny Toy Maltipoo it is one of the most useful early purchases. It gives little legs a rest and makes travel, socialisation and busy environments much easier.
What size harness does a Toy Maltipoo need?
Many very small puppies start in our Teacup size, moving into Petite as they grow. Always measure your individual puppy before ordering.
How often should a Maltipoo be groomed?
Regular brushing is important, with professional grooming commonly needed every 4–6 weeks depending on coat type and length.
Are Maltipoos good family dogs?
They are affectionate companion dogs and often thrive in family homes where they receive plenty of company, gentle handling and consistent training.
Our Most Popular Maltipoo Puppy Setup
If you want to keep the first order simple, start with the products Maltipoo owners are most likely to use every day: