Maltipoo Personality Traits: What Makes Them Perfect Pets

Maltipoos look like adorable little clouds with legs. This adorable mix between a Maltese and a Poodle has become one of the most popular designer dog breeds in recent years, mainly due to their loving, playful, and friendly nature… and that cloud-on-legs appearance trait we mentioned before. These dogs have brightened up many households across the world, but what is it about their personality that makes them such a shining presence? In this blog post, we’ll look at the personality traits of our favorite cotton balls so you can judge for yourself if they’re a perfect match for your lifestyle.

A Closer Look at Maltipoos

Before we talk about its specific personality traits, let’s take a look at the breed overall. Being a cross between the Maltese, a small lapdog, and the Poodle, the genius of the dog world, the outcome was bound to be special. The best of both worlds: a social and loving dog with intelligence.

These smarties come in a variety of color options, such as white, black, cream, apricot, and shades of these. For the most part, they take after their Maltese parent and are small in size, weighing in at about 5-20 pounds, standing at 8 to 14 inches tall with a lifespan of around 10-15 years with proper love and care. One of the primary reasons why they’re such great family pets is their hypoallergenic, low-shedding, curly coats, making them a great choice for people with allergies.

Maltipoo Personality Traits

Alright, let’s get to the matter at hand. Before we begin listing their personality traits, it is important to mention that dogs have personalities just like us, meaning they vary from one another quite a bit. So, this list is generalized. With that clear, let’s look at the Maltipoo personality traits:

Affectionate and Loving

The unwavering affection of these love bugs is perhaps their standout personality trait. They are known for forming strong bonds with their owners and will follow them around, seeking attention and companionship. They enjoy simply cuddling, whether you’re working at your desk or watching a movie while sitting on the couch; you’re likely to find them right by your side.

Friendly and Social

Maltipoos are extremely friendly dogs, both with people, animals, and children. This is likely due to traits inherited from both of their parents, as the Maltese is known for being sociable, while the Poodle is outgoing and friendly with strangers. Unlike some other small dog breeds, Maltipoos aren’t particularly territorial or yappy. Their trust comes easily. This highly sociable nature and intelligence actually make them great candidates for therapy or service dogs, as they are naturally inclined to help and comfort those around them.

Playful

While Maltipoos are small dogs, they still need their daily dose of exercise. Their energy levels can often be a little surprising to new owners. We wouldn’t call them hyperactive, but they do absolutely rejoice in playtime, loving games like fetch and enjoying other physical activities like long walks.
With that said, they are quite adaptable and fit into the lifestyle of most individuals. While they enjoy their playtime a lot, they are equally happy just chilling with you. For example, after a fun game or walk, a Maltipoo will often settle down for a nap, especially if you’re sitting down to relax. A small 30-minute brisk walk is sufficient for their daily exercise needs.

Adaptable and Well-Suited to Apartment Living

Being smaller dogs with medium levels of energy, Maltipoos are more than happy living in an apartment or smaller spaces. They don’t need a Hollywood backyard to be happy and are sufficiently content in a cozy home. However, while they don’t need a massive amount of space to run around in, they do need daily walks and playtime with their family.

Intelligent and Easy to Train

Being the offspring of one of the smartest dog breeds, the Poodle, Maltipoos are quite intelligent, which makes them easy to train. They learn commands and tricks really quickly and enjoy the mental and physical stimulus of training quite a lot. From fun tricks to basic obedience training, they’re game for all of them. As expected, positive reinforcement, in the form of treats and praise, works best on them. Training sessions improve their behavior and keep their minds sharp too. Try hard enough, and your Maltipoo might just solve the mystery of dark matter!

What Are the Behavior Issues with Maltipoos?

It is important to know some negative traits about the breed of dog you’re choosing to make a more informed decision. See, while generally, Maltipoos are loving and friendly, this affectionate nature can often cause them to develop separation anxiety. They tend to get super attached to their owners and start getting anxious when left alone at home for too long. This can lead to behaviors like excessive barking, whining, destructive chewing, and even dropping a deuce when you’re away. This has also given them the moniker of being a Velcro dog because they love being close to their owners. While this trait is usually a positive aspect of their personality, it can lead to over-attachment and, hence, the inability to be alone. Here are some other issues that Maltipoos can suffer from:

- Resource Guarding

- Jumping Up

- Potty Training Challenges

- Excessive Barking

To be honest, neither of these issues is extremely challenging to deal with. Some owners are fine with jumping up, while others aren’t. Either way, with proper training and socialization, these issues can be quite easily mitigated.

Do Malitpoos Bond To One Person?

While Maltipoos generally love the entire family, they are prone to developing a very strong attachment to one person who is their primary caregiver. Their strong desire for companionship often leads them to follow their favorite person around and develop anxiety when that person is away. Therefore, it’s important to properly socialize them with other family members right from puppyhood.

Conclusion

Maltipoo's personality traits all align with the idea of the perfect dog: playful, friendly, and intelligent. This makes them well-suited for a variety of people and lifestyles, whether you're looking for a snuggle bug or a playmate for those long hikes.

Remember to take good grooming care of their long, curly coat and properly socialize them so they aren’t too attached to a single individual and can deal with being alone. Provide them with plenty of mental stimulation and a daily walk to keep their minds and bodies active.

For first-time owners or experienced individuals, Maltipoos’ personality makes them an adorable choice for either.

FAQs

Are Maltipoos high maintenance?

They do require regular grooming to maintain their beautiful, curly, hypoallergenic coat and the occasional visit to the groomer. Other than that, they need a daily walk, some mental stimulation, and some cuddles. So, they aren’t particularly high-maintenance and are quite manageable.

How intelligent is a Maltipoo?

It would be tough to quantify exactly how intelligent a Maltipoo, or any dog for that matter, is, but they exhibit all signs of high levels of intelligence, like eagerness to please, trainability, and curiosity. Remember, they respond best to positive reinforcement techniques, such as treats and praise.

Does Maltipoo bark a lot?

Maltipoos aren’t known for being barkers the way other small dogs are, but they can be quite vocal when they are excited or just want attention. They may also bark at strangers or as a sign of stress when they’re left alone for too long.

Does Maltipoos have any behavioral quirks?

Maltipoos may develop a few behavioral quirks, such as following their favorite person around, being sensitive to changes in their environment, or showing separation anxiety if left alone for too long. These behaviors are usually manageable with training, consistent routines, and enough attention.

Are Maltipoos good for first-time dog owners?

Yes, Maltipoos are great for first-time dog owners due to their affectionate, friendly nature and manageable size. They are relatively easy to train and thrive in environments where they receive plenty of attention and care. However, it’s important for first-time owners to commit to socialization and training to help their Maltipoo become a well-adjusted companion.