The Teacup Maltipoo is a tiny dog breed that is friendly and loving, makes a good companion, and has minimal exercise requirements. However, its size means that it is a fragile dog so it won’t do well living with larger dogs or smaller children. It is intelligent and can be quite easily trained, and it is a good choice of dog breed for first-time and novice dog owners.

Breed Overview

The Teacup Maltipoo is a tiny hybrid breed that combines the Miniature Poodle with the Teacup Maltese. The resulting hybrid is a friendly dog that will usually get along with people, but its tiny size means that it is easily injured by larger dogs and smaller children. It is suited to life in an apartment, however, and can get most of its exercise from playing indoors, which makes it a great choice as a companion for seniors.

Teacup Maltipoo Breed Puppies

Teacup Maltipoos are hybrid dogs, which means that they can be difficult to get hold of. Contact breeders of both parent breeds, Maltese and Poodles, and ask if they have any mixes or if they know of any breeders that do. It is also worth looking at dogs described as either Maltese Mixes or Miniature Poodle Mixes.

The tiny size of the breed and the fact that it is popular with senior owners means that these dogs can end up in sanctuaries and rescues, typically because their owner can no longer look after them and through no fault of their own. They may also be surrendered because of the arrival of a young child in a family. The very small size of the dog means that it is easily injured, especially by grabby hands.

In terms of temperament, the Teacup Maltipoo puppy will be very small. It may be timid around large people and large animals and while socialization can help with this, the size of the breed means there may always be some trepidation on the Maltipoo’s part.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Teacup Maltipoo

The Teacup Maltipoo combines the clever Maltese with the hyper-intelligent Poodle. This results in a very clever dog, and because it is a loving dog that wants to please its human, it can be easy to train, too. Whilst it is unlikely to win any agility records because of its tiny legs, the Teacup Maltipoo may enjoy this kind of challenge, which can help keep it mentally stimulated as well as physically challenged.

Are These Dogs Good for Families?

The temperament of the Teacup Maltipoo is friendly and loyal, and it will usually get along with most people. This sounds like the ideal family dog, but the size of the Maltipoo, and in particular the Teacup, means that it is not a suitable dog for families with very young children. It is easily hurt and can get injured by accident. However, it does make a good pet for older people and for families with older children that are less likely to cause injury to the dog.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets?

The Teacup Maltipoo is not considered suitable for living with large dogs. It only takes a misplaced paw to cause an injury. The breed may get along with cats but may even be smaller than a family cat. The average cat weighs around 10 pounds and an adult Teacup Maltipoo only weighs around 5 pounds, which shows how small this breed is.

Generally, this hybrid will do better living as a lone pet, not because it can’t get along with other animals but because it is very fragile. When walking the Teacup Maltipoo, try to avoid meetings with large, rambunctious dogs, too.

Things to Know When Owning a Teacup Maltipoo:

The Teacup Maltipoo may be best kept as a solitary pet in a child-free family, because of its fragility. Its size does mean that the dog is especially well suited to life with older owners, and it can also adapt very easily to living in an apartment. The breed can get most of its exercise from playing with toys indoors although it does need regular walks to do its business, but this means that a garden or yard isn’t strictly necessary.

Food & Diet Requirements

As you would expect, this tiny breed does not need to eat a lot and you will only need to feed a maximum of one cup of dry food per day, split over two or three meals. You can feed canned food according to the guide on the package and your dog’s weight. The small amount of food given means that it is very easy to overfeed, and this can cause major problems for your dog, so do be careful and make sure you only feed an appropriate amount.

Similarly, when giving treats, you will need to only give a small amount. It may not look much to you, but to your tiny Maltipoo, it represents a lot of calories.

Exercise

The tiny Teacup Maltipoo does not require a lot of exercise, and, in most cases, it can get most of its daily exercise from playtime in the house. However, the dog will still benefit from regular walks. The size means that the breed will struggle with any canine sports but may still be able to perform at agility.

Training

The breed does not have a prey drive and because it has a Poodle parent it is an intelligent dog. This combined with the Malteses’ desire to please means that owners will get a dog that is considered easy to train. It can be quite a vocal dog, however, so early training may be geared toward stopping barking. Do take care when socializing dogs of this size because larger dogs in the park playing may cause injuries.

Grooming ✂️

The Maltipoo does not produce a lot of dander and it has a low-shedding coat. But that coat is fluffy and has a woolen texture. It will require regular brushing to prevent knots and matting and to ensure the dog remains cool and comfortable. You will need to brush daily but it won’t take long to do a thorough job. Some owners do choose to have their Maltipoos clipped regularly and also trim the head and eye area of the dog for convenience. The dog will also need fairly regular bathing, generally once a month or every 2 months.

You will need to check inside the ears to get rid of dirt, which can cause infections. And, because these dogs do not get a lot of time walking outside on abrasive surfaces, they will need their claws clipped frequently. Grooming is best started when the dog is a puppy. They will get used to the different sensations and will be more accepting of being groomed when they get older.

Health and Conditions

Although it is a hybrid breed, the Teacup Maltipoo is somewhat prone to several illnesses. There are certain conditions that small breeds are more likely to develop, as well as those that are more common in teacup and toy breeds. If you suspect your Maltipoo is showing symptoms of any of these conditions, you must consult a vet as soon as possible.

Male vs Female

Males can grow to be a little taller and heavier than females, although the difference is slight.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Teacup Maltipoo

1. They Are Fast Learners

Maltese Dogs are considered very intelligent, although some do develop an attitude that means they won’t do anything unless they see a benefit for them. Poodles are one of the most intelligent breeds and have been used as police dogs and service dogs in countries around the world because of their trainability and hard-working ethic.

The combination of these two breeds results in a dog that is intelligent and wants to please, which is what makes them suitable for first-time and novice owners as well as those with experience in keeping and training dogs.

2. Teacup Maltipoos Are Suitable for Apartment Living

The size of the Teacup Maltipoo ultimately means that it is suitable for living in apartments, although it can obviously also do well living in a house with access to a yard for running around and toileting. It can get virtually all of its exercise from playing with toys, and you need to be careful not to exercise the dog too hard or for too long.

The low exercise requirements also make this hybrid suitable for life as a companion to senior owners. It doesn’t need to be taken out for long walks and it doesn’t need to be given vigorous exercise.

3. They Tend to Be Smaller Than Cats

A full-size Teacup Maltipoo will usually weigh around 5 pounds. A typical domestic cat weighs between 8 and 10 pounds, which means that the dog will be half the size of the family cat if you have both. This tiny size is great for owners who don’t want a large dog, but it means that the breed is fragile. Maltipoos can be easily injured by larger dogs and small children can also cause injury and upset if they grab at the dog.

The size does offer the benefit that the breed does not need long walks, however, and it means they won’t take up much room on the sofa or add much weight when they sit on your lap in the evening.

• See Also: Maltese Pregnancy: A Guide From Conception to Delivery (Vet Answer)

Final Thoughts

Teacup Maltipoos are companion dogs that were created by breeding Teacup Maltese Dogs with Miniature Poodles. The resulting hybrid is intelligent, has minimal exercise requirements, and will prove a loyal and loving companion that is suitable for first-time owners as well as seniors. It is somewhat prone to illnesses that especially affect small breeds and teacup breeds, and you do need to ensure that it is kept safe from small injuries.

Regular grooming is also required, but the coat is low-shedding, and the breed is considered more hypoallergenic than most breeds because it doesn’t shed much and it produces less dander.

Featured Image Credit: OlgaOvcharenko, Shutterstock