Breed Overview

As the universe of designer dogs continues to expand, allow us to introduce one of the newest options out there! The Yorkie Maltipoo is a triple threat, combining three of the most adorable and popular toy dog breeds in the world. Maltese, Toy Poodle, and Yorkshire Terrier all combine to create this hybrid pup, which has been gaining popularity recently.

They’re sweet, playful, and energetic, but the primary appeal of this breed might be its low-shedding coat, which makes it a better option for dog lovers with allergies. Keep reading to learn all about the pint-sized Yorkie Maltipoo and decide whether you want to welcome one into your family.

Yorkie Maltipoo Characteristics

Yorkie Maltipoo Puppies

The Yorkie Maltipoo tends to be playful and energetic and is a healthy breed with a long lifespan. Yorkie Maltipoos are intelligent and eager to please and therefore are generally easy to train and are quite social and friendly dogs.

Before adopting a Yorkie Maltipoo, you should ask lots of questions and be prepared with the essential ones. A responsible breeder will not only willingly answer all of your questions but will most definitely ask you a number of questions in return as well.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Yorkie Maltipoo

As a mix of three breeds, a Yorkie Maltipoo may display temperament traits similar to all parent breeds or more closely resemble just one. Generally, these dogs will be intelligent but often a bit stubborn. They’ll probably have more energy than you expect from such a small pup and will usually become very attached to their humans. They’re loyal, playful, sweet, and adorable; it’s no wonder this hybrid breed is experiencing a popularity surge!

Are These Dogs Good for Families?

Temperament-wise, Yorkie Maltipoos are a good match for most families. However, small and toy breeds like this aren’t usually the best option for families with young children. An energetic toddler or preschooler could easily injure a Yorkie Maltipoo, especially when they’re a puppy. It’s usually safer to wait until children are a bit older, with more self-control and the ability to learn how to properly handle a small, delicate dog.

Yorkie Maltipoos are also not a breed that can tolerate being left alone frequently. They become very attached to their humans and are prime candidates for developing separation anxiety. If your busy family maintains a stacked calendar of school and other commitments, a Yorkie Maltipoo may not be the best fit for you.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets?

With socialization and supervision, Yorkie Maltipoos can successfully learn to get along with other pets. Again, remember that this breed doesn’t always realize how small it is and may start trouble with larger dogs that they can’t finish. Even the gentlest big dog could accidentally hurt a Yorkie Maltipoo while playing, so supervised playtime is advised even for pups who are best friends.

Yorkie Maltipoos have a bit of a prey drive, thanks to their Yorkshire Terrier ancestry. Keep small exotic pets separated from these dogs and teach them not to chase cats.

Things to Know When Owning a Yorkie Maltipoo

Like what you’ve learned about this breed so far? Here are some more specific things to know before you decide it’s time to bring home a Yorkie Maltipoo.

Food & Diet Requirements

Healthy Yorkie Maltipoos typically don’t have any special diet requirements. Because of their mouth size, they may have an easier time eating small-breed kibble should you choose to feed dry food. Like many small breed dogs, Yorkie Maltipoos may struggle with dental disease.

Yorkie Maltipoos may need to eat canned or softened dry food if they have dental issues. Commercial diets are carefully formulated to provide all the proper nutrition your dog needs; feeding a high-quality brand is the simplest way to ensure adequate nutrients. If you’d prefer to cook for your pup, ask your vet for help to make sure you include all the essential vitamins and minerals your dog requires.

Exercise

A Yorkie Maltipoo needs daily activity of some type to burn off energy. Without this outlet, the dog may become bored and destructive. While they may not be able to do the same damage as a large dog like a Labrador, it’s still not ideal.

The good news is exercising a 6-pound Yorkie Maltipoo doesn’t take as much effort on your part as it would the Labrador! A neighborhood walk, indoor game of fetch or play date with similar size dogs are all good options.

Training

Poodles are generally recognized as one of the smartest dog breeds, so a Yorkie Maltipoo is most likely going to be pretty clever. However, they also tend to have a mind of their own and aren’t always as easily trained as purebred Poodles. Patience and plenty of treats are your best tools for training a Yorkie Maltipoo.

Along with positive training, socialization is key to helping a Yorkie Maltipoo develop a calm and accepting personality. Because of their size and sometimes feisty nature, some Yorkie Maltipoos can get defensive around people they don’t know, barking and growling. Early socialization can help them learn to react correctly to unfamiliar situations and people.

Grooming ✂️

All three parent breeds of the Yorkie Maltipoo are considered low-shedding and tend to cause less reaction in people with allergies. Because of this lack of shedding, their coats can quickly become matted and tangled without proper grooming. This breed has relatively high grooming needs, although the specifics will depend on their coat’s exact texture and length.

Yorkshire Terriers and Maltese have longer, finer coats than Poodles, with their short and curly locks. Dogs with longer coats may need daily brushing to keep them tangle-free. Shorter-coated dogs may require brushing only a couple of times per week.

A bath about once a month using a shampoo formulated for dogs helps keep a Yorkie Maltipoo’s coat soft and healthy. Keep their nails trimmed about once a month and check and clean their ears weekly as needed.

Daily brushing is ideal, but you could also use other dental products recommended by your veterinarian, such as chews or a water additive.

Finally, Yorkie Maltipoos need regular haircuts to prevent their hair from overgrowing into a matted mess. Again, the time between trips to the groomer will depend on your dog’s specific coat type and how short you want to keep their hair.

Health and Conditions

Yorkie Maltipoos could inherit genetic conditions common in either of their three parent breeds as a hybrid breed. Overall, they tend to be healthy dogs, but it’s essential to be aware of these potential conditions when researching breeders. Reputable breeders will avoid breeding dogs who could pass on medical issues to their puppies.

Male vs Female

Female Yorkie Maltipoos are generally smaller than their male counterparts. Unneutered male Yorkie Maltipoos can display some unpleasant behaviors like urine marking and may be more aggressive towards other dogs. If you don’t get your female Yorkie Maltipoo spayed, she’ll go into heat about twice a year.

During this time, she may be a bit moody. You’ll need to be extra careful to keep her safe from the attention of unneutered males during this time to avoid accidental breeding. Of course, spaying your dog will prevent this.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Yorkie Maltipoo

1. The Poodle part of them provides the mystery

All hybrid dogs can be unpredictable in appearance, thanks to their parent combination. Regarding the Yorkie Maltipoo, both Yorkshire Terriers and Maltese are pretty predictable, without much variation in the color or coat. On the other hand, poodles come in a wide range of colors. Their short, curly coats are the opposite of the other breeds. The Poodle part of this breed is the one that’s usually responsible for the physical differences between puppies.

2. You may see these dogs called “Morkie-Poos” or “Morkie-Doodles”

As the popularity of the Yorkie Maltipoo climbs, you’re likely to see more variations on the name.

3. Don’t let their size fool you–these dogs can be a handful

Like many pint-sized pups, Yorkie Maltipoos sometimes think they’re much bigger than they actually are. This mentality can quickly get them into trouble if they challenge larger dogs or are allowed to misbehave with no consequences. Training and socialization are still necessary for this breed, even if some are small enough to fit into a purse!

Final Thoughts

Packed with scruffy charm and small enough to suit nearly any living situation, Yorkie Maltipoos are understandably attracting interest from dog lovers. While it’s easy to fall under the spell of this breed, make sure you’re prepared to provide the socialization, exercise, and attention that they need before bringing one home. Yorkie Maltipoos may be petite, but the responsibility of pet ownership is still as big as ever.

• Related Read: Maltipoo vs. Yorkie – How Do They Compare? (With Pictures)

Featured Image Credit: SuzyC, Shutterstock