Maltipoo
Do Maltipoos shed? Are they hypoallergenic?
By Casa Trufa ·
For information only: it does not replace a visit to your veterinarian.
Maltipoos shed very little, but they are not hypoallergenic: no dog fully is. Because the Maltipoo is a cross between a Maltese and a Poodle, the coat changes from one puppy to the next; the curlier it is, the less it sheds. Hair that doesn’t fall out tangles, so expect frequent brushing and a groomer every six to eight weeks.
How much does a Maltipoo shed?
Very little. Both of its parent breeds, the Maltese and the Poodle, have continuously growing hair, without the undercoat that other breeds shed twice a year. The result is a dog that leaves almost no hair on the sofa or on your clothes.
“Almost” is the word that matters. Old hair still comes loose; it just stays trapped in the new hair instead of falling to the floor. That is why an unbrushed Maltipoo doesn’t fill the house with hair: it fills itself with knots.
Why don’t all Maltipoos have the same coat?
Because the Maltipoo is a cross, not an established breed. A single litter can include puppies with the tight, curly hair of the Poodle, others with the straight, silky hair of the Maltese, and others somewhere in between, with a wavy coat.
| Coat type | Closer to | Shedding | Care |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curly | Poodle | The lowest | Mats easily: brushing almost every day |
| Wavy | A mix of the two | Low | Brushing several times a week |
| Straight | Maltese | Low, a little more visible | Tangles less, but the ends get dirtier |
The labels F1, F1b and F2 that you will see in many ads refer to the generation of the cross: an F1 is the offspring of a Maltese and a Poodle; an F1b, of a Maltipoo and a Poodle, and so it is more likely to turn out curly. That is a probability, not a promise. Anyone who guarantees the coat type of an eight-week-old puppy is selling more than they can know.
Is the Maltipoo a hypoallergenic dog?
No, and no honest breeder should tell you it is. “Hypoallergenic” means “causes fewer allergic reactions”, not “causes none”. What triggers a dog allergy is not the hair itself but proteins found in dander, saliva and urine, which every dog produces.
What is true is that a dog that sheds little spreads less dander around the house, and many people with a mild allergy live more comfortably with a Maltipoo than with other breeds. Others notice no difference. There is no way to know without trying.
If someone at home has allergies or asthma, talk to their doctor first and, before you decide, spend a few hours with an adult Maltipoo in a closed room. We would rather have a family find out in time that they can’t than a dog that has to change homes.
How do you look after a Maltipoo’s coat?
- Brushing several times a week, and daily if the coat is curly or kept long. Down to the skin, not just over the top.
- A groomer every six to eight weeks. The hair never stops growing.
- A bath when needed, with complete drying. In the cool highlands (tierra fría) — Bogotá, Tunja, Pasto — a small dog that stays damp gets cold.
- Eyes and ears. Clean the corners of the eyes and check the ears, which get little air because they hang down and are full of hair.
- A cut to suit the climate. In the hot lowlands (tierra caliente) a short coat works better; in a cool climate it can be a little longer, or short with a coat on top.
Getting a puppy used to the brush, the dryer and having its paws handled turns grooming into a routine instead of a fight. Ideally that work starts before the puppy goes home.
Is a Maltipoo a good choice for a home with allergies?
It can be, and it is one of the more promising options to try, but it is not a guarantee. Beyond the dog, what you do at home helps: keeping it off the bed of the person with the allergy, vacuuming often, bathing it regularly and brushing it outdoors or in an area that is easy to clean.
If you are comparing options, see also small dogs that don’t shed and the comparison Maltese vs Maltipoo.
Frequently asked questions
Do Maltipoos shed a lot?
No. They shed very little, because both parent breeds have continuously growing hair and no undercoat. The hair that comes loose stays trapped in the coat, which is why a Maltipoo needs frequent brushing.
Do toy Maltipoos shed less?
Size doesn’t change shedding. Coat type does: the curlier the coat, the less hair falls out. “Toy” is also a marketing label, not a category of the cross.
How often does a Maltipoo need a haircut?
Every six to eight weeks, with brushing at home several times a week between visits. If the coat is curly or kept long, brushing should be almost daily.
Is an F1b Maltipoo hypoallergenic?
No. An F1b has a higher proportion of Poodle and is therefore more likely to have a curly coat that sheds less. But no dog, of any generation, is one hundred percent hypoallergenic.
Keep reading
From the guide to the breed