Maltipoo vs Cavapoo – The Differences and Similarities

When comparing Maltipoo vs Cavapoo, at first glance, it may be difficult to tell these adorable little dogs apart. Both have similar coat types, but Maltipoos tend to be more colorful and are more often than not tri-colored.

The Maltipoo, being part Maltese, is small enough to slot right into the most compact of apartments and playful enough to keep all of the family entertained. 

The Cavapoo can inherit the boundless energy from their Spaniel side, and new owners should remember this when it’s time for walkies. 

However, there are some key contrasts between the two breeds. So, are you ready to learn all the differences and similarities between the Maltipoo and Cavapoo?

Maltipoo vs Cavapoo Contents

Cavapoo vs Maltipoo Quick Comparison Chart
Maltipoo vs Cavapoo — The Breeds
Cavapoo vs Maltipoo Size
Cavapoo vs Maltipoo Temperament
Training Your Cavapoo or Maltipoo
Maltipoo vs Cavapoo Price
Cavapoo vs Maltipoo — Shedding
Maltipoo vs Cavapoo — Grooming Requirements
Cavapoo vs Maltipoo Exercise
Conclusion
Cavapoo vs Maltipoo FAQs

Cavapoo or Maltipoo Quick Comparison Chart

Maltipoo vs Cavapoo — The Breeds

Maltipoo

The Maltipoo is a designer hybrid breed. Made by breeding the Miniature Poodle and the Maltese to create the small and friendly Maltipoo. 

Don’t be fooled by their size — they have huge amounts of energy and will need some way to burn that off. They’re highly trainable, possess a gentle nature and a loving personality.

Is the Maltipoo for Me?

Maltipoos are a good choice of dog breed for all ages, making great playmates for children, but also loving companions for older pet parents. And, as both the parent dogs are considered hypoallergenic, they’re sure to be an ideal choice for those with allergies. 

However, Maltipoos can suffer badly from separation anxiety and can frequently bark when left alone. This may mean they aren’t a suitable breed for people who spend a lot of time out of the house.

Pros of Maltipoo

• Loving and gentle personality. 
• Gets on well with other animals and people of all ages. 
• Easy to train.
• Low shedders.

Cons of Maltipoo

• High maintenance grooming needs.
• Frequent barkers.
• Not suitable for families with young children.

Cavapoo

Similarly to the Maltipoo, the Cavapoo is a small and friendly pooch. For this hybrid breed, a Miniature Poodle is bred with a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. 

Cavapoos have a single-layered coat that comes either wavy or straight. This is down to their Poodle DNA. They shed very little and are considered a good option when looking for a hypoallergenic dog. Unless they inherit too many Cavalier genes, they shouldn’t trigger allergy symptoms.

Is the Cavapoo for Me?

Like the Maltipoo, Cavapoos are a great dog breed for most people. They’re gentle and loving and will get on well with children and adults alike. However, Cavapoos are bursting with energy, and if you’re unable to meet their exercise needs, they may become bored and misbehave. 

The Cavapoo may not be best suited to owners who intend to spend a lot of time out of the home — they can suffer from intense separation anxiety. These doodle dogs are full of love and make the most wonderful furry companions.

Pros of Cavapoo

• Loving and gentle personality. 
• Easy to train. 
• Hypoallergenic. 
• Sociable. 
• Great family dog.

Cons of Cavapoo

• Suffers from separation anxiety. 
• Can become bored.
• May bark often.

Cavapoo vs Maltipoo Size

Let’s weigh up the weight and height of these two breeds.

Maltipoo

Maltipoos are classified as small dogs. However, their weight and height can vary significantly. 

• A fully grown Maltipoo can weigh as little as 5 pounds but as much as 20 pounds. 
• Maltipoos can be teeny tiny, growing no taller than 8 inches. However, the larger Maltipoos can grow up to 13 inches.

Cavapoo

Cavapoos are slightly larger than the Maltipoo. This is because the Cav is bigger than the Maltese. 

• A fully grown Cavapoo can weigh anywhere between 9 and 25 pounds and grow to heights between 9 and 14 inches. 

The Cavapoo may be bigger than the Maltipoo, but it isn’t a giant dog. This hybrid breed will easily fit into a small home, with room to spare!

Cavapoo vs Maltipoo Temperament

Let’s take a closer look at the personality traits of these two pooches:

Maltipoo

With a lovely temperament and making wonderful pets, Maltipoos are loving dogs. They enjoy spending time with humans and animals and are loyal to their family pack. 

These small dogs are playful yet gentle, affectionate, and energetic — they’re happy-go-lucky little fluff balls.

Cavapoo

Cavapoos are loving and sociable dogs. However, because they adore the company of their humans so much, Cavapoos often suffer from separation anxiety, and may spend a long time barking and misbehaving when left alone at home. 

Intelligent, and also balls of energy, Cavapoos need lots of mental and physical stimulation to avoid becoming bored. This breed also has a sensitive side and will want to cuddle up and look after you if you’ve had a difficult day.

Training Your Cavapoo or Maltipoo

Will you need plenty of patience or be pleasantly surprised at the pace your pooch can learn?

Maltipoo

Poodles are thought to be one of the most intelligent dog breeds around, while Maltese dogs are known to be easy to train. Hence, if you’re favoring a dog that can be trained up quickly, a Maltipoo is a great choice. 

These small dogs respond well to reward-based training, you can’t go wrong with honoring their efforts with a doggy treat or two. However, due to their smart Poodle genes, you must train your Maltipoo right from puppyhood. Without mental stimulation, they can become bored and develop behavioral problems.

Cavapoo

Cavapoos are also very intelligent, and their Poodle genes mean they can easily learn new commands and enjoy having something to do. 

The Spaniel side of the Cavapoo means they love to be taught new tricks and thrive with agility training. Your Cavapoo will be eager to please, and as a loyal companion, they will love to spend time with you, learning new skills and enjoying plenty of positive reinforcement.

Maltipoo vs Cavapoo Price

How much is that doggy in the window? Here’s what you can expect to pay for these pups.

Cavapoo

The cost of this canine can vary — from $1000 to $3000. But a few factors impact the price of your pooch — such as the breeder’s reputation, the size of the pup, parents, and genetics.

Maltipoo

You can expect to pay anything from $500 to $2500 for the privilege of a Maltipoo. Again, the price difference depends on the breeder, location, pedigree, and demand.

Cavapoo vs Maltipoo Shedding

Knowing how much a dog breed sheds is extremely important for people with dog allergies.

Maltipoo

As mentioned, the Maltipoo is part Poodle and part Maltese, and both parents carry a hypoallergenic coat. This means the Maltipoo continues this allergy-friendly trait. Maltipoos shed, but it’s minimal and never in large clumps or frequently enough to be an issue.

Cavapoo

With the Cavapoo, it’s not quite so straightforward. It would depend on whether the coat is Poodle-like or whether it’s more King Charles Spaniel. The Cav isn’t hypoallergenic. This breed is a moderate shedder and loses fur all year round — more so during seasonal changes. 

However, thanks to their Poodle genes, your Cavapoo shouldn’t shed to the extent of a pure Cavalier. Yet, if your Cavapoo is more Cava than Poo, you may notice they shed a little more in the spring and fall, but it’s unlikely to trigger serious allergy symptoms.

Maltipoo vs Cavapoo Grooming Requirements

The Maltipoo has a wooly, wavy, or curly medium-length coat, which requires frequent grooming to stay in good condition. Just like the Maltipoo, Cavapoos have a long, curly, or wavy coat that needs to be kept under control with regular grooming.

Brushing

Pet owners should aim to brush their Maltipoo daily. Without proper grooming, their coats can become matted. If your Maltipoo’s fur is full of knots, this can become very uncomfortable and painful. Cavapoos also need to be brushed daily. This will stop knots and matting from occurring in their coat.

Grooming

Maltipoos are not a low-maintenance dog breed. As well as daily grooming, you will also need to trim the fur around their face once a month. Their whole coat will also need cutting back every few months or so. A Cavapoo should have their fur trimmed once every 4-6 weeks, more often for the fur around their face.

Nail Cutting

Also, as these tiny dogs enjoy spending a lot of time indoors, their nails may not naturally wear down from walking — they will need to be clipped monthly. You don’t want to trim your Cavapoo’s nails too short as this can lead to injury, using nail grinders can make this task a lot easier.

Bathing

When it comes to bathtime, you will only need to bathe your Cavapoo or Maltipoo once every 4-6 weeks. However, if your pup has a long and thick coat, you may want to bath him fortnightly to avoid dirt building up.

Cavapoo or Maltipoo Exercise/Activity

Will you be walking endlessly or cuddling next to a lounge-loving canine? Let’s compare exercise requirements:

Maltipoo

Maltipoos have lots of energy and need walking daily to let off some steam. You should aim to walk your Maltipoo for around 20 to 30 minutes a day.

A well-exercised dog will be better behaved when you’re at home, you don’t want your Maltipoo to get bored and have lots of pent-up energy.

Cavapoo

As we said, Cavapoos are little bundles of energy, and that energy needs to be burnt off if you want a happy pooch. 

Cavapoos love to play fetch and excel in agility-focused games, like running through tunnels and jumping over hurdles. 

Your Cavapoo will need around 30 minutes of exercise per day. This time should include at least one long walk and plenty of running around in a safe dog park or an enclosed garden.

Conclusion

The Cavapoo and the Maltipoo are two adorable dog breeds with hypoallergenic coats. When it comes to exercise, training, temperament, and grooming, these two hybrids are a very close match. 

If you live in a small apartment, have children, or other animals, both will happily slot right into your home. However, Maltipoos and Cavapoos both suffer from separation anxiety, this is definitely something to consider if you’re out of the house for a long time each day. 

When debating Maltipoo vs Cavapoo, for me, it’s difficult to choose the best breed. They both love to play, cuddle and shower their owners with love and unwavering loyalty. So, if you have allergies but still want a cute designer dog, either breed will love being your new furry friend.

Cavapoo vs Maltipoo FAQs

Is a Cavapoo a Purebred?

No, the Cavapoo is a mixed dog breed. This hybrid-designed dog is bred from a miniature Poodle and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. 

Will Cavapoos Shed?

Cavapoos don’t shed much at all, especially if they inherit the coat of their Poodle parent. Poodles are one of the most popular hypoallergenic dogs, thanks to their curly coat. However, Cavaliers do shed, so if your puppy is more Cava than Poo, they may shed a little. 

What Is the Downside of a Maltipoo?

The biggest problem with Maltipoo dogs is that they can suffer from separation anxiety. When a Maltipoo is left alone, they may bark for hours on end and become very stressed at times. If you intend to be out of the house for long periods of time every day, a Maltipoo may not be suitable for you. 

Are Maltipoo Dogs Smart?

Yes, Maltipoos are smart as they’re part Poodle, one of the smartest dog breeds. Thanks to their intelligence, Maltipoos are easy to train and will pick up new tricks and commands quickly. 

Which Is Better Maltipoo or Cavapoo?

Maltipoos and Cavapoos are perfect apartment dogs and make the most loving of furry friends. Deciding which breed is best will depend on personal preferences. 

What Is Smaller a Maltipoo or Cavapoo?

Maltipoos are slightly smaller than a Cavapoo. They can also be a little more fragile too, meaning they may not be a great choice if you have small children.

Do Cavapoo Bark a Lot?

They are not known for being huge barkers, but they can be vocal. Due to being very intelligent, they can be trained to curb canine chatter.