My 8-Year Journey with Maltipoos: What I've Learned and Lived to Tell

I've been around Maltipoos for over eight years now, and it all started when my kid asked for a puppy that would stay small. We already had a German Shepherd at home, and I knew how quickly they grow. Choosing a breed was a no-brainer - who wouldn't fall for those adorable faces and fluffy locks? But finding a Maltipoo at a reasonable price was tough back then. The price range started at around 200,000 rubles, and there were hardly any options available. Maltipoos were still a rare breed, and we were lucky to find puppies from a family that had a Maltese and a white Toy Poodle, and they bred them on their shared property.

Of course, as any responsible dog owner, I had plenty of concerns. Maltipoos can be a bit of a gamble.

I checked both parents, their documents, and the puppies. I didn't have a choice - by the time I arrived, there was only one male puppy left, and he was the largest in the litter. I picked him up, and he wrapped his paws around my neck, holding on so tight I couldn't pull him away. We were already on our way home, and it felt like we'd known each other our whole lives. My only worry was his size - I wanted a small dog, but at 3.5 months, he weighed 3 kg. I even joked that they must have switched him with a South Russian Shepherd, a breed that looks like a Bolonka but is the size of an Airedale. It wasn't until later that I learned that Maltipoos grow the most during the first 3.5 months, then their teeth start coming in, and their growth slows down. In the end, we grew to 5 kg, which was perfect - not too small, not too big. We could still pick him up by the handles, and he was happy to join us on long walks and playtime.

What really surprised me:

I took in a puppy from the countryside, and to my amazement, it didn't stress out in the first day in our new home, didn't mess anything up, walked great on a leash, rode in the car, went shopping, played with the kid, and treated me like I was the love of its life. I never saw it show any fear. We took it with us on all our trips, long walks, and even ate at restaurants sometimes.

Fast forward eight years, and I can confidently say this is the best, most low-maintenance, loving, and intelligent dog. And when it comes to health, we've never had to take it to the vet for anything in eight years, not even a simple stomach issue. For comparison, my first dog, a Mongolian Shepherd, was only eight months older and a purebred from the steppes, but it's an allergic mess and we've had to take it to the vet for all sorts of things.

I had this nagging feeling that these purebred Maltese were just disappearing into thin air. So, when our Maltese pup was three years old and we moved into a big private house, I decided it was time to find him a mate. I spent a whole year scouring the internet, checking out ads on Avito and breeder websites, but nothing seemed quite right.

The Scam:

I fell prey to scammers a few times, and it turns out this is a pretty common problem when dealing with Maltese breeders. Here's how it works: you respond to an ad, and they tell you the puppies are in another city, but you can arrange for delivery through a reputable pet transport service. They give you a website to pay the transport fee, and the breeder gets paid when the puppy is delivered. Of course, no puppy ever shows up! I was lucky because the scammers sent me the pedigree of the mother, and I was able to verify it with the real owner. I contacted them, and they confirmed there were no puppies. But a friend who later bought a puppy from me fell victim to this scam, sending 60,000 rubles to the scammers and never getting her puppy. She was skeptical at first, but when I finally delivered a real puppy to her doorstep for a fraction of the price she paid the scammers, she was over the moon.

There's another type of scam:

Let me tell you, I've seen people trying to pass off mixed-breed dogs as Maltese, especially when one of the parents is a Poodle or a mix of a Poodle and a Chihuahua. These dogs are more likely to shed, have different coat types, and facial features. I've been offered such puppies before. The ad would say Maltese, and they'd send photos of the parents, but the dad would be a Poodle, and the mom would be a brown-colored Bolognese, not a white Maltese! You can usually spot these mixed-breed dogs right away if they have a cream or red coat and a darker marking on their face - it's a dead giveaway that they're a mix with a Bolognese!

But let's get back to my wife.

After months of searching, I finally found her! The ad had just been posted, and I was the first one to see it. I reached out immediately, offered a higher price, and begged them to hold onto her until I could arrange to pick her up. Sometimes, you just know it's the one from the first photo. My beautiful Bonifacia lived thousands of kilometers away from me. A young couple had bought her, but the wife was pregnant, and they didn't have time for a puppy. After the baby was born, they decided to sell her for half the price. I wasn't looking to save money; I was prepared to spend triple the amount on a dog. But this one was special. She was almost fully grown, so I didn't have to worry about her developing into something I didn't want. And, of course, I was looking for a female Maltese with the right characteristics - coat type, size, and temperament. But even with all that, Bonifacia managed to surprise me. When I first bought her, she was a white Maltese with a big wave, but after her first haircut, she turned into a light cream-colored dog with a more curly coat (her dad was apricot-colored). Talk about a transformation!

And that's how we started raising our Maltese F2s.

Our little Maltipus have taken over our lives, and we love every minute of it! We now have three boys and four girls, ranging from mini to standard, and in various colors like white, cream, and chocolate. It's a magical experience to live with such a pack, and every day is a joy to cuddle, play, and help raise these adorable furballs. Seeing the happiness in our customers' eyes when they pick up their new Maltipus is the best reward we could ask for.

I have to say, I was really impressed with the variety of images provided with this product. They're all high-quality and give you a great sense of what to expect. The product itself looks solid, and I love the design. It's clear that the manufacturer put some thought into making it visually appealing.

I'm not a breeder, I'm a dog lover. But trust me, running a kennel is a 24/7 job, no days off, no vacations, not even during pregnancy, childbirth, or the first few months with the puppies. It requires specialized knowledge and skills, at least basic veterinary and neonatal care, which many vets don't even have. Maltipoos aren't just small dogs, they give birth like women in a maternity ward, and they need just as much care. They need a specific temperature range, daily weight checks, and you have to get up at night for every little whimper. It's hard work, but it's also what brings me joy.

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Now, let's talk about the breed and debunk some myths:

Maltipoos are a mix of Toy Poodles and Maltese.

Coat colors: white, cream, apricot, red brown, chocolate, silver, black, black and white, phantom.

Weight: standard 4-6 kg, mini 2-4 kg, super mini under 2 kg.

For me, the standard size seems the most hassle-free, but minis need more attention, more frequent dental checks, and for some reason, they need their nails trimmed more often. And yes, their nails grow back faster!)

Now, let's break down F.

I've been digging into the Maltipoo, and it's a fascinating topic. The F1 generation is the first cross between a Maltese and a Poodle, and that's where things get interesting.

The F2 generation is the offspring of two F1 Maltipoos, which is often preferred over a Maltipoo and a Poodle.

The F3 generation is the descendant of two F2 Maltipoos.

There's a common myth that real Maltipoos are only F1, and that subsequent generations don't inherit the desired traits. But that's not entirely accurate.

Hybridization typically only affects the first generation of hybrids. But Maltipoos aren't hybrids in the classical sense.

Hybrids are a mix of two different animal species, like lions and tigers, or donkeys and horses. And yes, the principle of the first generation often applies to them.

Many hybrids are sterile and can't reproduce. Take domestic cats, for example. They can be crossed with wild cats to create breeds like Bengal cats, which are actually hybrids themselves. And even in these hybrids, breeders continue to select for desirable traits beyond the first generation.

There are also wolf hybrids, which are capable of reproduction and can produce offspring that surpass the quality of the first generation. Examples include the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog, Voland, and Sarlo's Wolfdog.

But Maltipoos are different. They're a cross between two closely related breeds, the Poodle and the Maltese, which share a common ancestor.

Many people claim that Maltipoos aren't a recognized breed. But that's not true. Maltipoos are a breed in the making, and many breeds have followed a similar path in their development.

My Jack Russell is a mix of Fox Terrier, Border Terrier, and Lakeland Terrier.

The Doberman is a blend of Rottweiler and German Pinscher, and it's possible that other breeds like the Weimaraner, Belgian Shepherd, and Beauceron were also involved.

The Leonberger is a mix of Newfoundlands and Saint Bernards, with Peruvian Mountain Dogs added later.

The Moscow Watchdog is a mix of Saint Bernards and Caucasian Shepherds.

And then there's the Yorkie, which is a combination of the Yorkshire Terrier, Paisley, Skye Terrier, and Maltese.

I've noticed that in cases where breeders didn't stop at the first generation, the resulting breed has become a true breed. But with the Maltese mix, it's often left as a first-generation mix because it's just easier. You don't need to go through the process of selecting the perfect pair. Just buy a Maltese and a Poodle, and you're good to go. Not many people want to go through the hassle of selecting a pair specifically from the Maltese mix. But I have to say, the F3 puppies are just as good as the F1 ones. And I really hope to see subsequent generations one day. It may take a long time, just like with the Doberman, which took around 30 years to get officially recognized after its first generation. And the Mongolian Shepherd Dog, or Banhar, is the oldest breed in the world, and it took over 15,000 years to get officially recognized!