Do Maltipoos shed?
Maltipoos, a cross between a Maltese and a Poodle, generally shed very little, inheriting this low-shedding trait mostly from the Poodle parent, but because it is a crossbreed rather than a pedigree with a fixed standard, individual Maltipoos can vary more in coat type than a purebred Poodle does. Most still need regular grooming even though they shed little.
Why coat type varies between individual Maltipoos
Because a Maltipoo is a first-generation or multi-generation cross rather than a breed with a single fixed standard, individual dogs can lean more toward the Poodle's tight curl or the Maltese's straighter, silkier coat, and this affects how much they actually shed. A Maltipoo with a more Poodle-like coat will shed very little; one closer to the Maltese side may shed a bit more, though still generally less than most non-Poodle breeds.
There is no way to guarantee which way a puppy's coat will settle from looks alone in the first few months, and it can continue to change as the dog matures into its adult coat.
You'll find our dog grooming brushes in the shop.
What low shedding means for grooming
Whichever way the coat leans, most Maltipoos need considerably more grooming attention than a normally-shedding breed, since loose hair that is not shed out tends to stay trapped in the coat and mat, particularly around the ears, under the legs and around the collar area.
Regular brushing several times a week at home, plus professional grooming every six to eight weeks for most Maltipoos, keeps the coat manageable and prevents the kind of matting that can otherwise require clipping the coat very short to fix.
Managing the coat day to day
A slicker brush or a comb designed for curly or wavy coats works through the finer, denser hair type common in Maltipoos better than a standard bristle brush, and brushing before bathing helps stop loose hair tangling further once wet.
Checking behind the ears and under the collar regularly catches early matting before it becomes a bigger job, since these friction points tend to mat first regardless of which parent the coat takes after most.
What to ask a groomer or breeder
If you are choosing a puppy and coat type matters to you, ask the breeder which parent a specific litter takes after most, or look at the parents' own coats, since this gives a better indication than looking at very young puppies, whose adult coat has often not come through yet.
A groomer experienced with Maltipoos can also advise on the best clip length and brushing routine for your individual dog's coat type once it has matured, since a coat closer to the Maltese side may suit a different maintenance routine to one that leans more toward the tighter Poodle curl.
Kit for this breed
Things we stock that owners commonly reach for here. Nothing on this page depends on you buying one.
Wahl Competition Series Clipper Blades
High-precision, chrome-plated clipper blades with a rust-resistant finish, available in 17 sizes for every coat type and clipping style.
From£37.99
Wahl Pet Grooming Scissors with Finger Rest
Stainless steel finishing scissors with ergonomic offset handles — perfect for tidying around eyes, ears, mouth, and paws.
£5.49
Slicker Brush for Dogs — Detangling & De-shedding
An ergonomic slicker brush with anti-scratch pins that works through tangles and removes dead hair from top and undercoat.
From£9.99
Ancol Ergo Wooden Handle Slicker Brush
A stainless steel slicker brush on a wooden handle, for short, long, wiry and curly coats
From£6.99
Common questions
- Are all Maltipoos low-shedding?
- Most are, since the trait comes largely from the Poodle side, but because Maltipoos are a crossbreed without a fixed coat standard, individual dogs vary. A Maltipoo with a coat closer to the Maltese parent may shed a little more than one with a tighter, more Poodle-like curl.
- How often does a Maltipoo need grooming?
- Most need brushing several times a week at home and a professional groom roughly every six to eight weeks, similar to a Poodle, because loose hair tends to stay trapped in the coat rather than falling out, which leads to matting if left too long.
- Are Maltipoos good for people with allergies?
- Many people with mild allergies tolerate Maltipoos reasonably well because of the low-shedding coat inherited from the Poodle side, but no dog is fully hypoallergenic, and reactions vary by individual coat type and by person, so meeting the specific dog beforehand is worth doing if allergies are a concern.
Related
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Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.