Hepper is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more.

Maltipoo vs Cavapoo – How Do They Compare? (With Pictures)

Nicole Cosgrove Profile Picture

By Nicole Cosgrove

Maltipoo vs Cavapoo

Maltipoos and Cavapoos are two designer breeds created from Poodles crossed with another toy breed. They’re both known for being incredibly friendly and are becoming popular among many owners looking for small yet intelligent dogs. The Maltipoo is a Maltese crossed with a Poodle and was first bred in the USA around 30 years ago. They’re intelligent and bright, often referred to as clowns due to their love of performing.

Cavapoos are bred from both Poodles and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. They’re exceptionally cuddly dogs and are very affectionate. Cavapoos are known to be friendly, intelligent, and gentle. Both these crossbreeds found fame as great all-around lap dogs, but they have some notable differences.

divider 9

Visual Differences

Maltipoo vs Cavapoo
Image Credit: (L) Maltipoo(OlgaOvcharenko, Shutterstock) | (R) Cavapoo(Danny Shiers, Shutterstock)

At a Glance

Maltipoo
  • Average height (adult): 10–14 inches
  • Average weight (adult): 5–15 pounds
  • Lifespan: 12–15 years
  • Exercise: 1+ hours a day
  • Grooming needs: High
  • Family-friendly: Yes
  • Other pet-friendly: Yes
  • Trainability: Intelligent, affectionate, friendly, a natural performer
Cavapoo
  • Average height (adult): 9–14 inches
  • Average weight (adult): 11-24 pounds
  • Lifespan: 12–15 years
  • Exercise: 1+ hours a day
  • Grooming needs: High
  • Family-friendly: Yes
  • Other pet-friendly: Yes
  • Trainability: Intelligent, gentle, friendly

divider 9Cavapoo Overview

Personality / Character

Cavapoos are exceptionally bright and friendly dogs. They’re jovial and are very much attached to their owners and family, brimming with intelligence. They tend to be calmer than other Poodle cross-breeds, making them a good choice for families who want a slower pace of life. The Cavapoo is a more independent pup, but they still like to stick close to their owners. They have sunny dispositions, and they’re happy doing anything as long as it’s with their favorite people. The Cavapoo is an active and sociable breed.

Cavapoo licking ice
Image Credit: Scot Col, Shutterstock

Training

The Cavapoo has intelligence taken from its Poodle parent, making it easy to train. They can make good service dogs as their energy can be channeled into helping people. They are devoted to pleasing their owners and the people they’re around, but they need a lot to keep them stimulated. As they are so intelligent, they’re good at obedience trials, and they enjoy training and interacting with their owners. They’re often food motivated, so having a treat to hand can ensure your Cavapoo is always in top form.

Health & Care

The Cavapoo is usually healthier than one of its parent breeds, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. However, they still have some health problems inherited from the breed. Because of the randomness of cross-breeds, some Cavapoos can be more unlucky regarding inherited health conditions.

Apart from the major and minor health conditions discussed below, looking after your Cavapoo’s teeth is one of the most critical parts of its general care. Make sure you get them accustomed to tooth brushing at an early age and brush their teeth at least once a day to stave off dental disease.

Cavapoo
Image Credit: skeeze, Pixabay

Major Health Problems

Cavapoos have been known to suffer from the following:
  • Addison’s Disease: Addison’s disease is a hormonal condition caused by the adrenal glands not producing the correct number of certain hormones, such as cortisol. This has a profound effect on many systems in the body.
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy: Progressive retinal atrophy is a condition that affects the photoreceptor cells in the retina, meaning your dog’s eyesight worsens over time.
  • Syringomyelia: Syringomyelia is a severe condition common in both toy breeds and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Their skulls are too small for their brains, essentially causing swelling and fluid build-up in the cranium. This condition can be excruciating and requires urgent and ongoing treatment if diagnosed.
  • Mitral Valve Disease: Mitral valve disease is a condition in which the mitral heart valve deteriorates over time, allowing the backflow of blood into the heart and eventually causing heart failure. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are typically tested for several conditions, including mitral valve disease.

Minor Health Problems

Obesity is the most common minor health problem Cavapoos can suffer from. Because they’re small dogs and are usually food-orientated, they can quickly put on weight. Excess weight contributes to joint problems, heart problems, and other debilitating health issues. So, ensuring a healthy weight for your Cavapoo is critical to keeping them fit and helping them live as long and happy a life as possible.

Grooming

A Cavapoo’s grooming needs will depend on the coat they inherit from their parents. Cavapoos can have silky, wavy, or curly coats, and each type dictates how much grooming they’ll need. Silky-haired Cavapoos can get away with being groomed once a week to keep the coat free of tangles and the skin conditioned. If the coat is wavy, it will usually need grooming once every few days, ensuring the waves don’t tangle. Curly-coated Cavapoos need the most grooming, requiring daily brushing to strip shed hair and de-tangle. All types of coats will need clipping to keep the hair neat; often, curly-coated Cavapoos get a “puppy-cut” every 4 to 6 weeks.

Cavapoo
Image Credit: Dreamstime.com

Suitable for:

Cavapoos are suitable for all families and can live in apartments or larger homes. Families with young children should supervise them around a Cavapoo as they’re small dogs that can be accidentally hurt. Couples wanting a walking partner will find an enthusiastic one in the Cavapoo, but they can get tired easily and might need carrying some of the way.

Cavapoos also suit elderly people, as they make loyal companions that are content to curl up on a lap or fetch slippers. However, Cavapoos don’t fare well in extremes of temperature; keeping them warm is a must if you live in cold areas, and giving them places to get cool is essential in a warmer climate.

Pros
  • Friendly
  • A great all-rounder
  • Suitable for apartment living but flexible
  • Even-tempered, intelligent, and jovial

Cons
  • Small children might accidentally harm them
  • They’re not good guard dogs as they’re too friendly
  • Not the best on long hikes, may tire easily

divider 9Maltipoo Overview

Personality / Character

Multipoos are certified clowns that love dancing, singing, and playing. They have intelligence in spades thanks to their Poodle and Maltese parents, which they love to use during training. However, they can be “Velcro dogs,” wanting to be around their owners at all times and often getting under their feet. These dogs are plucky and playful, with outgoing natures. They want to please everyone and are gentle, “people” dogs that are as happy running along a trail as they are sleeping on an owner’s lap.

two red maltipoo dogs
Image Credit: dezy, Shutterstock

Training

Training Maltipoos is usually easy, as they are highly intelligent dogs that love to learn and perform. They can be good at obedience trials as they live to please, but because some Maltipoos can be incredibly small, agility might not be their strong point. They don’t like being left alone and follow their owners around the home. Maltipoos will enjoy all types of training, and because of their intelligence, they often find it easy to retain commands. This often gives them an extensive repertoire of tricks!

Health & Care

The Maltipoo is a fairly healthy dog since it doesn’t tend to inherit many problems from either its Poodle or Maltese parents. General healthcare includes looking after their teeth and ears; daily tooth brushing is as important in the Maltipoo as in the Cavapoo.  Getting a Maltipoo acquainted with toothbrushes early is vital to maintaining good dental health.

a brown female Maltipoo dog sitting on beach chair
Image Credit: Heidi Bollich, Shutterstock

Major Health Problems

Maltipoos have been known to suffer from the following:
  • Shaker Syndrome: Shaker Syndrome causes tremors (ataxia) and is inherited from the Poodle and Maltese parents. This condition usually shows when a dog turns two and causes uncontrollable tremors throughout the body. Extreme emotions such as excitement or fear often make these tremors worse.
  • Portosystemic Shunts: A Portosystemic shunt is caused by the branching or malforming of the portal vein, which runs through a dog’s abdomen and collects blood from the organs. If this vein is malformed, the kidneys and liver can be bypassed, causing a buildup of toxins in the organs. Surgical intervention is usually needed to cure a shunt, but dietary and lifestyle management can help symptoms to an extent.
  • Luxating Patella: A Luxating patella is a dislocation of a dog’s knee (or patella). The Patella will frequently slip in and out of position, often causing pain and lameness. Surgery is the usual fix.

Minor Health Problems

Dental problems are the most common minor health issue Maltipoos can face. These dogs are often prone to dental malocclusion, where the teeth don’t come together as they should. This is because they are very small, and toy dogs often suffer from tooth overcrowding due to having small jaws. Ensuring good dental hygiene can help combat any problems this may cause. In addition, a trip to the vet’s to remove any retained baby teeth (deciduous teeth) or any other problems might be needed should you notice your dog has trouble eating.

Grooming

The grooming needs of the Maltipoo are similar to those of the Cavapoo. The type of coat they have depends on their genes and which are dominant. Silky coats come from the Maltese parent, and tightly curled coats come from the Poodle. Silky coats should be groomed daily, as they can easily tangle but can be kept tidy with a light daily brush. Curly coats need more thorough daily grooming, and both types must be trimmed to keep them neat. Maltipoo owners often take their dogs to the groomers for a specific cut, such as the popular puppy cut. If your Maltipoo is white, it may suffer from tear stains. They can be treated with special shampoos, but speak to your vet if you have any health concerns.

red maltipoo dog spinning
Image Credit: dezy, Shutterstock

Suitable for:

Maltipoos are “everyone” dogs. They’re suitable for apartments and will follow their owners around, and they’re also ideal for bigger homes. However, they don’t like to be left alone, so they would be more suitable for home workers. Families with small children may not be the best fit because Maltipoos are tiny, and small children may accidentally hurt them.

They are excellent companions for the elderly as they are very loyal, don’t weigh much, and are easy to carry. They can’t handle extremes of temperature for the same reasons a Cavapoo can’t, but they make great showmen and entertainers for all types of families.

Pros
  • Incredibly friendly
  • Loving and loyal
  • Flexible with home situations
  • Even and sunny temperament
  • Natural clowns

Cons
  • Not a good guard dog
  • Can’t be left alone for long
  • Children may hurt them by accident due to their size

divider 9

Do Maltipoos or Cavapoos Bark More?

The Maltipoo is known to be a yappy dog, whereas Cavapoos are generally calmer. Excessive barking can be remedied by ensuring a dog is socialized as a puppy. Separation anxiety is, unfortunately, more common in the Maltipoo than in some other breeds, including Cavapoos. Cavapoos have been known to be whiney; the same is true for Cavalier King Charles Spaniels!

maltipoo dog walking
Image Credit: Irsan Ianushis, Shutterstock

Does a Cavapoo or Maltipoo Need a Daily Walk?

Cavapoos and Maltipoos still need exercise despite their small stature. Walks provide mental and physical stimulation, which can prevent health issues such as obesity and unwanted or undesirable behavior. In addition, taking your dog out for a walk and letting them smell different things (if safe) allows them to explore the world with their noses. It’s excellent enrichment and can burn off excess energy, as both the Cavapoo and Maltipoo are energetic dogs!

divider 9

Which Breed Is Right for You?

When considering which dog of these two is right for you, consider factors such as your lifestyle and what you want out of your relationship with your pet. It’s also important to consider what you can give the dog; can you upkeep their grooming needs? Can you help train and socialize them to avoid separation anxiety? While the Maltipoo and Cavapoo have similar personalities, the Maltipoo is more prone to barking and being intolerant of being left alone. The Cavapoo is more relaxed but has the potential to have more inherited health problems.

Cavapoos can be better with small children or larger dogs because they are often slightly larger than Maltipoos. Still, careful children will also find a best friend in the Maltipoo.

See also:


Featured Image Credit: (L) marketlan, Shutterstock | (R) Steven B Gold, Shutterstock

Related Articles

Further Reading

Vet Articles

Latest Vet Answers

The latest veterinarians' answers to questions from our database