A popular problem that many aspiring dog owners face is allergies. Whether it is you or someone that you live with that has allergic reactions to dogs, you might find yourself searching for a solution.
Not all dogs will be suitable for those that suffer from allergies, which can be disheartening if you are desperately seeking a furry companion. Dogs make great additions to the home, but this might become a bad situation if you are suffering from allergies.
Thankfully there is some good news. There is such a thing as hypoallergenic dogs, which are much less likely to cause or trigger allergic reactions.
So, if you are looking for a dog, then a hypoallergenic dog could be the perfect new addition to your family. You might be wondering if Maltipoos are hypoallergenic, and you can find this out below.
Are Maltipoos hypoallergenic?
Maltipoos are known to shed very little or not at all, which means that there is a much lower chance that your allergies will be triggered by them. This breed has hair instead of fur, which is why people might think that they are hypoallergenic, but this isn’t always necessarily the case.
The majority of people are actually allergic to the dander and not the coat of the dog. If you didn’t already know, the dander is the dead skin cells that fall off and collect in the fur, and this is what most people are allergic to.
Dogs that have both fur and hair will still have dander, and the top layer of the skin is constantly being renewed as the dead skin cells are replaced with new ones.
The reason why allergic reactions are much less common with Maltipoos, is that their hair is a lot thinner than other breed’s fur.
Due to the fact that fur is thicker, it will hold onto and collect the dander. However, Maltipoo hair is much more silky and soft, which means that the dander is able to fall out.
If a person is suffering from allergies and the pet or groom a dog, they will be coming into contact with the dander on the coat.
This is much less likely to happen with a Maltipoo, as there will be much less dander present. This will mean that there will be no allergic reaction, or it will be much less severe.
What to do if you are concerned about dog allergies
If you are thinking of getting a Maltipoo, but you or a family member have allergies, you shouldn’t bring one into your home until you have handled one.
It is recommended that you hold the dog for at least twenty minutes and play with them to find out if you will have a reaction.
You should always do this indoors, as the air outside can affect the process. More often than not, people won’t have allergic reactions to Maltipoos.
Do Maltipoos shed?
Maltipoos will shed very little or not at all. However, due to the fact that these dogs have mixed genes, it can make it difficult to predict whether their coat will follow that of a Poodle or a Maltese.
However, both of these dogs don’t shed very much, so there shouldn’t be excessive levels of shedding.
Do Maltipoos need to be groomed?
Even though Maltipoos do not shed much, they will still need to be groomed. They should actually be brushed daily to help keep their coat clean and free from mats.
They don’t need to be bathed very often, and once a month should be enough unless they get really dirty on a walk.
When you are bathing your dog, you should also check and clean their ears. Other types of grooming can involve brushing their teeth and trimming their nails. You should brush their teeth multiple times a week to ensure that their teeth are clean and healthy.
You will need to trim your dog’s nails around once or twice a month. You will also need to trim your Maltipoos coat around once or twice a year.
What you need to know about grooming a Maltipoo
The curlier that your Maltipoos coat is, the more maintenance it will require. Interestingly, curlier coats actually tend to be more hypoallergenic than other types of coats. Always check for matted fur when you brush thorough them.
If you have dog allergies, it is even more important to keep your dog clean. You should also make more effort to keep their nails well-trimmed, so that they don’t accidentally scratch you.
Brushing their teeth is really important as these dogs are more likely to develop dental issues, especially when they get older.
Another thing that you might not have known already is that Maltipoos will need to have their ears cleaned more regularly than other dogs, as they are prone to ear infections.
Ironically, Maltipoos can develop allergies themselves, as both Poodles and Maltese are also prone to them.
This is why you should wipe their face and feet when you get home from a walk, to get rid of anything that they might have picked up. Try not to let them lick or eat things when you are out and about walking.
Caring for a Maltipoo
As Maltipoos are so intelligent, they are great with obedience training. If you want to build the foundations for good behavior early on, then it is important to start training and socializing as soon as you are able to.
When you are ready to start training, you should try to remain as consistent as possible to make sure that your dog is taking in all of the information.
Don’t forget that it is never too early to start training your puppy, as the earlier you can start teaching them good behavior, the better.
As well as training, you will also need to take your Maltipoo for regular walks. They should be walked once a day, or for a short walk twice a day. A good session of play throughout the day will also help them to burn any extra energy.
Conclusion
Poodle mix dogs (or doodles as they are otherwise known) have quickly risen in popularity because they are often classified in advertisements as being hypoallergenic. While no one type of dog is completely hypoallergenic, the Maltipoo does come very close as does the Schnoodle, Labradoodle, Cockapoo and Cavapoo.
