Do Maltipoos Shed? How Much, Causes, Prevention, and How to Combat It

While every dog sheds some, there are breeds, such as the lovely Maltipoo, that barely shed. And, with just a little extra work, you could likely convince your other half that they don’t shed at all. Want to find out more? Keep reading to learn: do Maltipoos shed?

Why Dogs Shed: A Quick Overview

You’re all gussied up for a night on the town. You’re headed for the door when you suddenly notice that you’ve somehow acquired an unfortunate coating of fur or hair on your shiny, new outfit. It only could have come from the hound, but you haven’t been near him for hours – what gives?! While some may shrug and hit the road anyhow, for others having hair all about the place is a deal-breaker when it comes to having a pet. 

Shedding is simply a fact of life for any animal with hair or fur. Dead and damaged coat needs to make way somehow for new, healthy coat. For many dog breeds, the type and thickness of their coat follows the seasons. This means that they tend to lose more hair or fur at certain times of the year – all in the name of protection and temperature regulation.

However, not every breed sheds the same amount. This is often to do with the type of coat they have inherited from their parent pups. Double-coated dogs are by far the biggest shedders. These pups have a longer regular coat and, beneath it, a shorter, denser layer that keeps them warm in the winter. This coat is ‘blown out’ in the spring and often in the fall, too (plus, what can often feel like every month in-between!)

There is also a significant difference between hair-coated and fur-coated canines. While both hair and fur are made from the same substance (keratin – which is responsible for fingernails, too), there are critical variations in their “lifecycle” that are useful to understand. Significantly, hair spends far longer in the growth stage of this cycle than fur. What this means is that not only does it get much longer than fur, but it sheds far less often too.

Do Maltipoos Shed?

Now for the all-important question – where do Maltipoos sit on these double-coat vs. single-coat, hair vs. fur distinctions? Well, you’ve probably figured out by now that Maltipoos, as lesser shedders, are, in fact, a single-layered, hair-coated breed.

This is something that they happily inherit from both parent dogs – the Maltese as well as the Poodle. Although, obviously, the coats of these dogs differ in other ways. This, along with a couple of other things, can have an impact on how much they SEEM to shed, including…

Coat Type

You’re likely pretty familiar with the Poodle’s iconic long, curly locks. Their single-layered, low-shedding hair coat is the whole reason Doodles, known as the wondrous hypoallergenic dogs, even exist. 

You may be less familiar with the Maltese, though. While also a single-layered, low-shedding hair coat, the Maltese hair hangs long, fine, and usually grows straight down to the ground, although it can also have a slight wave, too. Either way, that’s quite a difference! 

For this reason, Maltipoos are said to have three distinct coat types: 

• Soft and silky
• Thick and curly 
• Wiry and wavy 

While these are all obviously low-shedding, the straighter hair type may appear to shed more simply because dead and damaged hair is less likely to get caught up in the coat. Curly, thick hair naturally traps this (and everything else it comes into contact with), which is one of the reasons why pups with a curlier coat require more frequent brushing to prevent matting. 

Generation

So, which coat type is your puppy pal likely to end up with? Obviously, the biggest factor at play here is their genes. This is determined by which generation of Doodles they belong to: 

	1st Parent	2nd Parent	% Maltese*	% Poodle*
F1 Maltipoo (first-generation)	Maltese	Poodle	50%	50%
F1B Maltipoo (first-generation backcross)	F1 Maltipoo	Poodle	25%	75%
F1BB Maltipoo (first-generation backcross backcross)	F1B Maltipoo	Poodle	12.5%	87.5%
F2 Maltipoo (second-generation)	F1 Maltipoo	F1 Maltipoo	50%	50%
F2B Maltipoo (second-generation backcross)	F1 Maltipoo	F1B Maltipoo	37.5%	62.5%
F2B Maltipoo (alternate cross)	F2 Maltipoo	Poodle	25%	75%
F3 / Multigen Maltipoo	F1B Maltipoo or higher	F1B Maltipoo or higher	Varies	Varies

The more Poodle genes your pooch has, the more likely they are to end up with the Poodle curlier coat. Don’t quote us on that, though! Genes are tricky little blighters, and you never quite know how they will be expressed.

Size

Finally, your four-legged buddy’s hair loss amount feel could be impacted by their size. With two little parents, whichever of the two Maltipoo sizes you opt for (Toy or Mini), you’re going to end up with a small dog. While the type you get has no specific bearing on shedding levels, larger dogs may seem to shed more simply because they have more coat to lose. However, as the size variation between these two Doods is quite slight, so too will be the perceived difference in shedding. It’s likely you won’t notice much in it at all. 

How To Further Reduce Maltipoo Shedding

So, what we’ve learned so far is that when you opt for a Maltipoo – whichever their size or generation, molt levels will be seriously low. However, there is no such thing as a no-shed dog. Suppose you’re looking to eradicate all evidence of shed from your home (perhaps a family member has allergies…). In that case, there are several things that will definitely help with this:

Regular Grooming

Daily-to-thrice-weekly grooming is recommended for most Doodles simply because if you don’t do this, you’re going to end up with some serious tangles to deal with. However, brushing is also a great way to deal with dead hair that is (or is about to become) loose and caught up in the coat. A decent brush will lift the hairs and trap them so that you can trash them – no muss, no fuss. These are our recommendations for Maltipoos.

Proper Nutrition

One of the reasons your Malti may suddenly be shedding more than usual could be that you have recently changed their kibble. A lack of certain nutrients and minerals in your pup’s diet could easily be to blame for both more hair loss and an increase in dander. 

Alternatively, dry skin and lackluster hair could be a sign your pet has an intolerance to one of the ingredients in their new food – chicken is a common issue, for instance. Try switching to a new food (here are the ones we like). Ones with omega oils are particularly good for troubled hair and skin. If this doesn’t work, you may need to chat to a vet as there could be a bigger problem at play. 

Frequent(ish) Bathing

Another great way to remove dead and loose hair before it has a chance to transfer to your furniture is through regular baths. In this way, you can wash those pesky strands right down the drain. For extra effect, make use of a bath brush. These are especially handy if your pet has a very thick coat. 

As an added bonus, many of today’s shampoos contain super nourishing ingredients that can help hair stay in place for longer. We especially love CHI Deep Moisture Dog Shampoo, and all of these others are perfect for Maltipoos, too. 

Just take care; bathing your pup too regularly could have the opposite effect, drying out their skin and causing more shedding than before. Aim for once every 2-4 weeks for best results, and reduce it further if you are still seeing issues.

Less Stress

Finally, if you are suddenly needing to get the vacuum out on a regular basis, there could be an underlying issue that needs addressing. For instance, dogs tend to shed more when they are stressed. This is to do with an influx of certain hormones at this time that cause the coat to be released. Plus, stress behaviors such as licking, biting, and scratching can also all cause damage to otherwise healthy coat. 

Aiming to reduce instances of stress is best. Keep your pup away from the things that make them unhappy. Often pets get stressed when they are left for long periods alone. If this can’t be avoided, then try getting them some toys to keep them distracted when you are away from home. Here are some other tips for dealing with your pal’s separation anxiety.

Some owners have also had luck with CBD oil for dealing with particularly nervous pups. Just make sure to chat to your vet first, as a) there could be some other issue behind it, and b) it’s always good to do this before adding a supplement to your dog’s diet anyway. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Maltipoo Coats

Do Maltipoos need to be brushed often?

Maltipoos have gorgeous, naturally low-shedding coats – a big bonus in the dog world. However, the downside of a single-layered hair coat is that it generally requires more care and higher maintenance than a fur one. This is doubly the case if it is particularly long or very curly. You will likely need to brush your Malti every day if they have inherited a Poodle coat and at least three times a week if they have a Maltese one. If you don’t, you’ll quickly find yourself dealing with knots, tangles, or worse.

Do Maltipoos mat easily like the other Doodle dogs?

Unfortunately, Maltipoos are also prone to matting. Although you will find this is more the case for curly rather than straight-coated pups. To avoid this unhappy scenario, make sure to groom your dog regularly, paying particular attention to areas such as the armpits, around the ears, and the backside. Knots can all too easily accumulate in these areas. Another great way to avoid matting is to get your pup trimmed regularly. Take them to a groomer or tackle the job at home if you feel up to it. Our handy Maltipoo haircut tips will help with this. 

How much do Maltipoos shed?

Of all the Doodles, Maltipoos are one of the best for not shedding. This is because, unlike most other kinds, both Maltipoo parent pups are low-shedders, so it really doesn’t matter which coat they inherit in this respect. However, despite what many breeders say, there really is no such thing as a no-shed dog. You will find that your Maltipoo sheds, just far less than other breeds. Keep this further in check with the right food, the right conditions, and also with frequent washing and brushing. 

Which Maltipoo sheds the least?

While the size, generation, and inherited coat type of other Doodles mean that some are far less likely to shed than others (usually those who have those gorgeous Poodle curls), when it comes to Maltipoos, none of this really matters. Every Maltipoo variety will be low-shed, so you can’t really go wrong whichever type you choose. Just ensure they are happy, healthy, and well maintained, and everything will be fine. 

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One of the biggest issues a lot of people have with owning dogs is dealing with a layer of hair coating everything from their carpet to their clothes. This can really put some off. However, shedding varies quite considerably between breeds. Doodles, in particular, were specifically bred to be of the low-shed ‘hypoallergenic’ variety, and Maltipoos especially barely lose their coat at all compared to their double-layered, fur-coated counterparts. That’s what makes these dogs great for those who would love to have a pet without having to deal with all the shed all the time.