10 Things You Didn’t Know about the Maltese Poodle
The Maltese Poodle is an excellent example of the crossbreeds that have been created for the purpose of combining desirable characteristics from different breeds in the same dog. In its case, it is a combination of the Maltese Dog and the Poodle, thus making for a wonderful canine companion. Here are 10 things that you may or may not have known about the Maltese Poodle:
1. Not As Predictable As Purebred Dogs
Generally speaking, purebred dogs have a more predictable combination of characters than their crossbred counterparts. After all, they have been bred for consistency over the course of generations and generations, meaning that the chances of a member of such breeds popping up with unexpected characteristics are relatively low. In contrast, Maltese Poodles tend to inherit a random combination of characteristics from both sides of their heritage.
2. Not Necessarily 50/50
Some Maltese Poodles are 50 percent Maltese and 50 percent Poodle. However, there are others that are descended from a 50/50 Maltese Poodle but aren’t 50/50 themselves. As a result, it is critical for interested individuals to know the backgrounds of the dogs that they are interested in because Maltese Poodles tend to lean toward whichever breed had more input into them.
3. Has Other Names
The Maltese Poodle isn’t the sole name that sees use for the crossbreed of the Maltese Dog and the Poodle. Another common name is the Maltipoo, which is a simple and straightforward name that says pretty much everything about which breeds were used to create the dog.
4. Bred from the Maltese Dog
On one side, the Maltese Poodle is descended from the Maltese Dog, which is named for the island of Malta in the Central Mediterranean region. Unsurprisingly, it is believed that the Maltese Dog came into existence in said region, though its roots go much further back.
5. Might Have Come from Asia
For example, some people think that the Maltese Dog’s ancestors might have come from Asia, which would explain why it seems to be related to the Tibetan Terrier. If this is true, it seems probable that the Maltese Dog made its way to Europe via the Middle East in a process that was helped along by the movements of nomadic peoples.
6. Mentioned in Greco-Roman Sources
With that said, it is interesting to note that Greco-Roman sources seem to mention a dog that is very similar to the Maltese Dog that exists in the present. Granted, it isn’t possible to confirm that this is indeed the Maltese Dog because of a paucity of potential supporting evidence. However, the sheer number of mentions nonetheless say some very interesting things about how the breed came into existence.
7. Poodles Are Good Swimmers
One of the interesting characteristics of the Poodle is that it tends to be a good swimmer, which makes sense because the breed started out as water retrievers. This is supported by how their coats are moisture-resistant while their feet are webbed for increased ease while moving about through the water.
8. Most Maltese Poodles Are Descended from Toy or Miniature Poodles
In most cases, the Maltese Poodle is descended from either Toy Poodles or Miniature Poodles rather than Standard Poodles. This is because both Toy Poodles and Miniature Poodles are much smaller than their Standard counterpart, thus making them better matches for the Maltese Dog.
9. Tend to Be Good Canine Companions
Maltese Poodles are supposed to be good canine companions. Partly, this is because of the Maltese Dog’s fondness for its owner, and partly, this is because of the Poodle’s cleverness. Combined, these traits should make the Maltese Poodle a great canine companion provided that interested individuals make sure that they receive the proper training.
10. Can Get a Bit Too Attached
With that said, there have been cases of Maltese Poodles getting too attached to their owners, so much so that they suffer from separation anxiety when said individuals leave them on their own. Since this can cause Maltese Poodles to become destructive, this is something that interested individuals will want to prevent through training as well as various other methods that might prove efficacious. Separation anxiety is something that can show up in a wide range of breeds, meaning that there should be a fair amount of information out there about how to combat it.
You can also read:
- 10 Things You Didn’t Know about the Pekepoo
- 10 Things You Didn’t Know about the Chinook Dog
- The Five Most Popular Spaniel Breeds in the World
- 10 Things You Didn’t Know about the Walker Hound
- What are Raised Hackles in Dogs and What Does it Mean?
