Fluffy coats and dark soulful eyes usually draw the attention of potential pet parents to a Maltipoo. This cute little dog is a cross of a toy miniature Poodle and a Maltese. This unique mixture creates an adorable puppy that keeps their looks and playful behavior well into their teen years and sometimes into adulthood.
The soft coat is usually curly and comes in a variety of colors but cream and white are the two most popular coat colors. Once you choose to welcome a Maltipoo into your family, you need to find a trustworthy breeder consider the cost of a Maltipoo. The following information will help you learn more about the initial cost of purchasing a Maltipoo and the annual costs required to maintain a healthy and happy dog.
So, how much does a Maltipoo cost? In general, a Maltipoo will cost between $400 and $3,000 depending on whether you adopt or purchase one of these puppies from a breeder. Several other factors dictate the price of a Maltipoo including the coat colors, sizes, and the breeder’s location.
What is the cost of a Maltipoo from a Breeder’s Website?
Generally, when purchasing a Maltipoo from a breeder’s website you will find the price can range from $1,500 to $4,000. The reason the price range has such a large gap is due to different aspects such as coat color, health warranty, geographic locations, and breeder reputation. When purchasing a puppy from a breeder’s website it gives you access to more information about the breeder, the ancestry of the puppies, and more.
While most breeders are run their business with morals and ethics in a firm place, some don’t follow any rules. A general rule is, if it’s too easy to purchase a Maltipoo from a breeder it’s probably too good to be true. Most breeders care deeply for their dogs and puppies so they have a strict adoption and purchasing process set in place that includes, interviews with potential pet parents and other personal details regarding the type of lifestyle you plan to provide for the puppy. If the Maltipoo cost from a breeder is too low, you should be wary.
Purchasing a Maltipoo Puppy from a Classified Ad
Classified ads are often placed by private breeders or temporary private citizens that have a Maltipoo that had a litter of puppies. When choosing to look through classified ads to buy a puppy, you need to do research and be careful. Most classifieds list the selling price for a Maltipoo anywhere from $600 to $4,000.
Don’t assume every classified ad is a trustworthy breeder who cares about their dogs. You will be surprised that negligent home breeders and puppy mills often use these ads to sell puppies. If you buy a puppy from a classified ad you need to ensure they stand up to specific breeding standards. When you purchase a Maltipoo from a puppy mill, you risk the overall long term genetic health of your dog.
In addition, beware of breeders who agree to meet you halfway in a mutual location such as a parking lot. You might think they are being kind to help prevent you from driving too far but in reality, they are really not giving you their address so you can’t return the puppy if needed.
Many pet parents who have become a victim to this situation mentioned that once they got their puppy home they realized there were health issues the seller didn’t reveal and at that point they didn’t have a way to contact the seller for a resolution.
You can still successfully purchase a healthy puppy from a classified ad if you ask for a health guarantee, information regarding breeding standards, and take a tour of the living conditions of the parents. If the Maltipoo price is too low, then you should be suspicious of their long term health.
Adopting a Maltipoo from a Rescue Shelter
Rescuing a Maltipoo from a rescue shelter is possible when these adorable breeds are available. The cost of a Maltipoo is also going to be the lowest if you can manage to adopt or rescue one. Many pet parents are surprised that this adorable hybrid breed can be found in a pet shelter and adopted rather quickly.
Generally, the adoption costs of a Maltipoo at a rescue shelter range from $100 to $600. If you have your heart set on adopting a Maltipoo from a shelter it’s wise to contact local shelters to inquire if the breed is available. You can also check on their website on a weekly basis or ask if they have a waiting list.
What to Look for When Purchasing or Adopting a Maltipoo
Beware of Scams
Unfortunately, there are breeders or puppy mills that take advantage of pet parents by not informing them about health issues or other issues the puppy might experience during their lifetime. Always do your best to find out as much information as possible by asking the breeder questions. It’s easy to get caught up in emotions and the cuteness of these adorable pups and easily overlook serious issues so make sure you set your feelings aside for the moment to ensure you are getting a healthy puppy. You should also be wary if the cost of a Maltipoo is too low.
Find out where the Maltipoo puppy comes from
Most breeders work out of their homes so it’s easy to see the living conditions your puppy is born into. If you are dealing with a local breeder you can request to visit the puppy and take a look around while you are at the location. Breeders that are not local can take you on a real-time video tour of the home and show you the puppies which can give you a clear idea of the living conditions.
Remember, if you see the parent dogs and puppies locked in cages outdoors or in crowded filthy areas indoors, you are probably dealing with a puppy mill that produces puppies at a rapid pace and treats the dogs as machines instead of happy little souls. These puppies often experience health issues and by purchasing a puppy from a mill you are funding the continued efforts of the owners which can lead to more dogs being mistreated.
Avoid meeting anyone in a public place
This scenario usually happens when a breeder is located far away from the potential pet parent. As a courtesy, the breeder agrees to meet the customer in a mutually agreed location that is easy for both parties to get to so neither side needs to drive too far. This convenient courtesy option is sometimes legitimate but also a common trick unethical breeders use to prevent the buyer from knowing their actual business location. This prevents the buyer from returning the Maltipoo puppy when health issues appear or even worse the puppy dies within a few weeks of the purchase.
Carefully review the puppy pictures online
If you are purchasing a puppy through a website you need to pay attention to the pictures. Many breeders post dozens of pictures on the site, but they can be old pictures or some of them can even be taken from other websites online and used as their own. The best way you can confirm the puppies are at least in the same area is to look at the background of all the pictures.
The background should be the same color in all the pictures or at least look like they are in the same house but in different areas such as the living room etc. Taking a good look at their social media posts will also give you a clear idea if the pictures are legitimate or just a compilation of photos that were gathered from other sources online to make it look good.
Request a health guarantee
Most legitimate dog breeders offer a one-year health guarantee and provide veterinarian papers regarding health clearance or the possibility of future health issues. Sometimes genetics can lead to certain health issues getting past down to each generation which means some Maltipoo puppies can inherit common health issues for the breed as they get older. Responsible dog breeders tell you upfront and allow you to make the decision to adopt or purchase the dog or not.
Get to know the breeder
If the purchase for a Maltipoo puppy is too quick and easy, it means the breeder or seller doesn’t have any emotional attachment to the puppies. While breeding dogs is a way many people make a living, it doesn’t mean it right for them to be all business.
Responsible breeders who run a lucrative business also create their own adoption process which involves filling out an application, a meet-and-greet session, and the request of seeing where the puppy is going to live and what conditions they will remain in throughout their lifestyle.
Some breeders even go the extra mile and offer obedience training and follow-up visits to ensure the puppy is happy and healthy. The cost of the Matipoos may be a little more expensive, but the puppy is well cared for. A breeder who cares is quite obvious and doesn’t make it too easy to adopt or purchase a Maltipoo, but instead will make sure the dog is going to the right owner. Their goal is to match the puppies with great pet parents and families so that everyone is happy.
Costs of Owning a Maltipoo
There are additional costs you need to consider when owning a Maltipoo such as the ones listed below:
- Dog Food – $200 to $400 per year
- Dog Toys – $50 per year
- Veterinarian care – $600 and more per year
- One time spay or neuter service – $60
- Vaccinations – $50 per year
- Dental care – $100 to $300 per year
- Grooming – $360 per year
When deciding to adopt or purchase a Maltipoo make sure you consider all the costs involved to ensure your budget can comfortably handle providing them with health care, food, water, and necessities throughout their lifetime.
Conclusion for How Much Does A Maltipoo Cost?
The cost of a Maltipoo can highly vary depending on whether you purchase one from a breeder or adopt one online. Make sure that you buy a Maltipoo from a reputable breeder or you risk getting an unhealthy dog that will cost a lot in veterinary fees later on in life. In addition, if the price of a Maltipoo is too cheap, then chances are they aren’t going to be well cared for. The initial cost is just one small price that you will pay for a Maltipoo. There are several recurring costs for a dog each year and you will likely end up spending over $15,000 dollars for the lifetime of your Maltipoo dog with food, healthcare, vaccinations, and grooming.
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Garrett loves animals and is a huge advocate for all Doodle dog breeds. He owns his own Goldendoodle named Kona. In addition, he volunteers at the Humane Society of Silicon Valley, where he fosters dogs and helps animals. Garrett enjoys writing about Doodles and believes that dogs can teach humans more about how to live than humans can teach a dog.
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