CHAPTERS

Chapter Two: Things to Know Before Getting a Maltipoo

Having a Maltipoo be part of your life can be an amazing experience – but you must also recognize that this is a huge responsibility.  It entails long years of nurturing, care, grooming, dog-walking, training, veterinary visits, and also financial commitment.  This also means providing them long-term shelter, whether you rent or move or own your own home.  They will also need their space inside your home, since they will also be a part of your family.

So what does it really mean to own a Maltipoo?  Beyond the cuteness and the endearing games and tricks, there are practical aspects to owning a dog, and you should evaluate your own capacity to provide in these matters before bringing a Maltipoo home.

Do You Need a License? 

State regulations vary regarding the requirement of dog licenses.  In some states, this is mandatory, and in other states, it is not.  Check with your local legislature to find out whether you are required to get a dog license – and this is true for all dogs above a certain age (usually 3 months old) , and even if your Maltipoo will be kept mostly indoors. Licensing laws generally do not discriminate between outdoor and indoor pets – they are geared more towards registering dog ownership and regulating rabies vaccinations.

Even if your state laws do not require you to get a license, there is often an option to do so voluntarily.  It is always a good idea to do so – it gives you a certain piece of mind that there is official documentation regarding your ownership of your Maltipoo, and it is a reminder on you to keep your pet’s rabies vaccinations up to date.

Licenses are generally given for a small fee and proof of the most recent rabies vaccinations.  This license cannot exceed the effectivity of the vaccination, and is usually renewable after a period of 1-3 years, during which you can renewable after proof of new rabies vaccinations.

A dog license entails the release of an identifier such as a dog tag and a contact number that dogs mainly wear on their collars or harnesses.  Should your dog ever become lost, there is an easy way of tracing him back to you as the owner, thereby reuniting you with your lost dog more quickly.

How Many Maltipoos Should You Keep?

As with most things, there are pros and cons for keeping more than one Maltipoo as opposed to keeping only one.  Perhaps the most obvious benefit of having more than one Maltipoo is that the two dogs can keep each other company.  This can be quite helpful in the case of Maltipoos – a breed that is somewhat known for not being fond of being left alone for long periods of time.  In the most severe cases, Maltipoos may even develop separation anxiety.  Having another dog there means they have constant companionship, another dog to play with, and is likely to be less stressed, anxious or unhappy.  For you, it means more time that you can devote to your own pursuits.

But the responsibilities are easily doubled when you keep more than one dog.  Not only does it mean greater expenses when it comes to food, grooming, supplies, and vet and medical expenses, but it also means a greater energy investment on your part which you will need to devote to your two dogs: two dogs to groom, to feed, to exercise, to walk, to play with, to train, and to clean up after.

There are some who recommend picking your second dog based on contrasting temperaments.  If one is highly active and energetic, pick a dog with a calmer temperament as a second dog.  This can be another Maltipoo, or another breed altogether.  All in all, balancing the temperaments of the dogs you take into your home might spell greater peace and less chaos and confusion at home.

A final word regarding the realities of keeping two dogs: if they are male and female, and you are not intending to breed, then do the responsible thing and have them spayed or neutered.  Those two dogs can easily multiply into an entirely new litter if you are not careful – and a new litter of adorable and cute puppies will also mean more expenses and more responsibilities on your part than you had bargained for.

Do Maltipoos Get Along with Other Pets?

The capacity of any dog – Maltipoos included, in getting along with other pets largely depends upon his socialization skills – which ideally should have been developed early.  Their social skills also determine, to a large extent, how they will deal with you as their owner, the rest of your household, and any new strangers and other pets that may come to or visit your home.

Temperamentally, Maltipoos are a gentle, friendly, and loyal breed.  They can also be a big of a goofball at times.  Maltipoos have been known to get along with other pets, such as other dogs, and particularly cats – though some care should be taken when interacting with a larger dog.  What may simply be play to a larger dog can actually cause an injury to the smaller and more fragile Maltipoo.  For that matter, Maltipoos should be handled mostly by older children who know enough to be careful in dealing with a small dog.  Smaller children should first be taught how to handle such a small dog, and be properly supervised when doing so.

How Much Does it Cost to Keep a Maltipoo?

Expect to shell out a bit more during your first year of ownership of a Maltipoo compared to succeeding years.  This is because the first year usually entails certain costs such as the purchase of supplies, equipment, toys, grooming tools, vaccinations and medical checkups, spaying or neutering, and of course, the purchase price of your Maltipoo.  This is on top of the annual recurring expenses such as food, supplies, medical checkups, and grooming fees and expenses.

In general, adopting a Maltipoo from a shelter or rescue can cost you around $250-300.  Purchasing a puppy directly from the breeder, however, can cost an average of $600-1,000, depending on the quality of the parent breeds.  Factor in some initial costs such as vaccinations, spaying or neutering, and the purchase of dog accessories and equipment, and the initial costs you are looking at is summed up in the following table.

Continue Reading…