My Maltipoo is Bigger Than Expected!

Maltipoos are a very popular breed known for their love for attention, teddy bear-like features, as well as their lapdog personality, where the Maltipoo tends to want to be held. It's common for those in search of a Maltipoo companion to be expecting a tiny breed of dog to fit this description but there are times that a Maltipoo can end up slightly bigger than expected. Height will generally be within range, but your maltipoos weight can fluctuate and make him seem larger than he is. When your Maltipoo is still a puppy, you might wonder how your Maltipoo measures up to other maltipoos their age. Don't worry too much; there are a few reliable ways to estimate how much your Maltipoo will weigh once fully grown.

How Can I Determine My Maltipoos Adult Size?

At My Doodle Maltipoos, every litter on our available puppies page and our upcoming puppies page has an expected size listed. This is determined by the parent's adult weight and height. However, suppose you're not familiar with the parents of your Maltipoo or are unsure of what size they will grow to be. In that case, you can calculate their estimated adult weight using the two formulas listed below.

While it may be easy to get an ultimate size estimate, the size during certain months may seem concerning since puppies can grow at such unpredictable rates throughout puppyhood. If you're ever worried about your Maltipoo being over or under the ideal weight, you'll want to consult your veterinarian for a hands-on physical evaluation so they can give your dog an accurate body condition score and treat your Maltipoo accordingly.

Can I Diet My Maltipoo to Be Smaller?

Thinking this way can be a very slippery slope into underweight territory. If your Maltipoo appears to be a relatively healthy weight and you reduce your dog's food or switch to a lower-calorie food, you could cause your Maltipoo to develop health conditions associated with an underweight dog. If your Maltipoo grows larger than expected it would be a very bad idea to diet your dog purely to reach a lower weight and achieve a smaller dog or the dog you envisioned. Maltipoos are quite sturdy companions and need their bodily structure to be complemented by an appropriate weight. If your Maltipoo is on a good portion of high-quality dog food and exercising regularly, yet they're still bigger than you expected, it may simply be the genetic hand they were dealt, and it's best not to tamper with their diet. Please don't make any changes unless you have genuine concern your Maltipoo is overweight and have had it validated by your vet. Otherwise, your Maltipoo could become malnourished, and nobody wants that!

Maltipoo feet or Maltipoo paws held upright with fur between toes on a white background

Can a Maltipoo's Paws Indicate Adult Weight?

Generally, no. Your Maltipoo's paws can give you an idea of where they are in their growth cycle by looking at the size of their feet in comparison to their body, but there is no magic measurement for the feet that correlates to adult Maltipoo size. Typically if the feet appear to be larger in proportion to the rest of the body, it's likely your pup has a bit more growing to do. In contrast, if your maltipoos feet appear to fit their body proportionately, you can safely assume that they won't grow much bigger.

Will Gender Affect the Size of My Maltipoo?

Male puppies will usually be slightly larger than female puppies, but this is not always the case. We've seen a male runt puppy end up smaller than his bulkier sisters in some litters. It can also vary exceptionally between litters as some parenting dogs of one litter may be smaller, having the puppies expected size land around 4-6 lbs. This wouldn't compare to a litter of puppies expected to reach 9-13lbs. In cases like this the gender is irrelevant and won't have any bearing on the size between the two litters. One litter will be significantly smaller than the other.

Lastly, don't put too much bearing on how much your Maltipoo weighs. A happy, healthy dog is what matters most. Maltipoos can range in size, and if yours turns out a bit smaller or larger than expected, embrace your special pup and give him all the love and attention he deserves, even if he's a "bigger than expected" boy!