Maltipoos come in an abundance of gorgeous colors which adds to their popularity. They get this color variety mainly from the Poodle influence seeing as though Maltese generally only come in three colors – white, white with lemon, and white with tan. Have you got your heart set on a particular coat color and want to determine if this color is likely to change? If it does change, when can you expect this to happen? Coat color is one of the main things dog owners enjoy choosing so it’s an important question to ask.
Many Maltipoos will change color during their lifetime due to the Poodle parent possessing the Progressive Graying Gene which will naturally lighten the. Not all will fade as many also holds their color. Occasionally Maltipoos will become darker with age.
We aim to equip you with all the facts to save disappointment further down the line if your beloved pooch changes color. So, let’s read on to explore all we know about Maltipoo coat colors.
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Maltipoo Coat Colors
Let’s start by establishing what coat color choices you have when purchasing your Maltipoo. Maltese dogs are typically pure white although they often also have areas of tan or lemon.
Poodles, on the other hand, come in a diverse color range including apricot, white, cream, beige, gray, brown, black, and red.
However, the majority of Maltipoos are white due to the breed standard of the Maltese and with it also being a very common color in the Poodle. You will see red and apricot Maltipoos too along with coffee and café au lait (think light brown).
The Maltipoo can display dark brown and black although these are much rarer and you won’t come across them often. F1b’s, F2’s and multigenerational Maltipoos are likely to give you the most color variety.
What Causes Coats to Change Color?
Maltipoo puppies might well start one color, go to their forever home another color, and enter adulthood as another color, it’s can all be a little mind-boggling. It’s all down to genetics, specifically the fading gene which is present in the Poodle breed.
This fading gene, formally known as the Progressive Graying Gene, is something many Poodles have. This gene, therefore, can also be present in Maltipoos.
When Do Maltipoos Change Color?
It can actually happen more than once in your Maltipoos lifetime. They can be one color at birth, another by the time they are ready to be purchased, and again once they become adults.
When they reach around 2 years of age, they should be the color they will stay. Not all Maltipoos will change their color of course, and if yours stays the same color throughout its life it is known as “holding” its color.
Color Changes Explained
Like most traits in your Maltipoo, the lightening of their coats is down to genetics. More specifically the fading gene. An Apricot coat may fade to light apricot or a dark red coat may fade to an apricot coat. They don’t change to an entirely different color but may well end up a lighter version of themselves.
It may not be the whole coat that changes either, it might just be parts of it. With the fading gene sometimes the longer hair on the ears, the muzzle, and the paw pads stay darker.
It’s also worth noting seasonal color changes too. You may notice your Maltipoo changing color as the season’s change. It can appear lighter in the winter months and darker in the warmer months – much like foxes and wolves.
Possible Color Changes
Here are some possible color-changing scenarios you might discover as your Maltipoo grows:
- Red Maltipoos – If your Maltipoo is a dark red this may well become more of an apricot color as time passes.
- Apricot Maltipoos – This color can fade to the lightest of apricot colors or even be more cream-colored.
- Light Apricot and Cream – You may find your light-colored Maltipoo turns to more of a white color as time goes by.
- Black Maltipoos – Black can appear to be the most dramatic change. You can expect a more silver coloration as they fade.
- Brown Maltipoos – Should brown fade you will be left with a Maltipoo who is beige or cafe au lait in color.
These are just some of the possible color transformations that can occur during the fading process. Due to the wide variety of colors that are possible within Maltipoos, it can be difficult to establish every potential change. You may even have a Maltipoo who doesn’t change and stays the color you purchased.
Can I Stop My Maltipoo Changing Color?
As fading is a genetic process there is nothing you can do. If your Maltipoo carries the gene, the outcome is inevitable, not dissimilar to being unable to prevent your own locks from turning gray. We are lucky enough to have the option of hair dye – I can hear the hurrahs from here! This doesn’t stop the gray from occurring though, as our roots usually tell us 8 weeks later. Whilst there is a dye that is safe for dogs this isn’t something that we would advocate and is generally reserved for competition purposes.
You can buy some special shampoos for your Maltipoo which don’t act as a hair dye but, instead, bring out the coat color. The shampoos can be particularly helpful among white coats to stop the coat from turning a yellow color.
Color Changes: Good or Bad?
Color changes in your Maltipoo don’t pose any health risks or complications so deciding if it’s good or bad comes down to personal opinion. Some embrace the coat changes and enjoy watching as it changes with age or the seasons. Others may feel dismayed that the color of their dog has changed from the color it was when they brought them home. We can say color changes are completely subjective, you either love them or you hate them.
Are Black Maltipoos Rare?
Black Maltipoos are not common at all so definitely fit the “rare” description. You can expect to pay more for a solid black Maltipoo. When using solid to describe the color the coat should be pure black from root to tip. If this is the case, then the Maltipoo will likely keep its black color.
It’s only in dogs with blue or gray near the tips that may fade over time. Black hair can be affected by direct sunlight and this can cause it to take on a reddish tinge. You can purchase sprays that you leave in your dog’s fur which help protect the coat from the harsh elements.
Our Final Say
Should you set your heart on a Maltipoo then it’s important to accept these color changes may occur. The puppy you viewed at a few weeks old may even look different the next time you visit. Then once you have got your head around that you then have the distinct possibility of seeing another color change once the puppy’s coat blows.
With crossbreeds, the gene pool is far richer which makes room for more variance in the coat types. This is something you must accept as the owner of a Doodle. Reputable breeders will be very open to having this discussion with you and should be able to answer any questions you may have.