At the intersection of three hugely popular breeds, this cross makes perfect sense for any owner looking for all the fun of the beloved Goldendoodle in a smaller package.
Smart, friendly, and incredibly playful, today we are here to tell you everything you need to know about the Goldendoodle Maltese Mix.
Table of Contents
The History of the Parent Breeds
Goldendoodle
Goldendoodles are the result of mixing a Golden Retriever with a Poodle. A combination of two already very popular breeds of dog, the Goldendoodle’s story (and subsequent popularity) started in the 1960s.
This breed came about as a continuation of the trend of Poodle crosses started by the Labradoodle. Crossing breeds that are already well established are guaranteed to have mass appeal – and along with this, the parents of Goldendoodles are well aligned in physicality and temperament, making it an obvious combo.
Poodles and Golden Retrievers share more in common than you may first anticipate. Both descend from a lineage of hunting and the culture of keeping kennels for sport, and as such, they are both loyal, intelligent, and have a great work ethic – which was necessitated by their sporting lifestyle.
Nowadays these breeds enjoy domestic bliss for the most part, but having similar histories is a major contributing factor to their prevailing popularity as breeds, as well as their aligned temperaments and physicality.
Maltese
It is speculated that Maltese began being bred up to 8,000 years ago, with written accounts from the Romans, and the ancient Greeks. Originating in Malta, the namesake dog began to make waves internationally as an exotic trade.
They have been well recorded as prize dogs thanks to their temperament and attractive physique. The upper echelons of society saw the Maltese as the pinnacle of dog breeds thanks to their well-behaved demeanor, and small yet elegant physicality culminating in a graceful and loyal lap dog.
Due to their embeddedness in higher society, it is safe to assume that the Maltese lineage has seen little to no work other than as a companion to wealthy individuals. It should be no surprise then, that these dogs are very well suited to a life led accompanying their owner and entertaining guests which are apparent in their personable and loyal disposition.
How to Achieve the Goldendoodle Maltese Cross
This cross can be achieved in a number of different ways, each with different outcomes regarding physicality and temperament. This breed can be achieved as a Goldendoodle Maltese mix, however, a Golden Maltese crossed with a Poodle, or even a Maltipoo mixed with a Golden Retriever can lead to the same result.
This is particularly useful if you are looking for certain dominant traits, as the dog’s physical attributes are split 50/25/25 depending on the cross. That means that with a Goldendoodle Maltese the resultant puppies will be noticeably Maltese in looks and behavior.
The desirable dominant mix will vary based upon your living situation, family dynamics, and aesthetic preference, with one option being better suited to certain environments than the others. For example, having a Poodle as the 50% cross will make the dog more Doodle than say a Maltese dominant mix.
Is a Goldendoodle Maltese an ethical cross?
While aesthetics inevitably play a part in this decision, it is also ethics that will dictate your cross. Breeding for aesthetic purposes, while being a consideration, must not overrule the fact that certain mixes may prove dangerous to the parents involved.
For example, there is a huge size disparity between a Maltipoo that has been bred by crossing a Toy Poodle and a Golden Retriever. You certainly wouldn’t want a male Retriever for the mating and birthing concerns regarding the smaller dog, and the physiques are so disparate that the resulting puppies may face significant health issues.
So, the cross can be ethical, provided the physicalities are matched. The Goldendoodle and Maltese are more similar to one another size-wise, so there is less risk of health concerns for the puppies. That being said, the Maltese is still slightly smaller, so for the cross to be achieved in a truly ethical capacity, artificial insemination should be undertaken and the mom should most definitely be the larger dog.
Why is the Goldendoodle Maltese Being Bred
So why would you cross these two dogs? There are a few different reasons.
Goldendoodles are among one of the most popular Doodle breeds, but their size and energy may be dealbreakers for those with not as much time or space. For this reason, adding a Maltese to the mix may quell these downsides somewhat, without compromising on the intelligence and playfulness beloved by Goldendoodle owners.
By crossing with a dog that is not only smaller but is also historically well versed in being a loyal companion, you can end up with a well-rounded breed that exhibits the attributes of all mixes present, with decreased risk of inheriting genetic issues present in the parents.
What is the Goldendoodle Maltese Cross Called?
Here at Know your Doodles, we have detailed a close relation to the Goldendoodle Maltese mix – the Golden Maltipoo. This cross sees a Golden Retriever mixed with a Poodle Maltese mix, which is reflected in the name. With the Goldendoodle Maltese mix, the different weightings of breeds require a different name.
For this reason, we think that the Malti-Goldendoodle best represents the breed based upon the percentage of each parent.
What Can Be Expected From the Goldendoodle Maltese Mix:
Being a close relative of the ‘Maltipoo Golden Retriever mix‘, many of the pros and cons listed in that article cover this cross as well – but let’s focus on the differences you can expect as a Malti-Goldendoodle owner.
Size
Fully grown, this breed will be 10-16” tall, with a weight of 15-35 lbs when fit and healthy. The Malti-Goldendoodle is on the smaller side of medium dogs.
That being said, teacup Goldendoodles do exist, and so depending on your Doodle parent, you can achieve a smaller stature – which may be necessary depending on the environment you plan to bring your dog up in.
Colour & Coat
In terms of color, it should come as no surprise that there you are limited when it comes to options. The classic golden coat is a standard of this breed; however, they do also come in a white variety – courtesy of the Maltese parent.
The dog’s coat will inevitably be higher maintenance than a non-Doodle mix. Pervasive in any Poodle cross is a wiry to curly head of hair, that is prone to knotting and tangling, so keep this in mind if you were under the misconception that the Maltese hair will ensure a flat-coated dog – as this is probably not the case.
Maintenance
As with any Poodle or Doodle coat, there is no doubt that your dog will be well acquainted with trips to the groomer. This high level of maintenance is essential as the coat can quickly become hazardous to your dog if not kept in check.
Issues such as obscuring vision, tripping up on leg or paw hair, down to the collection of bacteria are all concerns you have to be sure to account for, and the best way to keep these in good condition is with an equally good groomer.
Health
If bred ethically, the Malti-Goldendoodle should have very good health.
Some issues that may occur, however, are hip dysplasia; in which the hip socket doesn’t cover the joint, and as such your dog is prone to dislocation, as well as eye disorders; which will require annual eye exams at the vets to ensure do not become a serious issue down the line.
Temperament
These dogs are friendly, energetic, intelligent, and playful, making them a great choice for first-time owners, or larger families. That isn’t to say that smaller families should beware, because these dogs are incredibly versatile, and will fit well into any living situation provided they get the stimulation and exercise they so desire.
Exercise Needs and Feeding Requirements
Games of fetch, walks, runs, and even swimming are great ways to burn off energy with your Malti-Goldendoodle. At a baseline, you should be looking at 30 minutes of exercise per day. While they bear striking resemblance to Goldendoodles, they are smaller and therefore do not require the same level of exercise, as they do tire quicker on average.
Fully grown this cross requires 3-4 cups of food maximum spread out over two meals per day. Of course, size and energy levels will invariably play a part in this amount, so while we can provide rough estimates, your dog will have its own specific needs in terms of both exercise and feeding.
Summary
Malti-Goldendoodles are the perfect combination of companion and individual. If you are after a dog that is great fun to be around, and loves attention but is also content doing its own thing without being as large as other options, then this mix is a superb choice.
But what about other similar breeds you may be asking? We have you covered. If this breed isn’t quite to your liking, but you are after a similar character, then the ‘Goldendoodle Australian Shepherd Mix‘ may be the perfect alternative for you.
