These two look similar in a photo and are quite different to live with. The Maltipoo is the brighter, busier, more vocal of the pair, a little shadow that wants your lap and will tell the whole building when the mail arrives. The Shih Poo is generally mellower, happy with a short walk and a long nap, but it carries one thing the Maltipoo does not: the Shih Tzu’s short muzzle, which some puppies inherit and some do not. That matters in Georgia summers. Choose the Maltipoo if you want a lively companion and do not mind training through barking. Choose the Shih Poo if you want a lower-key lap dog and will check how that individual puppy breathes.
Mixes vary, and the parents matter more than the name
Neither is a standardized breed. A Shih Poo can inherit a longer Poodle-ish muzzle or a flat Shih Tzu face; a Maltipoo can come out silky like a Maltese or tightly curled. Littermates differ. Ask about both parents, especially the Poodle’s size and the Shih Tzu parent’s muzzle length, and what health testing was done.
Maltipoo vs. Shih Poo at a glance
| Maltipoo | Shih Poo | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult weight | About 5-20 lbs, depending on toy or miniature Poodle parent | About 8-18 lbs |
| Adult height | About 8-14 inches | About 8-13 inches |
| Coat and shedding | Soft, medium to long, wavy or curly; sheds minimally | Straight or curly, thick and fast-growing; low shedding |
| Grooming needs | Near-daily brushing; groomer about every 4-8 weeks; tear-stain cleaning on light coats | Daily brushing, mats easily; groomer every 1-2 months; face and eye area kept trimmed |
| Energy level | Moderate; playful in short bursts | Low to moderate; about 20-30 minutes a day |
| Good with kids | Yes with older, gentle kids; very small and easy to injure | Yes with supervision; long hair is easy for small hands to grab |
| Good for apartments | Excellent | Excellent |
| Trainability | Smart and quick, but can be stubborn and is prone to nuisance barking | Smart and willing, though housetraining can take patience |
| Common health considerations | Patellar luxation, tracheal collapse, dental crowding, hypoglycemia in very young puppies, eye disorders, portosystemic shunt, white shaker syndrome | Breathing issues if the muzzle is short, heat sensitivity, dry eye and other eye conditions, patellar luxation, hip dysplasia, dental crowding, ear infections |
No dog is allergen-free. Both coats shed little, which often suits allergy-prone households better, but test that in person before you commit.
Temperament
Maltipoos are affectionate and alert, sometimes to a fault. They bond hard to one or two people, dislike being left alone, and bark at things: doorbells, hallway footsteps, a bag blowing past the window. That is trainable, but you have to actually train it, starting in week one. They can also be shy with strangers, which early socialization helps.
Shih Poos are more easygoing. They want company and follow you room to room, but ask for less. The Shih Tzu side brings a streak of stubbornness, and housetraining often takes longer than owners expect, so crate routines and patience pay off.
Grooming
The Shih Poo has the heavier coat. It grows fast, mats close to the skin, and needs daily brushing plus a groomer every one to two months. Most owners keep the face trimmed short so hair does not sit against the eyes.
The Maltipoo’s coat is finer and silkier. It tangles rather than packs, so brushing is quicker, but light coats show tear staining, and daily wiping keeps it manageable. Both need teeth brushed; crowded small-dog mouths build tartar fast.
Living space and Georgia weather
Both are excellent apartment dogs. The Shih Poo needs extra thought about heat. If your puppy inherits the Shih Tzu’s short muzzle, narrow nostrils and a long soft palate make cooling harder, and overheating is a real risk in a Lawrenceville July. Snoring and reverse sneezing are common in flat-faced dogs and worth mentioning to your vet. Walk early, walk late, keep it short, skip the midday sidewalk. A longer-muzzled Shih Poo handles summer much more normally.
The Maltipoo has no such limit, but at five to twenty pounds it is a fragile dog. Watch for jumps off furniture and for feet in doorways.
Families
Both fit best with older, gentle kids. Very small puppies can be hurt by an accidental step or a drop from a child’s arms. If you have a toddler, tell us and we will point you toward sturdier puppies on the floor. If you work long days away from home, the Maltipoo is the harder choice.
Choose the Maltipoo if
- You want a lively, engaged little dog with personality
- Someone is home most of the day
- You are willing to train through barking
- You prefer a lighter coat and a lighter dog
- Your kids are older and gentle
Choose the Shih Poo if
- You want a calm lap dog with modest exercise needs
- You can commit to daily brushing on a mat-prone coat
- You have patience for slower housetraining
- You can manage summer heat carefully, especially with a short-muzzled puppy
- You want a quieter dog overall
Come meet them both
Pick both puppies up. Notice which settles in your arms and which wants back down. That five minutes decides more than any chart. Our puppies come from trusted local Georgia breeders, spend time in our family home nursery before joining the showroom, and are socialized with children, adults, and other pets. Our on-staff veterinarian gives every puppy a complete health check, and puppies are up to date on shots. Visit us in Lawrenceville, Monday through Saturday 12-7pm or Sunday 2-6pm, or call (678) 253-4081. We offer grooming and financing, and keep a waitlist for breeds not currently in the showroom.
Frequently asked questions
Which one barks more?
Generally the Maltipoo. The Maltese side is alert and quick to announce things, and Maltipoos are known for being vocal, especially when they are left alone or hear activity outside the door. It responds well to early training and to giving the dog enough mental work, but if you live in a building with thin walls and a strict noise policy, go in with a plan. Shih Poos tend to be quieter, though any small dog that is bored or anxious can become a barker.
Does the Shih Poo’s flat face cause breathing problems?
It depends entirely on the individual puppy. Shih Poos inherit anywhere from a short Shih Tzu muzzle to a longer Poodle-type one. Puppies on the shorter end can snore, snort, and reverse sneeze, and they have a harder time cooling themselves in heat and humidity. When you visit, watch how the puppy breathes at rest and after a minute of play, and ask us to point out the muzzle length. Then talk it through with your own veterinarian, who can examine nostrils and airway properly.
Which is easier to housetrain?
Most owners find the Maltipoo picks it up faster, since it is quick and highly motivated by praise and treats. Shih Poos are smart too, but the Shih Tzu side can be stubborn about the specific business of going outside, and progress is often slower and less linear. With either one, a consistent crate and potty schedule matters more than the breed does.
They are both small. Which is better with children?
Neither is the classic sturdy kid dog, and we would rather say that plainly than sell you the wrong puppy. Both do well with older children who have been taught to sit down and let the dog come to them. The Maltipoo is the more delicate of the two at the low end of its weight range, and the Shih Poo’s long face hair is an easy target for grabbing hands. If your children are under about five, tell us and we will show you what else is on the floor.
Can I tell how big my puppy will get, or what the coat will do?
Only roughly. Adult size in these crosses depends heavily on whether the Poodle parent was toy or miniature, and coat texture can land anywhere between the two parent breeds, sometimes changing as the puppy matures into its adult coat. We will tell you what we know about the parents, and we will not guess beyond that. A Maltipoo from a toy Poodle stays small; one from a miniature can reach the top of the range.
Meet a Maltipoo and a Shih Poo the same afternoon
Every puppy here is health-checked by our on-staff veterinarian, raised in our family home nursery, and waiting to say hello.
1848 Old Norcross Rd, Lawrenceville, GA 30044
Mon–Sat 12:00–7:00 PM • Sun 2:00–6:00 PM
