Pick the Shichon if you want a small dog with a predictable, steady adult size and an easygoing, forgiving personality — the safer bet for a busy family with kids. Pick the Maltipoo if you want something lighter and finer-boned, you are fine with a dog that talks, and you are willing to ask hard questions about the parents, because a Maltipoo can finish anywhere from five pounds to twenty depending on which Poodle it came from. Both are crosses, not breeds, and that fact should shape how you shop.
Read the parents, not the label
A Shichon is a Shih Tzu crossed with a Bichon Frise. A Maltipoo is a Maltese crossed with a Poodle. Neither has a breed standard, a written temperament clause, or a size range anyone is obligated to hit. What you are actually buying is a blend of two sets of genes, and the blend is not evenly split — littermates can land in different places.
So the useful question is never what a Maltipoo is like. It is what these two parents are like, how big they are, and what has been tested. We can tell you about the parents on any puppy in our showroom, and if you take one thing from this page, let it be that.
At a glance
| Shichon (Shih Tzu x Bichon Frise) | Maltipoo (Maltese x Poodle) | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult weight | Commonly up to about 18 lb; most land in a narrow band | 5-20 lb, depending heavily on the Poodle parent |
| Adult height | Roughly 9-12 in (Shih Tzu 9-10.5 in, Bichon 9.5-11.5 in) | 8-15 in |
| Coat and shedding | Low shedding; may be long and flowing like the Shih Tzu or curly and plush like the Bichon | Low shedding; curly like the Poodle or straight and silky like the Maltese |
| Grooming needs | High — daily brushing, professional grooming roughly every 1-2 months | High — daily brushing, professional grooming about every 4-6 weeks |
| Energy level | Moderate; the Bichon side brings real playfulness | Moderate; a daily walk plus play is usually enough |
| Good with kids | Very good — sweet, playful and gentle with all ages | Good, with supervision; small and delicate around rough handling |
| Good for apartments | Excellent; may bark if left without attention | Excellent apart from vocal tendencies |
| Trainability | High — eager to learn and please | High — intelligent and eager to please |
| Common health considerations | Patellar luxation, dental disease, eye conditions, hip dysplasia, diabetes mellitus, bladder stones | Patellar luxation, dental disease, Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, epilepsy, ear infections and tear staining |
Temperament
The Shichon tends to land in a pleasant middle. The Shih Tzu contributes a trusting, unbothered companion temperament; the Bichon contributes cheerfulness and play. What comes out is usually a social, gentle, non-quarrelsome little dog that recovers well from a chaotic household. Shichons are often described as needing company — they are attached dogs, and boredom shows up as barking.
The Maltipoo is often a little more finely wired. Friendly and outgoing, yes, and very people-oriented — but also sensitive, routine-loving, and quicker to sound off at a doorbell, a delivery truck, or a neighbor in the hallway. That alert instinct is trainable, but if you share walls with someone who works nights, take it seriously before you choose.
Neither cross is aggressive by nature. The difference is resilience: the Shichon usually shrugs more off.
Grooming
Both need a groomer on a schedule and daily attention in between, and neither coat is forgiving of a skipped week.
The wrinkle with crosses is that you cannot know the coat from the name. A Shichon might inherit the Shih Tzu’s long, straight drape or the Bichon’s dense curl — and curl mats faster and tighter. A Maltipoo swings between the Maltese’s flat silky hair and the Poodle’s tight curl, with everything in between. Look at the puppy’s actual coat and, better, at the parents’ coats.
Both shed very little. That is real, and it is one reason these crosses are popular. But no dog is allergen-free — allergens come from dander and saliva, not just shed hair. If someone in the house has allergies, spend time with the dog before committing rather than trusting the label.
Living space
Both are apartment dogs in the honest sense: no yard needed, modest exercise, happy in a condo in Duluth or a house in Grayson. Barking is the only real housing concern, and it is the Maltipoo that more often needs the training investment there.
If you have stairs, hardwood, and a dog under eight pounds, add rugs on landing zones. Patellar luxation is on both lists, and small joints do not love repeated jumps off a high sofa.
Families
This is where the two genuinely diverge. The Shichon’s slightly heavier build makes it a better match for a household with kids under six, who are still learning how to be gentle. A Maltipoo from two very small parents can be a five-pound adult, and a five-pound dog is an easy dog to injure by accident — a fall from a child’s arms, a misplaced step, a slammed door.
If you have toddlers and your heart is set on a Maltipoo, look for one out of a Miniature Poodle rather than a Toy, and set a firm floor rule: the dog is petted on the ground, not carried.
Choose the Shichon if
- You want a more predictable adult size
- You have young children or a loud, busy household
- You want an easygoing dog that is quick to forgive noise and commotion
- You prefer a slightly sturdier body in a small package
Choose the Maltipoo if
- You want the lightest possible lap dog and older kids or no kids
- You can train through alert barking, or barking does not bother you
- You want a very smart, biddable dog for training games
- You will ask us about the Poodle parent before you choose
Come meet them both in Lawrenceville
Photos flatten the very things that matter here — how solid a puppy feels when you lift it, how tight the curl really is, how much noise it makes when the door opens. Come handle both. We are open Monday through Saturday 12 to 7pm and Sunday 2 to 6pm, and we will tell you what we know about each puppy’s parents, including the Poodle parent’s size.
Frequently asked questions
Which one stays smaller?
The Maltipoo can, but it is the less certain answer. Maltipoos range from about 5 to 20 pounds because a Toy Poodle parent (10 inches and under) produces a much smaller dog than a Miniature Poodle parent (over 10 and up to 15 inches). Shichons cluster in a tighter band. If a firm size ceiling matters to you, ask about the specific parents.
Are these designer breeds recognized by breed registries?
No. Both are crossbreeds, so there is no official standard, no required size, and no written temperament. That is not a knock on them — it is just why the parents matter more than the label, and why you should evaluate the individual puppy in front of you.
Which is easier to train?
Both are bright and eager to please, and both do well with short, reward-based sessions. The practical difference is not learning speed but sensitivity — Maltipoos tend to be more routine-dependent and more easily rattled by an inconsistent household.
Is either one better for a family with a toddler?
Generally the Shichon, mainly on build rather than personality. A sturdier dog tolerates a clumsy hug better. With either one, supervise, and teach children to interact with the dog on the floor.
Will a Shichon or Maltipoo bark a lot?
Both can. Maltipoos are more commonly described as vocal, and both crosses bark more when they are under-stimulated or left alone too long. Early training and giving the dog something to do handles most of it.
Meet a Shichon and a Maltipoo 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
