Cavapoo vs Maltipoo: the Complete Breed Comparison

The Cavapoo, usually by a clear margin. A Maltipoo is typically 3 to 6 kg fully grown, while a Cavapoo more often lands between 5 and 9 kg depending on whether a Toy or Miniature Poodle was used. If the ceiling on size matters to you, ask which Poodle is behind the puppy rather than going by the cross name, because that single fact moves the adult weight more than anything else.

Neither, at least not here. As of October 2026 a Cavapoo at Curious Tails is $3,288 to $5,988 and a Maltipoo is $3,288 to $5,988, which is the same range, because the two crosses cost us the same to bring in and raise. Elsewhere you will see them priced differently, and that difference usually reflects demand and coat colour rather than anything about the dog. If a shop quotes you a large gap between the two, ask what the gap is buying.

Two honest ones. The coat is high maintenance: it does not shed, which means the dead hair stays in it and mats unless it is brushed out, so grooming is a standing commitment rather than an occasional expense. The second is health inheritance. A cross does not average out its parents problems, and the Cavalier side brings a real risk of mitral valve heart disease, so ask what the parents were screened for rather than assuming the Poodle half cancels it.

For grooming, yes. For temperament, no. A Cavapoo is generally biddable and people-oriented, which is why it suits first-time owners, but that same sociability means it does not do well alone all day. Budget for professional grooming through the year, daily brushing at home, and company. If your household is empty from 8am to 7pm, that is the thing to solve before choosing either of these crosses.

From the owners we hear back from, three things. That the coat needs work from week one rather than after the first mat appears. That the adult size is genuinely variable in a cross, so the puppy in the photo is not a promise. And that a dog bred to be a companion will act like one, which is delightful if someone is usually home and hard on everybody if not.

Independence. They look similar and both carry low-shedding coats, but the Cavapoo copes noticeably better with being alone during work hours, while the Maltipoo is more attachment-dependent and happiest where someone is home most of the day. This one difference decides most matches.

The Cavapoo, clearly. An 8am to 6pm empty home is workable for a Cavapoo with a settled playpen routine; the same hours are genuinely hard on a Maltipoo, which tends toward whining and anxiety through long stretches alone.

Both are gentle, but the Cavapoo's slightly sturdier build and patient temperament edge it for younger kids, while the Maltipoo's softer frame suits calmer households and older children who have learned gentle handling.

Yes, both are approved crosses for HDB flats, one dog per flat, and both sit in the same $3,288 to $5,988 all-in range with us, so neither rules nor budget separate them. Your weekday routine does.

Both are low-shedding; grooming workloads are similar (brushing several times a week, professional grooming every 4 to 8 weeks). The Maltipoo's lighter face shows tear stains more, adding a daily ten-second wipe to its routine.