Feeding a Maltipoo puppy the right diet involves balancing nutrition, dental requirements and taste. These Maltese Poodle mixes need a meal that is high fat, high protein and low in fillers, but still gives them more calories per pound than larger breeds need.
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All puppies require a wide range of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals to be healthy, and you’ll need to check they are included in their complete kibble or canned food. Alternatively you might want to experiment with raw diets or even homemade options.
Swapping Puppy Food Brands
Changing a puppy’s diet can sometimes lead to digestive upset, so it’s a good idea to wait a couple of weeks before moving on even if you aren’t a fan of the breeder’s chosen brand. This is in part due to the fact that the length of a dog’s gastrointestinal tract is much shorter than that of humans. Since their digestive processes need to occur within a shorter time period, it puts additional stress on their ability to digest and utilize food.
When your puppy is well settled in your home and consistently giving solid poops, take a week or so to gradually switch. Start by mixing about three-quarters of the old food with one-quarter of the new food for the first two or three days. Then switch to equal portions of each food for another two to three days before moving over completely.
How Much To Feed A Maltipoo Puppy
I recommend feeding small breed puppies four fixed meals a day, and one meal portion for training treats. This works best if you’re using kibble, but can be done with the messier wet meals with a bit of prep.
At the start of the day put five dishes on the countertop, and measure out your pup’s daily ratio of food as shown on the side of packaging. Spread it between the five bowls. Feed meals at around the following times:
- 7am
- 11am
- 2pm
- 5pm
The final bowl you’ll dip into throughout the day to reward the behaviors you like seeing, or to get started with training.
How Feeding Changes as a Maltipoo Puppy Gets Older
As your Maltipoo puppy gets older, their nutritional and caloric needs will change.
How big they get will depend on whether the Maltese was crossed with a Toy or Miniature Poodle. A full-grown Maltipoo’s weight can range from 5 to 20 pounds. They can stand from 8 to 14 inches.
The most rapid weight gain will occur from birth to three months of age. After that growth will often come in spurts.
Smaller breeds reach maturity earlier than large dogs. This 2004 study found that the period of rapid growth was reached by 11 weeks of age for toy breeds, but for small dogs, it continues until 14 to 16 weeks. It also found that both toy and small dogs reach 99% of their adult weight by the age of 9 or 10 months.
When they stop growing they can be transitioned to an adult formulated dog food which contains less protein, fat, and calcium. At this point their meals can be reduced to two or three times a day.
Choosing A Type Of Food
Whether you decide to feed your Maltipoo puppy dry food, wet food, or a raw or homemade food diet, you’ll need to satisfy their specific nutritional requirements.
Feeding a Maltipoo Puppy Kibble
Dry food, or kibble, is a popular choice for its convenience, cost, and ease of use and storage. It’s also good to use for training because it’s easy to carry around.
There’s a seemingly endless variety of dry pet food options. Make sure to choose one that’s specifically designed for toy or small breed puppies. These formulations are extra-small to prevent the risk of choking, making it easier for little dogs to eat.
There’s no question that there’s a big difference from brand to brand and that some kibble contains preservatives, additives, food dyes, and questionable meat sources. But there are plenty of good quality dry foods to choose from.
Reading the label is important. The first five ingredients listed will tell you if the kibble is even worth considering feeding to your pet.
Wet or Canned Puppy Food
Wet or canned food usually has fewer preservatives and more meat protein than dry food. It’s also widely considered to be more palatable. While it too offers plenty of options, it’s almost always more expensive than kibble.
Another downside is that soft, wet food has been associated with contributing to dental problems in dogs. Because their mouths are so tiny, Maltipoos’ teeth can be very crowded. This already puts them at risk for periodontal disease. If your puppy prefers the texture and taste of wet dog food, you may want to mix it with kibble.
(paid link) Raw Diets For Maltipoo Puppies
Raw food diets for dogs have never been more popular. However, much of the current scientific evidence suggests these diets can lack nutritional elements. They may also put your pet at risk for infectious diseases. Knowing how to store and handle raw meat properly is crucial to avoid contamination.
However, its hard to argue with the fact this is a more natural way to feed your dog. There are also benefits such as shinier coats, healthier teeth and gums, fewer allergies, and less obesity.
Feeding a Puppy a Homemade Diet
Homemade diets can be more natural, tastier, and allows you to control exactly what your dog eats. But it can also pose some concerns. It can’t be overstated how important it is to ensure your puppy gets the proper nutrients in the right amounts, which is hard to manage by yourself.
Feeding your puppy a homemade diet is very time-consuming. Before you commit to this diet, be prepared to do a lot of careful planning.
Joy says
I rescued a maltipoo at 4 mo old 11/2 lbs. he lost his hair and almost died from first shot. He eats a lot. He has dry food at night wet food during the day 2 times. Because he is so small I don’t take him out much so he sleeps eats plays poop all inside unless in a stroller. How much wet is too much. I weighed him today he is only 2.6 lbs will be 7 mo old soon. Was the runt..
Terry says
I have 2 6 month old multipoos. One is a very finicky eater and the other one will eat anything. What I am doing for the finicky eater is I pour a little bit of “Just for dog food” toppers on their royal canine kibble for puppies, and he loves it. They both eat two big meals a day one in the morning, one in the late evening. They have a smaller portion during the day.
Mimi says
My Maltiplano is very pickie,so l add a little extra too and feed xs 3 as he is just 6 months
Kathy says
We are getting a nine week old Maltipoo and got her some Purina Pro Lamb and rice and it has some carrots, and omega 3 in it. Sounded good to me. But what do you think?
Alexander Nixon says
i have a maltipoo 3 months eats everything , raw food, wet food and purina still lean as the first day that came home.
they like to be pet, play and run. hard to potty train
but we getting there, his free time gets cut off every time he doesn’t potty on the right place
he is gets that very well
but still missing sometimes
Aly says
My puppy is 3 months and I feed him the purina Pro line puppy food for small breeds ( chicken and rice) . When we first got him he was being fed adult dog food and caused him to vomit , we didn’t know why untill we asked what food was given to him previously and that is when we found out that the food was for adult maltipoo. The change in food was very good to him , he really likes the food. He is a chunk , last vet visit he weighed 5.7. Hopefully soon we will be able to take him on walks , we haven’t taken him on walks due to him eating everything that he finds.
Hind says
I feed my beautiful 15 weeks Maltipoo puppy Royal Canine puppy & mother brand. Recommended by my vet. I mix both the dry & wet. She loves it
Best Bird says
I have 2 Malti poo’s Rosie and Poppy one is nearly 3 years and one is 1 year old. I have had trouble with feeding from both of them. I have tried lots of different foods wet and dry and home cooked, I would like to keep them on home cooked even though it is more expensive and a lot of effort but like with all the others they go off it after about a week and will not eat it, ( I have heard that a lot of Maltipoo’s are like this ).I worry so much about them.
They get walked 2 or 3 times a day I limit there treats and other than the food issue they are very good and happy dogs.
Mj says
Hi, I have the same situation for my 8 month old maltipoo. He would like it for a week and after he gets tired from it and wont eat it. What are the cooked food you serve your dogs and how do you know how much food to serve them?
Akubia says
I am also interested in knowing as when my puppy gets to adulthood I want to cook him the healthiest possible home cooked meals
Sueli says
Hi,
Please what is the best dry food for a maltipoo. 8 weeks old please
We just got him and he didn’t eat this morning and sleeping a lot
Thank you
Vwallace says
Wellness Complete Puppy food
Liz says
I just got a 8 week maltipoo and I am feeding him the Cesar brand dry food is that ok?
Teena says
No that brand my vet told me was too rich and fatty
Eleanor Robison says
I feed my Multipoo Fergus Hill’s puppy food for small breeds 1/2 cup of food twice a day. In between he gets lots of treats as a reward for going potty outside. Fergus is 10 weeks old. I’ve had him for two weeks. He is now doggie door trained and potty trained. He likes lamb ears to chew on and elk antlers for small puppies. He chews on my arms which is a habit I’m trying to stop. Any tips from others to accomplish that is appreciated. I must say that my life is so much richer since my Fergus came into my life. ❤️
Margie says
I have a 4.5 month maltipoo who now weights 5 pounds. I feed her small pieces of hite rotisserie chicken mixed with fine puppy dry food. (Otherwise she wont eat the dry kibble alone). Is this ok?
June says
Camee Rae is two years old and I feed her boiled chicken and rice with veggies. She is very seldom sick. This was recommended by my vet
Alison says
I just got a 9 week Maltipoo last night and he is 21/2 pounds. He came with kibbles, should I add wet food to it so far he has not eaten the kibbles.
Thank you
KK says
Hi Alison,
I have the same problem with ours. She is 7.5-8 weeks and she is a terrible 1.8lbs. She didn’t eat her kibbles either.
Did you figure something out? Is everything ok now?
Chauncey says
I have had my maltipoo about five days and she is not really eating much and sleeps a lot and I just don’t know what to do.
Jennifer says
I have a maltipoo and she 8 weeks up I feed her three times is that good