Maltipoo vs Curly Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison

The Maltipoo is a popular dog breed – a cross between the Maltese and Poodle. The dog originates in the United States.

The Maltipoo is a cross breed but it is often referred to as a designer dog because of it being purposely bred. The cute little dog has been created to be a companion dog, suiting allergy sufferers because of him being a low shedder and considered hypoallergenic.

The Maltipoo isn’t officially recognized as a true breed. Some Maltipoo Clubs and Registries have been formed.

There isn’t much on the origin of the Curly-Coated Retriever and his history hasn’t been well documented.

The dog originated some time ago in the early 19th century, with some believing that the dog was in England during the late 1700s already.

It is thought that this dog, which is identical to the Labrador but with a tight, curly coat, descended from the Old English Water Dog, the Irish Water Spaniel and the smaller Newfoundland. This mix was later crossed with the Poodle and this is where the curls come into the picture.

The Curly-Coated Retriever gained substantial recognition in England during the mid-1800s and exported to the United States in 1907. The dog was also later exported to Australia and New Zealand and has been recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1924.

The small Maltipoo stands at between 20 and 35cm and weighs about 2 to 6kg. There is no breed standard for this dog. The coat is fluffy and is more inclined to be wavy than curly. It can become quite long and most people prefer to have him professionally clipped.

Coat colors vary from white to cream, apricot and brown or it can be a combination of these colors. He has a tail which some people prefer to dock, but if not, the tail is long and curls, sometimes over the back.

Temperament:

Owning a Maltipoo, you’ll quickly discover that this little dog is active, feisty, bright and, fun-loving, and your life is pretty much not going to have a dull moment with him in it.

If you’re a first time dog owner you’ll love the Maltipoo as he is pretty much easy going. He makes an excellent family pet as he is even tempered. Make sure your kids have been taught how to treat him – with respect, gentleness and kindness. Never allow toddlers to climb over any dog – big or small.

The Maltipoo is intelligent too and this means training and socialization will be easy for him. Many people use them as therapy dogs and they definitely seem to have an affinity with older people, bringing joy into their lives with their bright nature.

They are dogs that can adapt to life in the city or the countryside, just so long as they are with their beloved human family. They’re essentially indoor dogs but will gladly venture outdoors if it means ball games on the lawn with the children or a walk outside the confines of his home. This gives him the opportunity to smell new aromas, a physically and mentally stimulating game for him.

The Curly Coated Retriever is a medium sized dog standing at about 58–69cm and weighing anything between 25 – 40kg. The dog, mainly black or chocolate brown, is active and muscled and was used for hunting and retrieving waterfowl.

The coat has small, tight curls over the body except for the face and the legs. He has floppy ears and they eyes of the black dog are brown while in the liver-colored dogs, the eyes are amber or gold.

The tail is long. He has a wedge shaped head, and its the fact that the face is more long than wide which makes him easily distinguishable from other retriever breeds. Of course, it is the curly coat which is the dog’s most distinguishing feature.

Temperament:

The Curly Coated Retriever has been used as a gun dog, and today, like most retrievers, they make superb pets and are a lively, social and fun-loving breed. He becomes loyal and devoted to his human family members, making a splendid pet, but then he must be exercised.

Have him trained and socialized and he becomes an obedient, relaxed dog, eager to please. He is intelligent and self-confident and gets on well with children in the home as well as with other pets.

He fits in easily to city and country life, but if he could have large grounds to run, play and swim, which he loves, he would be at his happiest.

Your Maltipoo is guaranteed to bring much joy into your home. He is a social dog, loving to spend time with his human family, whether indoors our outdoors. He is an active dog so will look forward to his walk every day.

Treat your little pet with love and good care, after all he has got so much companionship to offer and deserves the best there is to that the 12 to 15 years he has are filled with health and happiness.

Curly Coated Retrievers are such fun dogs, full of personality, robust and active. He makes such a wonderful pet and is loving, loyal and protective. He is brave, courageous, independent and confident as well. He gets on well with children and loves to be part of all their games. He is capable of getting on well with other animals in the home.

He is an active dog and won’t fit in well with those who like to sit around all day. He wants to be active, and then loves to settle down with his human family at night. He is an excellent all-rounder and makes a loving, loyal pet.

The Maltipoo is such a bright little dog, brimming with energy, but even so, he can get sick, just like with any other dog.

Dental Problems:

Small dogs are prone to dental problems and gum disease and tartar build up can cause many problems and tooth loss. Any dental infections can lead to infections which can put the entire body in jeopardy.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)

This is a degenerative eye disorder that can cause blindness and although there is no cure there are things that the vet can do for your pet.

With good care, the average life expectancy of the Curly-Coated Retriever can reach between 10 and 12 years. However, there are some health concerns that your dog may have to contend with and which are common in most other dog breeds too.

Ear Infections:

Apart from hip dysplasia, bloat, dental decay and eye diseases such as cataracts, ear infections are a common canine health problem, particular when your dog has floppy ears and loves the water.

Ear infections can also be caused because of bacteria, ear mites, allergies and hair growth in the ear canal. Your pet will shake his head, maybe off balance and be scratching his ear. You might notice his ears are red and oozing. Get him to the vet immediately.

Parasites and Worms:

When you brush your dog, check for fleas and ticks. Worms too, can make your dog ill, and can actually be the death of a puppy. Worms can cause weight loss, a rough, dull coat and a generally run-down appearance. Your vet will be able to guide you as to what medications are available.

The Maltipoo is such a sweet little dog – you want to be sure that you look after him as well as can be.

Vaccinations:

Always take your pet for regular veterinary check-ups if you suspect he is ill. If you get a Maltipoo puppy you will need to take him to the vet because there are a number of vaccines he will need to prevent him from picking up some life threatening canine diseases. Some of these are parvo and rabies among others.

Also, as your Maltipoo reaches adulthood you will need to decide whether you will have the dog spayed or neutered to prevent puppies.

Grooming:

Groom your Maltipoo to keep the coat in tip top condition. Brush him at least twice a week to keep him free of loose hairs. It’s a nice bonding session for your pet too and it gives you the chance to check for fleas and ticks. Most Maltipoo owners take their pets to professional groomers to have the coat trimmed as then he looks and feels more comfortable in warmer weather.

Be careful about bathing him too often as even the mildest shampoos can irritate his skin and it strips the coat of natural oils. Other grooming needs will require you keeping his nails short and cleaning his teeth at least 2 or 3 times a week. Because he has floppy ears, check inside them as they can collect excess wax and debris.

If you are unsure about these kinds of grooming needs, check with your vet or groomer because doing it wrong could cause injury to your pet.

Sleeping Space:

Give your pet a soft, warm, dry bed to sleep in. You can make a soft ‘nest’ on the floor or you can buy a sleeping platform or traditional dog basket.

Diet:

With a Maltipoo, choose a high-quality small breed dog food if you are going to feed him commercially manufactured food. This is to ensure he remains healthy. Try and keep your diet simple for your Maltipoo to avoid stomach problems.

For variety, add in some chopped boiled chicken, brown rice and vegetables to his dry kibble. The amount of food you give him will depend on his size and activity levels but you want to avoid feeding him too much so that it leads to obesity. Obesity can bring on a host of dog illnesses.

As opposed to one larger bowl of food, rather feed him two smaller meals which is far healthier for him. Remember to always have a bowl of fresh, cool water standing close by.

Grooming:

The Curly Coated Retriever is a single-coated dog breed and this makes him a low maintenance dog. He doesn’t shed much and a good brush twice a week will keep the curly coat in good condition. There are some dog owners that trim the feathering around the legs, feet, tail and belly.

Diet:

The Curly Coated Retriever is an attractively low maintenance breed. Therefore he doesn’t require any special diet. He does well on a top quality manufactured dog food where protein is listed at the top.

These dogs are inclined to put on weight easily so you want to be sure to follow the directions on the packaging and not overfeed him. With his kibble, sometimes add in some cooked brown rice, vegetables and chicken.

Raw meat can be expensive but if you can, try and include it into your pet’s diet to avoid nasty skin rashes and allergies. Always make sure that cool, fresh water is available to your dog and make sure the food and water bowls are regularly washed.