What does “Hypoallergenic" mean?

The Oxford Dictionary gives the definition relatively unlikely to cause an allergic reaction. So when people are really asking if Maltipoos are hypoallergenic, although Maltipoos are hypoallergenic the real question you’re asking is “Will I or a member of my family be allergic to my new maltipoo puppy?”

Maltipoos are low to non-shedding dogs which means there is very little chance “relatively unlikely” your allergies will be triggered like with other breeds. The Maltipoo breed has hair instead of fur, which most people think is the reason for being hypoallergenic. But most people that have allergies are allergic to the dander (dead skin cells that fall off and collect in the fur) and not the coat of the dog. Both dogs with fur and dogs with hair have dander. The top layer of skin is in a constant state of renewal where the dead cells are replaced with new ones, just like humans.

The thing that makes the difference in the severity of the allergic response is that fur is usually a lot thicker than hair. Because fur is thicker, it holds onto and collects the dander. The Maltipoo hair is silky and soft, which allows the dander to fall out. When a person that suffers from allergies pets or grooms a dog, they come into contact with whatever is on the coat. With the Maltipoo, there is much less dander that has collected so a person may have a smaller or no allergic response when handling the dog.

Also, Maltipoos are said to be non-shedding, but this is not entirely true. The coat will shed any dead hairs and replace with new ones just like the skin. This happens at a much slower rate than dogs with fur so there will be less dead hairs around the house to cause allergic reactions.

To conclude, the Maltipoo is hypoallergenic but that doesn’t mean there’s a zero percent chance you will have an allergic reaction. Maltipoos as much as any other breed should be considered Low Allergenic.

What can I do to reduce the risk of allergic reactions?

When you are considering purchasing a Maltipoo and you or a family member have allergies, it is recommended that you hold the dog or puppy for at least 20 minutes and play with them to see if they cause any kind of reaction. Be sure to do this indoors since the air outside can push the dander away and give false results. To date, we have never had a complaint from someone with allergies that has adopted a Maltipoo from us which gives us high confidence in saying a Maltipoo could be a great option for you!