A Maltipoo, as its name reveals, is a mix between a Maltese and a Poodle. While most Maltipoos have a combination of Maltese and Poodle attributes, each dog will have their own unique character, mannerisms, and appearance. Poodles are distinguished by their curly coat, which comes in various colors, whereas Maltese are distinguished by their snow-white fur.
As a result, the coat of your Maltipoo may be curly or wavy. Many Poodles have a fading gene, formally known as the progressive graying gene, which may be present in Maltipoos. Maltipoo puppies may be born one color and enter adulthood as another color.
One of the most significant factors when adopting a Maltipoo is the color of their coat, and we have 10 Maltipoo colors below to help you decide which one you prefer.
The 10 Common Maltipoo Colors
If you are a lover of the adorable Maltipoo, you are most likely aware that the breed comes in several colors and color combinations. Some colors are more common than others and are easier to achieve, while the rarer colors require considerable DNA testing and breeding over multiple generations.
The most common colors are white, cream, and apricot. The rarer colors are usually darker and combinations of colors, such as black, brown, phantom, sable, and tri-color. The rarest coloring is phantom and is usually impossible to find, but even now and then, one can be found.
1. White
The white Maltipoo is the most popular color for the breed. The white color is what most people think of when they think of the Maltipoo, especially since it is also a popular color for Poodles. The genes that produce the coat are also dominant, and a lack of pigment cells in the skin can result in white coats. A white Maltipoo can sometimes have beige or cream markings.
A white Maltipoo is simple to develop because it is the primary color of one of their parents, but they’re susceptible to discoloration caused by external elements. Their white fur may develop a yellow tinge, which can be remedied with a good shampoo.
2. Cream
A cream Maltipoo is another standard color and is also relatively easy to develop. They resemble a white Maltipoo, but their coat is more off-white, which can be very noticeable when you compare the two.
3. Golden
The golden Maltipoo is also known as the apricot-colored Maltipoo, and the warm hues combined with their small and adorable features make this dog look like a real-life teddy bear. That could explain why this color is beloved by canine enthusiasts. A golden Maltipoo is achieved when a breeder crosses a white Maltese with an apricot or red Poodle. The hair of a golden Maltipoo can often fade over time into a lighter shade of apricot or lighter into a cream.
4. Red
The red Maltipoo’s coat is similar in tone to the apricot Maltipoo but is a little darker. If you are looking for a red Maltipoo, one of the puppy’s parents should have a red coat. The shade of the red Maltipoo can fade as the dog gets older and will typically fade into a lighter apricot or golden tone.
5. Black
A black Maltipoo is charmingly beautiful, but the color is rarer than others. A truly black Maltipoo is extremely rare because it requires both a black Poodle parent and a rare Maltese that is either black or carries the right genes to mix with the black Poodle. A black Maltipoo can have a solid black coat or one with lighter markings.
Due to the recessive gene, it can be challenging to achieve a black Maltipoo. There is a higher chance of producing a black Maltipoo in F1b and later generations when a dark-haired or black Maltipoo is bred back to a black Toy Poodle.
Black Maltipoos are also more likely to fade, and as a result, they end up a more silver-gray as they get older. They will also be more costly due to their popularity and difficulty in breeding.
6. Chocolate Brown
One of the most difficult Maltipoo colors to find is a true brown Maltipoo, also known as a chocolate Maltipoo. They are commonly found in various patterns, such as tri-color, and will have a brown nose rather than a black one.
Brown coloring, like black Maltipoos, is challenging to create and appears more frequently in F1b and later generations. Their dark coats usually get diluted or completely removed during the crossbreeding process. They will fade to a smokey beige or coffee tone as they age.
7. Sable
Like the darker-toned Poodles, sable Maltipoos are very rare. They usually come in a solid base color with darker tips but may look dark when they are puppies. To distinguish a sable Maltipoo, you can pull back its hair to determine if it is lighter at the roots.
Their unique dark tips will grow out as they age, and because their coat is associated with the fading gene, it will also get lighter.
8. Parti Maltipoo
A parti Maltipoo’s coat will have at least 50% white fur. Their base color is typically white with tan, cream, apricot, brown, and black markings found on their back and face.
Maltese can come in white and tan, among other combinations, but black and white coats are the most common. The black and white parti pattern is achieved by crossing a parti Maltese with a black Poodle or parti Poodle.
Because dark colors tend to fade, black and white parti coats usually fade to silver and gray.
9. Tricolor
As the name suggests, a tricolor Maltipoo’s coat will have three colors. They are a popular choice but, unfortunately, are not widely available. All the standard colors that Maltipoos can be found in are possible with the tricolor coat, and the darker shades are usually found on the back, ears, and around the eyes.
The colors will fade as they do for all shades, with black fading to silver grays and browns fading to a lighter, more golden tone.
10. Phantom Maltipoo
The Phantom coat is very rare and can be identified as a bi-colored or tri-colored coat with specific markings on the legs, paws, chest, neck, mouth, and above the eyes. Their base color is typically darker with lighter markings and is always present in puppies.
Final Thoughts
Maltipoos are genuinely unique, especially with their vibrant coat colors. White, cream, and apricot coats are the most common, while darker coats are rarer. Some colors are easier for breeders to develop and more widely available, while others require breeding over many generations. Darker coats are known to fade, and a Maltipoo puppy can gradually change color as it grows older. Whatever the color, these teddy bear-like dogs are undeniably cute, and coat color shouldn’t be the only factor you base your choice on.
Featured Image Credit: Irsan Ianushis, Shutterstock
The 10 Common Maltipoo Colors
