Malti-Poo

The Malti-Poo is a hybrid mix of the Maltese and the Toy Poodle.  There is some history available for the hybrid in that it was created in the United States but the date of origin is unknown.  It was created for companionship purposes and the cute and cuddly hybrid more than fills the requirements for that purpose.  The hybrid itself is recognized by the following organizations:  American Canine Hybrid Club, Designer Dogs Kennel Club, Designer Breed Registry and the International Designer Canine Registry.  To get a better history of the hybrid, let's look at a brief history of the parent breeds.  The Maltese is among the oldest breeds known, its history being traced back to at least 3500 B.C. in Malta, on the southern coast of Italy where it was utilized for companionship purposes.  It is thought to be the most ancient of all the European toy breeds, eventually coming to Britain and America, where its popularity grew steadily.  The Maltese breed made its first appearance in the show ring in England in 1859 and in the Westminster show ring in America in 1877.  The Maltese enjoys a rich history and a loving relationship with royalty, the rich and famous as well as the common people in Italy, Britain and America.  It was finally recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1963.  The Toy Poodle is one of three sizes of Poodle whose origins come from France and Germany, though the exact date of origin is unknown. The Standard Poodle is considered one of the oldest dog breeds known, with the Toy Poodle coming later.   We know they have been utilized since the 1400's for hunting and retrieval, water dogs and companion canines.  Though, when you see any of the various sizes of Poodles in dog shows, you may think of them as fluffy, furry companions who just lay around and basque in the attention of their owners, they really were quite useful in their original purpose of hunting.  The Poodle began as a water dog, being bred to have a water resistant coat, and basically retrieved game for their owners.  I'll bet you never pictured them as water dogs or retrievers!  That same water-resistant coat is the hallmark of the breed and it's what we expect to see in the show ring. Even the style of the grooming of that hallmark coat had its beginnings centuries ago as various areas of the coat were cut shorted to avoid weighting the dog down and getting caught on underwater obstacles. Elegant, proud and clever are words frequently used to describe the Poodle we see today but, be assured that, behind the pomp and circumstance that accompanies the breed in the show ring, lies an affectionate and loving family companion who could be welcomed into any home.  The Poodle was recognized by The Kennel Club (England) in 1874 and by the American Kennel Club in 1886.