WHICH ONE IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
It can be hard to decide between such wonderful and hypoallergenic breeds, so let's look at why each is so special. Please keep in mind to do your own research and understand that despite being purebred, all breeds may experience some health issue(s) at some point in their lives for a variety of reasons.
Maltese, Toy Poodles and Miniature Poodles are among the smartest and sweetest breed of dogs and they are a good size and weight for those who don't want to tote around a heavy dog. They're hypoallergenic because they have hair instead of fur, so they are great for people who have allergies. They are all easily trainable if you are patient and know what you're doing. However, there are ways in which they differ.
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Toy Poodles are said to be remarkably intelligent and said to be highly responsive. They have a sweet, cheery, lively and all around lovable disposition. They're very amusing and can be socialized. They make great watchdogs for their size and will definitely alert you if something if the matter. Like their Miniature counterpart and the Maltese breed, Toy Poodles are a great breed to have if provided plenty of exercise, rest and love. Their height is up to 10 inches and their weight is between 6 and 9 pounds, with a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years. In my opinion, they are very similar in disposition to the Maltese.
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Miniature Poodles are also quite clever and are very similar to Toy Poodles in temperament in my experience. While they are just as adorable, playful and spirited as the Toy Poodles, they are just slightly bigger and tend to be more on the mellow, laid-back side and are great snugglers. They're comical and a joy to have, and have even been used as circus dogs. Their height is between 11 and 15 inches and their weight is between 15 and 17 pounds, with a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years.
*An important note for poodles is that their breed size is judged by their height and not their weight. I have lots of different colors and I have both solid colors and Parti colors. Parti Poodles (or Partly Colored Poodles) are Poodles who have more than one color, like black and tan and red with white.
Maltese are energetic, playful and spirited little puffs of happiness and sunshine in my opinion. They're very gentle, trusting and devoted souls and great companion dogs. While they may be small, they are bold and quick to sound the alarm when they hear something amiss as if they had the bravery of a much larger dog, which is just so cute. Their height is between 8 to 10 inches with the smallest weighing 3 to 4 pounds and the maximum weight of 7 pounds and a life expectancy of 15 years or more.
