maltipoo puppy checklist

Maltipoo Puppy Checklist – The Complete 2023 Guide

Have you decided to bring home a Maltipoo? You might’ve just made one of your life’s best decisions! With its curly coat and floppy ears, a Maltipoo puppy is the cutest thing you’ll ever own.

But we guess you already know that. And now, all you want is the ultimate Maltipoo puppy checklist to ensure that you’re well prepared to welcome your Maltipoo home. If yes, we’ve got it all covered for you!

We highly recommend you make all arrangements and prepare your home before your Maltipoo’s arrival. This will ensure a hassle-free experience for you and your puppy. 

What is a Maltipoo?

Known by other names such as Maltepoo, Maltapoo, Moodle, and Malt-oodles, the Maltipoo is not really a dog breed per se. Rather, a Maltipoo is a crossbreed between a Maltese and Poodle. A Maltipoo is more popularly known as a designer dog as they’re the result of an intentional mixture of two known breeds.

Carrying the goodness of both their parents, Maltipoos are known for their playful personality and affectionate nature. Since they are small in size, they make a perfect companion for just about any pet lover. From single parents to larger families with kids, Malitpoos are an excellent addition to all kinds of homes. 

You just have to bear one thing in mind – like their Poodle parent, a Maltipoo craves attention and company. Hence, they don’t like being alone for long periods. If you can give them enough time and attention, we can’t think of any reason why you shouldn’t bring home a cute little Maltipoo puppy.  

Maltipoo Hind Leg Shaking maltipoo puppy checklist

Things To Do Before Your Maltipoo Arrives

Selecting your loveable Maltipoo from the shelter and getting done with all the paperwork is one thing, but preparing your home during the next few days until your puppy arrives is another. You may be at the top of the world to welcome your new pooch. But amidst the excitement, ensure that you take out time and make some preparations to welcome home your new Maltipoo.

Making arrangements in advance will ensure that you have everything you need for your puppy’s well-being. This way, you won’t have to leave your new puppy unattended for long. Also, you’ll know exactly what to do once your pup is home.

Talk to the breeder

First and foremost, before bringing home any kind of puppy, you must gather all the information about the specific dog from the breeder. That goes for your Maltipoo as well. From your Maltipoo’s health conditions to unique habits to diet plans, you should gather as much information as you can from your puppy’s breeder.

Once you get all the information you want, don’t forget to take the breeder’s contact information. You never know when you might need it! This brings us to the next point. 

Educating your family members about correct feeding and handling

Now that you are well-informed about your Maltipoo, it is time to share the information with your family members. Remember, bringing home a new puppy is a big commitment. Hence, both you and your family should be on the same page.

If your household has never had a pet before, educating them about your pet’s unique requirements is crucial. Not just educating them, but call for a family meeting and decide on how you should go about taking care of the puppy. Who will be the primary caretaker? Who is going to take care of the potty training? Who is going to walk your Maltipoo? Decide and come up with a proper plan so you won’t have to argue in the future while your little pooch stares at their empty kibble bowl. 

Get in touch with a local veterinarian

At some point in the future (or maybe in the first few days itself), you may need to take your new Maltipoo for a quick wellness checkup. It will be wise on your part to get in touch with a local veterinarian in advance. You don’t want to rush at the last minute and end up at a not-so-good clinic. 

Start your research early. Contact your pet-owner friends and neighbors. Find out which local veterinarians they’re taking their pets to. And on their recommendations, you can get a trusted local veterinarian’s contact information. 

Plan out the trip home

Before the actual day of your puppy’s arrival, it will help a lot if you plan it out in advance. If possible, find someone to accompany you to the shelter home or wherever you’re going to pick up the puppy.  

Your puppy has most probably never traveled by car before. Hence, the experience can be terrifying. Having someone sit beside your pup on the ride home can help make the drive more comfortable for your puppy. 

Stock up on the essential puppy supplies

This is one of the most important things that should be done before your pup’s arrival – stocking up on puppy supplies! Here is a general Maltipoo puppy checklist of items that you’re most probably going to need once your puppy is home:

Find a good puppy trainer

Do you plan on training your Maltipoo at home? Or, do you wish to find a professional puppy trainer? Whatever you decide, bear in mind the well-being of your puppy. If you want to train your pup yourself, make sure you do your research right. And always stick to positive training methods. At all costs, avoid shouting and screaming at your puppy or punishing him. Such negative temperaments will only push your puppy away from you.

Group obedience classes will benefit your puppy the most. Here, your Maltipoo can get along with other canines and people, which will go a long way in raising a friendly and safe dog.

Preparing your Home for Your new Maltipoo

Now comes the part that requires some extra effort. Preparing your home for welcoming a new puppy is similar to how you usually make arrangements before your guest arrives. Of course, your guest won’t chew off your valuable items or explore the trash bins.

But similar to how you prepare your home in advance and not after a guest arrives, it is vital that you’re all set with the preparations before your puppy’s homecoming. This will provide a hassle-free experience for both you and your new Maltipoo.

First off, look around your house through the eyes of a small puppy. Are there places or rooms that are completely off-limits to your puppy? If yes, you should use baby gates to restrict their entry.

Another important thing to take care of is the location of your garbage bins. Remember, your trash cans are a huge attraction for puppies. They’d want to explore where all the interesting smell is coming from. Hence, they’ll easily find a way into the trash bins, thereby resulting in a huge mess you don’t want to deal with. So, make sure to keep your trash bins somewhere that is inaccessible to your pooch.

Besides, here are some important decisions you need to make before bringing home your Maltipoo:

Where is your Maltipoo going to sleep and play?

One of the most important preparations you need to make before bringing home your new Maltipoo is finding him a place to sleep and play. Remember, the first few nights are going to be intimidating for your pup. He is used to sleeping together with his parents and the rest of the litter. Hence, the sudden change of sleeping alone can lead to incessant barking and whining. So, to make the experience more comfortable for your new pup, you can let him sleep in a crate beside your bed.

Once your puppy gets more used to the home environment, you can relocate the crate to your puppy’s permanent living space. Just make sure not to seclude your new Maltipoo as they crave attention by nature.

You can also create a den or playpen for your Maltipoo where he can sleep and play without damaging your valuable belongings. Creating a playpen for your puppy will also restrict his entry to certain rooms and areas that are completely off-limits to your puppy. Ensure that the playpen has enough room for your pup to move around. 

Additionally, place your pup’s food and water bowls with different kinds of toys in that area. Your pup should recognize this place as an exciting haven and not something depressing.

Maltipoo Potty Place

Once you have prepared a comfortable living space for your new Maltipoo, decide where your new pup will go potty. It is important that you introduce your pup to the potty place from the very first day. If you have a backyard, you can take him out and let him sniff around to get comfortable with the area. If not, you can get a potty tray and place it somewhere convenient around the house, preferably in the bathroom.

Remember, potty training takes time and patience. Hence, you should be prepared to deal with some potty accidents, time and again. When your puppy makes a potty mistake, make sure not to use harsh behavior towards him. Instead, take him to the designated potty area and use simple phrases like “Potty Here.” Repeat this every time your puppy makes a mistake. Or, if you find him about to discard his waste somewhere, repeat the same phrase and guide him to the potty place. Your Maltipoo is a rather intelligent dog breed. Hence, it shouldn’t be so difficult to train him.

When your pup uses the chosen potty area, turn to positive reinforcement! Praise him, pat him, and give him delicious treats as a reward for his correct behavior. This will encourage your puppy to repeat the same “behavior” in the hopes of getting rewarded.

Removing all potential hazards

Bringing home a new puppy is similar to expecting a baby. Before bringing home your baby, you want to make certain that your home is baby-proof. This means any potential hazards that could harm your baby should be taken care of. Similarly, as a new puppy parent, you need to ensure that your home is safe for your pup. 

Puppies will want to explore your entire house. While doing so, they may either break some of your belongings or invite danger upon themselves. If you don’t want to confine your puppy to a particular living space, we suggest you put up baby gates in the areas where you don’t want your puppy to enter. That could be your bedrooms, closets, dining area, etc. 

Cables lying on the floor may also invite your Maltipoo to chew on. Or, a bottle of disinfectant beside your bathroom may also harm your pooch if he accidentally consumes it while playing. A small Maltipoo will see almost everything around the house as something to chew or play with. Hence, before bringing home a Maltipoo, make sure you look around your house and get rid of anything that could possibly hurt your little pup.

Final Words

Bringing home a Maltipoo puppy can change your life in ways nothing else could! With their constant tail-wagging and ever-sweet temperament, a Maltipoo can be the cute little companion you’ve been missing out on.

From cuddling with elderly people to being an energetic playmate for kids, Maltipoos are great for everyone. They’re intelligent, confident, adorable, playful, charming, and exceptionally endearing. So, if you’ve decided to bring home a Maltipoo, you’re in for a fun ride!

However, they’re some things you should be mindful of while planning to bring a Maltipoo home. Being removed from their parents and usual habitat, your new Maltipoo is definitely going to be overwhelmed by the sudden change.

Hence, focus on making the entire experience comfortable and safe for your new puppy. And what better way to do that than by making all the right arrangements at the right time. 

maltipoo puppy checklist

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