5 Questions Every Maltipoo Buyer Should Ask Before Paying a Deposit
Most people spend more time researching a new laptop than they do vetting the breeder they are about to hand $3,000 to.
I get it. Maltipoo puppies are hard to resist. You see the photos, you fall immediately, and the brain starts rationalizing whatever comes next. But the questions you ask before you pay a deposit determine whether you bring home a healthy, well-socialized puppy or spend the next twelve months at the vet.
After months of researching this breed in depth for ThePoodleMix.com, here are the five questions I think matter most.
1. Can I see health clearances for both parents?
Not the puppy. The parents. Maltipoos inherit genetic conditions from both the Maltese and Poodle sides, including patellar luxation and progressive retinal atrophy. A responsible breeder screens both parents before breeding. If the answer is "the parents are healthy, I can just tell," that is not the same thing and it is not good enough. You can read exactly which conditions to ask about in the Maltipoo health guide.
2. At what age do you send puppies home?
Eight weeks is the legal minimum in most US states. Twelve weeks is better. Any breeder sending puppies home at five or six weeks is cutting the socialization window short, which is the window that shapes how that dog handles the world for its entire life. The rush is always about money, not the puppy's welfare.
3. Can I visit, or video call to see where the puppies are raised?
A breeder who raises puppies in the home, with daily human contact, handles this question easily. One who operates a high-volume setup gets evasive. If they want to meet you in a parking lot, leave.
4. What does your health guarantee cover?
Specifically. For how long. And what is actually required of you if something comes up. "We stand behind our puppies" is not a health guarantee. A written document covering genetic conditions for at least one year is. The Maltipoo cost guide breaks down what a realistic first-year budget looks like once you factor in vet care, grooming, and food on top of the purchase price.
5. Have you done genetic testing for the G locus?
This one surprises most buyers. Many Maltipoos carry the Poodle's progressive graying gene, which causes the coat to fade from its puppy color over the first two years. If you are paying extra for a black or chocolate puppy specifically, knowing whether the parents carry this gene is the difference between a puppy that holds its color and one that fades significantly by age two. The black Maltipoo guide and the brown Maltipoo guide both cover this in detail.
None of these questions are unreasonable. A good breeder will welcome them because it signals you are a serious, prepared buyer. A breeder who gets defensive or evasive when you ask them is showing you exactly what you need to know.
The full guide to finding a reputable Maltipoo breeder, including a complete red flags checklist, is at ThePoodleMix.com.