Choosing
Male or female Maltipoo?
By Nelson and Kim, AVS licensed pet shop owners · Updated 13 July 2026
Should you choose a male or female Maltipoo?
Choose the individual puppy, not the chromosome: within this breed the personality overlap dwarfs the average difference. The practical distinctions are pre-sterilisation ones (marking in males, seasons in females), and both fade after sterilisation from around seven months. Meet the litter; pick the temperament.
The folklore versus the overlap
The folk wisdom says males are clingier and goofier, females more independent and quicker to mature, and across thousands of dogs the averages lean faintly that way. But in a breed where every individual is bred for devotion, the overlap swallows the difference: the cuddliest dog we have placed this year was a female, the most dignified a male.
Meeting the actual litter beats the theory every time. Watch which puppy chooses you, ask us about each one's observed character, and let sex be the tiebreaker at most.
The practical pre-sterilisation differences
Intact males may start leg-lift marking as adolescence arrives; intact females come into season roughly twice a year, with spotting and unwanted suitor attention for a few weeks. In an HDB flat, both are managed with routine and hygiene rather than drama, and both are temporary decisions rather than lifetime features.
Sterilisation from around seven months, per your vet’s timing, retires most of it, and drops the AVS licence to $13.50 a year or the one-time $35 lifetime rate, as the price guide notes.
Choosing in practice
Households with a resident dog often find opposite-sex introductions smoothest, which is the one scenario where sex genuinely earns a vote. Otherwise, rank your real preferences: temperament first, colour and size second, sex a distant third.
A note from the shop floor: buyers who arrive fixed on one sex and meet the litter usually leave with whichever puppy climbed into their lap first. We consider that the correct outcome.
Male vs female card
- Personality: overlap dwarfs the averages
- Males intact: possible marking phase
- Females intact: ~2 seasons a year
- Sterilisation retires both + cuts licence fee
- Pick temperament; let sex tiebreak
Frequently asked questions
Are male Maltipoos more affectionate?
On average, faintly; in practice, the individual puppy decides. Our placement notes on each puppy beat the folklore.
Do female Maltipoos cost more?
Market-wide, females often list slightly higher; within our range the drivers stay colour and size, not sex.
Is marking guaranteed in males?
No; early sterilisation and clean toilet training prevent it in most. An intact adolescent male may experiment, and the phase manages out.
Which is easier for first-time owners?
Genuinely neither. First-timers do best choosing the calm-confident puppy of either sex, which is exactly what we point out at viewings.
Should I get a male or female Maltipoo?
Choose the individual puppy, not the chromosome: the personality overlap dwarfs the average sex difference. Meet the litter, watch which puppy chooses you, and let sex be the tiebreaker at most.
Do female Maltipoos come into season?
Intact females come into season roughly twice a year, with spotting and suitor attention for a few weeks, until sterilised from around seven months. In an HDB flat it is managed with routine and hygiene rather than drama.
Meet your Maltipoo
Come say hello at Balestier
2 Balestier Road #01-701, Singapore 320002 · Weekdays 12pm–6pm · Weekends 10am–6pm. Or message us first: tell us about your home and routine, and we'll tell you honestly if a Maltipoo fits.