8 Best Foods to Feed an Adult and Puppy Maltipoo in 2024

One of the most important decisions you will make for your pet is what kind of food you will feed them. There are so many different things to consider when choosing a food such as the ingredients, the amount of calories your dog needs, your dog’s lifestyle, and allergies or sensitivities he or she may have, whether you want to choose wet, dry, fresh, or raw food, and so much more.

Maltipoos are an adorable mix between a Maltese and a Poodle. They have a very fast metabolism and sometimes need more calories per pound than other dogs. This is important to keep in mind as you figure out what food you want to feed your Maltipoo and how much of it.

Choosing a dog food for your Maltipoo can feel overwhelming. That’s why we’ve done our research and chosen some of the best foods on the market. We’ve narrowed down the choices to just 7 products that would be great for your Maltipoo. We feel that if you choose one of these 7 foods for your Maltipoo, you will be happy and so will your dog.

What to look for in a good Maltipoo food

Sweet, cute, and very clever, you can expect most adult Maltipoos to weigh around 10 pounds. They make ideal apartment dogs if you live in the city. They love to spend time with you but they do need some daily exercise. They often live to be quite old and stay playful into their senior years. Because of their small size, the Maltipoo is an indoor pet except when you are walking him or supervising outdoor play.
Since they are very small and active, you can feed your Maltipoo a good quality kibble, a wet food, or a fresh or frozen diet. Unless your dog has a health issue, you should be able to choose from a wide range of foods for him. We do recommend dog foods formulated for small breeds. Small dogs like the Maltipoo burn up more calories per pound that larger dogs even when they are resting. Good quality small breed foods will provide more calories per ounce for your little dog than ordinary dog foods.

Here are some things to look for in a good dog food for your Maltipoo:

Protein

Like all dogs, your Maltipoo needs good quality protein. Most good dog foods today surpass a dog’s minimal protein requirements but you do need to make sure that the protein comes from good sources. Your dog is able to use good quality protein more efficiently than poor sources of protein. For example, meat protein is much better for your dog than plant sources of protein. Good quality dog foods usually have a couple of meat proteins in the first several ingredients.

Fat

If you’re on a diet and trying to lose weight you may think of fat as something bad but your dog needs good sources of fat in his diet. Some fat is better than other kinds of fat. Look for named fat sources such as chicken fat. Avoid vague terms like “animal fat.” The more you know about what you’re feeding your dog, the better.

Carbohydrates

Look for dog foods that are lower in carbohydrates. Some kibbles are 40 percent carbohydrates or more. Kibbles do need carbs (starches) to maintain their texture so don’t be alarmed to find carbs in a dry food. But kibbles with low to moderate carbs are better since that usually means the food has more protein and fat. Too many carbs can mean that the food is full of fillers and empty calories. If you really want to avoid carbohydrates, seek out wet/canned foods. Some of these foods have few or no carbs. Not all carbs are bad. They help your dog feel full between meals so he’s not immediately hungry right after you feed him. Fiber is also part of the carbohydrates in your dog’s food.

Grains or grain-free?

Grains have been a controversial subject in recent years as grain free dog foods have become popular. If your dog doesn’t have allergies to corn, oats, or other grains, there is no special reason to avoid them. However, you should avoid dog foods that have too many grains or which use them as a plant source of protein. It’s perfectly fine to feed your Maltipoo a low grain dog food. The alternative – a grain free food – may contain lots of peas, lentils, and other ingredients which can also be problematic in their own ways. Good grain free dog foods can also be a good choice for some dogs as long as they are not overloaded with peas, lentils, and other plant sources of protein. These ingredients can cause some grain free foods to have high protein percentages but much of the protein comes from plants – which is not as easy for your dog to use as meat protein.

Artificial flavors, preservatives, colors, sweeteners

In general, you need to avoid all of these ingredients. Many of them have been linked to cancer in human studies.

Best Dog Food to Feed a Maltipoo

UnKibble by Spot and Tango Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe

Healthy Ingredients : Chicken Brown Rice, Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, Apples, Kale
Key Features :

• • Three recipes available
  • Human grade ingredients
  • Portioned specially for your dog
  • Ships direct to your door

UnKibble by Spot and Tango is made with real ingredients and delivered right to your doorstep, but it’s not like other fresh food options–it’s actually a dry dog food. UnKibble is made with 100%, whole, human-grade ingredients and the recipes are simple and healthy. Developed by veterinarians, so you can be sure that your pet is getting only the best, UnKibble is gently dried at a low temp and has no artificial flavors or preservatives. There are 3 different recipes to choose from. When you sign up for Spot and Tango, you will create a unique profile that will include the correct portion size, just for your dog. You won’t have to guess or measure, just follow the plan and use the scoop made just for your pet! If you want the benefits of human grade food, at a cheaper price point, or in dry food form, we think UnKibble might be what you’re looking for! We are also happy to report that Spot and Tango UnKibble has never been recalled.

American Journey Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe Grain

Healthy Ingredients : Deboned Salmon, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Peas, Sweet Potatoes
Key Features :

• Grain-free
• Chewy’s private brand
• Great source of protein
• No preservatives or artificial colors

Our top pick for the overall best value food to feed a Maltipoo (and many other small breeds) at this time is American Journey Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe Grain Free Dog Food. This is Chewy.com’s private label house brand. It’s high in protein with no corn, wheat, or soy. Omega-3 from salmon is good for dogs of all ages. The first three ingredients are Deboned Salmon, Chicken Meal, and Turkey Meal so you know your dog is getting lots of good meat protein. It also contains salmon oil which is good for your dog’s skin and coat. The food has complex carbohydrates from sweet potatoes and chickpeas. No artificial colors, preservatives, and no glutens. This food has 430 kcal/cup. Good for dogs of all sizes and it’s sold at a very reasonable price. American Journey kibbles come in bags that are 4 pounds, 12 pounds, and 24 pounds. The 24-pound size is priced at $39.99; $35.99 on autoship. Chewy offers 30 percent off your first bag. If you’re not sure which food to try for your Maltipoo, we suggest giving American Journey a try to see how you and your dog like it.

Best Foods for Maltipoo Puppies

Wellness Small Breed Complete Health Puppy Turkey, Oatmeal & Salmon Meal Recipe Dry

Healthy Ingredients : Deboned Turkey, Chicken Meal, Oatmeal, Salmon Meal, Ground Barley
Key Features :

• Smaller kibble size
• Oatmeal and barley as carbs
• Rich in antioxidants
• High in protein

One of our favorite puppy foods for very small puppies is Wellness Small Breed Complete Health Puppy Turkey, Oatmeal & Salmon Meal Recipe Dry Dog Food. Three of the first four ingredients are meat proteins: deboned turkey, chicken meal, and salmon meal. Salmon meal is a natural source of DHA which supports your Maltipoo puppy’s brain development. This food is rich in antioxidants from fruits and veggies. Oatmeal and barley offer carbs for energy that your puppy needs. This Wellness puppy food also has a smaller kibble size to make it easier for your tiny puppy to eat. No corn, no wheat, no soy. It has 480 kcal per cup. Comes in a 4-pound and 12-pound bag. The 12-pound bag is $33.24 from Chewy or $32.58 on autoship.

Merrick Lil’ Plates Grain-Free Real Chicken & Sweet Potato Puppy Dry

Healthy Ingredients : Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Potatoes, Peas, Sweet Potatoes
Key Features :

• Pre and probiotics
• Grain and gluten free
• DHA for brain development
• No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives

Another favorite puppy food for Maltipoo puppies is Merrick Lil’ Plates Grain-Free Real Chicken & Sweet Potato Puppy Dry Dog Food. Merrick is another top brand and their Lil’ Plates foods are perfect for small dogs and puppies. The first two ingredients are deboned chicken and chicken meal. This is a grain free recipe with no gluten, no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. It features added probiotics and prebiotic fiber to help your Maltipoo puppy digest the food easily. It also has Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat. DHA ensures good brain development in your growing puppy. Made in Texas. This food has 397 kcal/cup. A 12-pound bag from Chewy is $37.77 or 35.88 with autoship.

CANIDAE Grain-Free PURE Ancestral Puppy Avian Formula Freeze-Dried Raw Coated Dry

Healthy Ingredients : Quail, Chicken, Lentils, Carrots, Tapioca, Turkey, Sweet Potatoes
Key Features :

• Omega fatty acids
• Probiotics for digestion
• Protein packed
• No grains, corn, wheat, or soy

If you’re looking for an ancestral diet for your Maltipoo puppy, we can recommend a new food from Canidae: CANIDAE Grain-Free PURE Ancestral Puppy Avian Formula Freeze-Dried Raw Coated Dry Dog Food. This is a protein-packed formula with six kinds of fowl – quail, chicken, turkey, guinea fowl, duck and pheasant. The first two ingredients are quail and chicken. Made with a trio of probiotics, antioxidants, and omega fatty acids which are added after cooking to help your puppy with good digestion, a strong immune system, and healthy skin and coat. This recipe is raw-coated with freeze-dried raw pheasant. No grains, corn, wheat, soy, or red meat so this food is an excellent choice for any puppy that is sensitive to these ingredients. Canidae is a family-owned company. This ancestral food from Canidae has 512 kcal/cup so it’s very nutritionally dense. A little bit of food contains a lot of calories and nutrition. A 9-pound bag from Chewy is $37.99 or $36.09 with autoship.

Best Foods for Adult Maltipoos

Wellness CORE Grain-Free Small Breed Turkey & Chicken Recipe Dry

Healthy Ingredients : Deboned Turkey, Turkey Meal, Chicken Meal, Potatoes, Peas
Key Features :

• Great source of protein
• Omega fatty acids and salmon oil for coat health
• No corn, wheat, or soy
• Chondroitin and glucosamine for joint health

Wellness CORE Grain-Free Small Breed Turkey & Chicken Recipe Dry Dog Food is an excellent food for small dogs like Maltipoos. The first three ingredients are Deboned Turkey, Turkey Meal, Chicken Meal so your dog will be getting lots of meat protein. It’s grain free, gluten-free, with no corn, wheat, or soy. It has omega fatty acids from salmon oil to help your Maltipoo have healthy skin and coat. Glucosamine and chondroitin help with your dog’s joint health. This food has 396 kcal/cup. Chewy has a 12-pound bag for $37.99 or $36.09 on autoship.

Taste of the Wild Appalachian Valley Small Breed Grain-Free Dry

Healthy Ingredients : Venison, Lamb Meal, Garbanzo Beans, Peas, Lentils
Key Features :

• Probiotics for digestion
• Grain-free
• Made with real venison
• High in protein

Taste of the Wild is hugely popular with dog lovers today and they now have a formula especially for small dogs like Maltipoos. Taste of the Wild Appalachian Valley Small Breed Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is grain free and made with real venison. Venison and lamb are the first two ingredients. It also has egg, duck, and ocean fish so your Maltipoo is getting lots of animal protein. It has no grain, corn, wheat, fillers, artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives so it’s a good choice for dogs that are sensitive to these ingredients. Taste of the Wild uses a proprietary strain of probiotics to help dogs digest their food. This food has 370 kcal/cup. Chewy has a 14-pound bag of this small breed formula for $30.99 or $29.44 with autoship.

Solid Gold Lil’ Boss Turkey & Hearty Vegetable Recipe Grain-Free Dry

Healthy Ingredients : Turkey, Turkey Meal, Chicken Meal, Peas, Chickpeas
Key Features :

• Blend of 20 superfoods
• Small, easy to eat kibble
• High in protein
• Grain and gluten free

Another great food for small dogs like Maltipoos comes from Solid Gold – one of the first companies to make holistic dog foods starting in the 1970s. Solid Gold Lil’ Boss Turkey & Hearty Vegetable Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is grain and gluten-free, with small kibble pieces that makes it easy for small dogs like Maltipoos to chew. The first three ingredients are Turkey, Turkey Meal, and Chicken Meal so your dog will be getting lots of meat protein. This food also includes a unique blend of 20 nutritious superfoods such as pumpkin, cranberries, blueberries, carrots, broccoli, kelp, and almond oil. Olive oil and salmon oil contribute to your dog’s skin and coat health. No corn, wheat, or soy. This food has 390 kcal/cup. Chewy has a 12-pound bag for $34.99 or $33.24 with autoship.

Maltipoo Feeding Guide

An adult Maltipoo weighing about 10 pounds generally needs around 400 calories per day. This amount will vary depending on the individual dog, his activity level, age, and other factors. It’s the same for both males and females. Dogs that have been spayed or neutered may need slightly fewer calories. Older dogs may need to have calories adjusted for weight gain or loss.

A Maltipoo puppy will need a lot of calories for growth during the first year. For example, a puppy that weighs just 6 pounds (between the age of 4 and 12 months) will need about 300 calories, or nearly as much food as a full-grown Maltipoo.

Breeders and other experts usually recommend feeding a puppy several small meals per day the first couple of months after you bring him home. You can gradually start feeding your puppy about three meals per day as he becomes an adult during the first year. By the time your Maltipoo reaches maturity you can continue to feed three small meals or switch to two meals per day.

You can use the feeding suggestions on the food you buy as a starting point but they are only a guideline. These suggestions are written for all dogs so you may need to adjust the amount you feed your Maltipoo. Pay attention to whether your dog is gaining or losing weight while eating the amount you feed and adjust his portions as necessary. Your adult Maltipoo should be slim and active so don’t overfeed him.

4 Best Foods to Feed a Puppy Maltipoo

If you have a Maltipoo puppy, most of his food requirements are similar to those of an adult Maltipoo. He needs more daily calories while he’s growing. He needs a little more protein in his diet which good small breed puppy foods will provide. Look for puppy foods that have DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid) which has been shown to help with brain development in puppies. Puppies also need calcium and phosphorus in the ratio of 1.2 parts of calcium for each 1 part of phosphorous (1.2:1).

Maltipoo Puppy Food Comparison Table
Rank	Product	Price	Rating
#1	Wellness Small Breed Complete Health Puppy Turkey, Oatmeal & Salmon Meal Recipe Dry  Buy Online  Customer Reviews  Brand Review	$2.77/lb	A+
#2	Merrick Lil’ Plates Grain-Free Real Chicken & Sweet Potato Puppy Dry  Buy Online  Customer Reviews  Brand Review	$3.14/lb	A
#3	CANIDAE Grain-Free PURE Ancestral Puppy Avian Formula Freeze-Dried Raw Coated Dry  Buy Online  Customer Reviews  Brand Review	$3.60/lb	A-

3 Best Foods to Feed an Adult Maltipoo

There are quite a few good foods for small and toy breed dogs today. You can feed your adult Maltipoo an all life stage food or a food for maintenance. You have lots of choices in terms of meat proteins and formulas: kibble, canned/wet, kibble with freeze-dried raw pieces, fresh foods, and the list goes on. Here are three foods that we especially like for Maltipoos.

Adult Maltipoo Dog Food Comparison Table
Rank	Product	Price	Rating
#1	UnKibble by Spot and Tango Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe  Buy Online  Customer Reviews  Brand Review	Varies	A+
#2	American Journey Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe Grain  Buy Online  Customer Reviews  Brand Review	$1.79/lb	A+
#3	Wellness CORE Grain-Free Small Breed Turkey & Chicken Recipe Dry  Buy Online  Customer Reviews  Brand Review	$3.16/lb	A+
#4	Taste of the Wild Appalachian Valley Small Breed Grain-Free Dry  Buy Online  Customer Reviews  Brand Review	$3.14/lb	A
#5	Solid Gold Lil’ Boss Turkey & Hearty Vegetable Recipe Grain-Free Dry  Buy Online  Customer Reviews  Brand Review	$3.60/lb	A

Conclusion

Maltipoos are one of the most popular – and cutest – crossbreed dogs around today. Feeding your little dog a good diet can go a long way to keeping him healthy and happy for many years. Whether your Maltipoo is just a tiny puppy or a precious adult dog, try some of the foods recommended here and let us know what you think!