Both are Poodle crosses; the other parent is what sets them apart. The Cockapoo's is a Cocker Spaniel, a gun dog: the American Cocker in the US, usually the English Cocker in Britain. The Maltipoo's is the Maltese, bred for centuries as a lap dog. That makes the Cockapoo the bigger, busier dog, though our energy rating is the same for both: a rating cannot show whether a Cockapoo comes from working Cocker lines or is a calm one. The ratings differ only with young children, where the Cockapoo is the better fit; the Maltipoo is also a little cheaper to keep.
- Size. A Cockapoo weighs about 12-25 lbs, a Maltipoo 5-20 lbs. In both crosses most of the spread comes from the Poodle parent, Toy or Miniature, so ask how big it is. A Maltipoo from a Toy Poodle can weigh 5-6 lbs and is fragile: a jump off the sofa or a toddler's tight grip can hurt it. That is why we rate the Maltipoo lower with young children.
- Predictability. Neither cross has a breed standard, and the AKC registers neither. A first-generation (F1) puppy can take after either parent in size, coat and temperament; an F1b, bred back to a Poodle, is more Poodle-like and more often curly.
- Exercise. A Cocker was bred to work in the field all day, and a Cockapoo, especially one from working Cocker lines, usually needs long walks and something to do. The Maltese side asks for less: short walks and play indoors are often enough for a Maltipoo.
- Behavior. A 2026 Royal Veterinary College study of 9,402 young UK dogs (PLOS ONE, owner-reported C-BARQ scores) found Cockapoos worse than Cocker Spaniels on 10 of 12 behavior scales, including aggression toward owners and strangers. The study did not include the Maltipoo, so there are no comparable data for it. A Maltipoo, like the Maltese, is often a keen alert barker, which matters in an apartment. Both crosses do poorly when left alone for long workdays.
- Coat and ears. Both usually shed little, but the Cocker sheds moderately, so an F1 Cockapoo that takes after it can shed more than an F1 Maltipoo. Neither is allergen-free, and curly coats need clipping every few weeks. A Cockapoo's long, hanging ears trap moisture: in UK vet records from 2016 (RVC VetCompass), 12.97% of Cockapoos were treated for ear inflammation in a year, against 7.30% of all dogs. Check its ears weekly.
- Health. We expect 12-16 years for the Cockapoo and 10-15 for the Maltipoo. For the Cocker parent, ask for the prcd-PRA DNA test for an inherited form of blindness and, with an English Cocker, the familial nephropathy test for a fatal kidney disease. For the Maltese parent, ask for a kneecap check, a heart exam and a bile acids test, which screens for a liver shunt. For the Poodle parent of either, ask for a kneecap check, an eye exam by a veterinary ophthalmologist and the prcd-PRA test, plus a hip evaluation for a Miniature Poodle. Small mouths make Maltipoos prone to dental disease, so plan on brushing their teeth.
- Price. A Cockapoo puppy costs about $1,200-$2,500, a Maltipoo $1,000-$4,000. We estimate a year of keeping a Maltipoo at $800-$1,500, a Cockapoo at $1,000-$2,000.
Pick the Cockapoo for an active family that wants a sturdier dog for long walks; pick the Maltipoo for a calmer home without toddlers that wants a smaller lap dog. With either, choose a breeder based on the parents' health test results. If you are also weighing the Cavapoo, see Cavapoo vs Cockapoo and Cavapoo vs Maltipoo; for a purebred alternative, Havanese vs Maltipoo.