50% off your first order. Redeem Now

Dog Food Chevron
Cat Food Chevron
More Chevron
See Plans & Pricing Account

FREEZE-DRIED RAW FEEDING GUIDE

How to feed a Maltipoo

The Maltipoo is a tiny dog with a delicate kneecap, a mouth prone to gum disease, and an easy tendency to gain weight on too many training treats — which makes how you feed one quietly important.

Here is exactly how to feed a Maltipoo on freeze-dried raw: small, measured portions and nutrient-dense food that supports their joints, teeth, and silky coat without piling on calories.

  • Adult weight10–20 lb
  • SizeToy
  • EnergyModerate
  • Lifespan13–16 years
  • CoatSoft, curly-to-silky single coat — low shedding, grooming-heavy
Build my dog's plan → Shop recipes
A healthy Maltipoo
iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

What a Maltipoo's body needs

Every Maltipoo trait comes back to one thing: how you feed them. Here's what matters most.

  • Tiny stomach, big calorie sensitivity

    Needs: Small, nutrient-dense portions

    Freeze-dried raw is concentrated real food, so a little goes a long way — a Maltipoo gets complete nutrition from a measured amount that won't crowd out a small appetite or pad the waistline.

  • Easily gains weight from treats

    Needs: Lean protein, honest portions

    83% meat, organs and bone fed by weight keeps calories in check, while single-ingredient freeze-dried treats let you reward training without the sugary, starchy biscuits that add up fast on a small dog.

  • Prone to dental & gum disease

    Needs: Low-residue, real-food diet

    Minimally processed raw skips the sticky, starchy fillers that feed plaque, and natural chew treats give the jaw work that helps keep small mouths cleaner between brushings.

  • Patellar luxation & joint fragility

    Needs: Joint support + a lean body

    Real bone and organ supply natural glucosamine and chondroitin, omega-3s calm joint inflammation, and staying lean takes load off a fragile little knee and hip.

  • Silky, grooming-heavy Poodle-Maltese coat

    Needs: Omega-3 fatty acids

    Whole-food animal and fish fats feed the skin barrier from the inside for a soft, healthy coat that mats and tangles less between grooming visits.

How much to feed a Maltipoo

Quick answer: a healthy adult Maltipoo (10–20 lb) needs about 1.5–3.0 oz of freeze-dried raw per day, split across two meals. Freeze-dried is calorie-dense and measured dry — so it's much less by volume than kibble. Feed to a lean waistline and adjust every few weeks.

Ideal adult weightFreeze-dried per dayPer meal (×2)
10 lb 1.5 oz 0.8 oz
13 lb 2.0 oz 1.0 oz
16 lb typical Maltipoo 2.4 oz 1.2 oz
19 lb 2.9 oz 1.4 oz
20 lb 3.0 oz 1.5 oz

Starting points for a moderately active adult (~0.15 oz of freeze-dried per lb of ideal weight). Active dogs need a little more, couch companions a little less — always adjust to body condition, not the bag.

Get exact portion →

What to feed a Maltipoo

For a Maltipoo we recommend complete freeze-dried raw as the daily base — real meat, organs and ground bone with no heat-processed filler — or as a topper while you transition a picky small dog.

Lean single-protein recipes like Chicken or Wild-Caught Cod are gentle and easy to portion for weight-watchers; richer Salmon adds extra coat-supporting omegas. Just add water, crumble small, and serve.

Recipes for Maltipoos

Shop all →

Daily support for Maltipoos

Shop all →

Treats Maltipoos love

Shop all →

Feeding a Maltipoo by life stage

  • Puppy: Maltipoo puppies are tiny and need frequent fuel — feed roughly 5–8% of current body weight split across 3–4 small meals a day to avoid blood-sugar dips, then scale back to 2–3 meals as they grow.
  • Adult: Feed to a lean, palpable waist, split across two small meals. Use the chart below as a starting point and remember to subtract any training treats from the daily amount.
  • Senior: Older Maltipoos slow down but still love their food. Trim portions to match lower activity, keep protein high to preserve lean muscle, and lean into joint- and dental-supportive nutrition.

Common Maltipoo concerns — and the diet connection

  • Patellar luxation & Legg-Calvé-PerthesThese small-breed joint issues are largely structural, but keeping your Maltipoo lean and supplying natural glucosamine and omega-3 from real bone and organ helps support comfort and day-to-day mobility.
  • Dental & gum diseaseSmall mouths are prone to plaque; a low-filler, real-food diet leaves less sticky residue than starchy kibble, and natural chews give helpful jaw work to support cleaner teeth between brushings.
  • Weight gain & obesityA few extra treats go a long way on a tiny dog. Measured raw feeding and counting treats into the daily total keep a Maltipoo lean, which protects fragile joints and overall health.
  • Coat & skin healthThe Maltipoo's silky, mat-prone coat benefits from omega-rich whole-food fats that support the skin barrier from the inside, helping the coat stay soft and healthy between grooming appointments.

Diet supports health but doesn't replace veterinary care — ask your vet about any specific condition.

Feeding a Maltipoo: what to know

A Maltipoo needs surprisingly little food, and the calories from training treats add up faster than you'd think on a 10–20 lb dog. Measure every meal and count treats as part of the daily total, not extra.

Feed to body condition: you should feel the ribs easily under that fluffy coat and see a slight waist from above. Because the coat hides weight gain, weigh your Maltipoo regularly rather than trusting your eyes.

Maltipoo feeding questions

How much should I feed my Maltipoo?
A healthy adult Maltipoo (10–20 lb) needs roughly 1.5–3 oz of freeze-dried raw per day, split between two small meals. Freeze-dried is calorie-dense and measured dry, so it's far less by volume than kibble — feed to a lean waistline and count any treats into the total.
What's the best food for a Maltipoo that gains weight easily?
A measured, complete freeze-dried raw diet of lean proteins like Chicken or Cod makes portion control simple and calories honest. Weigh each meal, reward training with single-ingredient treats, and feed to body condition rather than to the begging.
How do I switch my Maltipoo to raw?
Transition over 7–10 days, mixing a little more Land Animal into the old food each day. Crumble it small so it's easy for a tiny mouth, and start at the lower end of the range since freeze-dried raw is rich.
Is freeze-dried raw good for my Maltipoo's teeth?
It helps. A real-food diet leaves less sticky, starchy residue than kibble, and natural chew treats give the jaw work that supports cleaner teeth. It doesn't replace daily brushing, which every Maltipoo still needs.
Does my Maltipoo need joint support?
Many do, given the breed's risk of luxating patella and other small-dog joint issues. Freeze-dried raw with real bone and organ provides natural glucosamine and omega-3, and keeping your Maltipoo lean is the most effective joint protection there is.

THE CLEAN BOWL GUARANTEE

If your dog won't eat it, it's on us

Try Maltipoo's first plan risk-free. If they turn up their nose, we'll make it right — money-back, and skip, pause or cancel anytime.

  • Vet-formulated
  • AAFCO complete & balanced
  • Pathogen-tested every batch

  • "Knowing exactly how much to feed took all the guesswork out. He's leaner, with more energy on our walks."

    — Jenna & Cooper

  • "My picky rescue finally runs to the bowl — and cleanup in the yard is a fraction of what it was."

    — Priya & Luna
Build my dog's meal plan →

Portions are starting points for freeze-dried raw and AAFCO complete-and-balanced recipes. Always feed to your individual dog's body condition and ask your vet about specific health needs.