Maltipoo vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Hawaiian Poi Dog is originated from Indonesia but Maltipoo is originated from United States. Both Hawaiian Poi Dog and Maltipoo are having almost same height. Hawaiian Poi Dog may weigh 9 kg / 20 pounds more than Maltipoo. Hawaiian Poi Dog may live 7 years less than Maltipoo. Both Hawaiian Poi Dog and Maltipoo has same litter size. Hawaiian Poi Dog requires Low Maintenance. But Maltipoo requires Moderate Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Companion dog
Toy dog
undefined
Indonesia
United States
Height Male:
36 - 38 cm
14 - 15 inches
20 - 35 cm
7 - 14 inches
Height Female:
34 - 36 cm
13 - 15 inches
20 - 35 cm
7 - 14 inches
Weight Male:
7 - 15 kg
15 - 34 pounds
2 - 6 kg
4 - 14 pounds
Weight Female:
6 - 13 kg
13 - 29 pounds
2 - 6 kg
4 - 14 pounds
Life Span:
5 - 8 Years
10 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 5
2 - 5
Size:
Small
Small
Other Names:
Native Hawaiian Dog, and Hawaiian Islanders’ Dog., Poi Dog, Ilio, Hawaiian Dog
Maltapoo, Moodle
Colors Available:
any color with white markings, brown mostly
White, cream, apricot, brown - mix of colors
Coat:
short and fine
medium to long, wavy or curly
Shedding:
Minimal
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Playful, Stubborn
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Hard
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
Yes
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

The Hawaiian Poi Dog was a descendent of the dogs brought to the Islands by the Polynesian. These Polynesian dogs were themselves descendants of the kuri dog of New Zealand. These kuri dogs were originally from Indonesia. The Hawaiian Poi dog is now extinct but at one time was considered the spiritual protector of Hawaiian children and also used as food by hungry Native Hawaiians.

The dog was called poi which was the word for a food staple mad from the root of Taro and used to put weight on the dogs before they were eaten. Meat was not fed to the dogs because it was too scarce. There was no large mammals to hunt and so the breed was never given a standard. The Poi dog seen by European explorers were short legged, pot bellied canines that lived with the hogs in the towns. Because of what they ate, the dogs were not highly intelligent but were stubborn and hard to train. Because the dogs were not suited for much beyond food and a spiritual charm, they became extinct when the traditional religion was no longer practiced and eating dogs was no longer acceptable. The breed pretty much disappeared by the early 20th century. Very few images of the dogs remain except for ancient petroglyphs.

There was an attempt by the Honolulu Zoo in the late 1960’s to redevelop the breed using local dogs to determine a standard. Then the local dogs were bred as close to the standard as possible. In the third generation one dog was born with the traits of a Poi dog. There was not much more success with this and then the Polynesian ship travel between Tahiti and Hawaii was recreated and a dog taken along.

Today’s mixed breed dogs in Hawaii are called Poi dogs but also have the stubbornness, unique appearance and ability to eat anything it is given like the original Poi. The dogs are small, and should not be confused with the original Poi dogs.

maltipooThe Maltipoo is a popular dog breed – a cross between the Maltese and Poodle. The dog originates in the United States.

The Maltipoo is a cross breed but it is often referred to as a designer dog because of it being purposely bred. The cute little dog has been created to be a companion dog, suiting allergy sufferers because of him being a low shedder and considered hypoallergenic.

The Maltipoo isn’t officially recognized as a true breed. Some Maltipoo Clubs and Registries have been formed.

Description

As previously mentioned the Poi dog is somewhat unusual in size and shape due to what they ate. They looked somewhat like the native dogs of Polynesia and New Zealand. They have short legs, long bodies, somewhat obese and a very flat head. He had a short smooth coat, in any color or any pattern. They were however mostly brown and they might or might not have white markings.

maltipoo puppy - descriptionThe small Maltipoo stands at between 20 and 35cm and weighs about 2 to 6kg. There is no breed standard for this dog. The coat is fluffy and is more inclined to be wavy than curly. It can become quite long and most people prefer to have him professionally clipped.

Coat colors vary from white to cream, apricot and brown or it can be a combination of these colors. He has a tail which some people prefer to dock, but if not, the tail is long and curls, sometimes over the back.

Temperament:

Owning a Maltipoo, you’ll quickly discover that this little dog is active, feisty, bright and, fun-loving, and your life is pretty much not going to have a dull moment with him in it.

If you’re a first time dog owner you’ll love the Maltipoo as he is pretty much easy going. He makes an excellent family pet as he is even tempered. Make sure your kids have been taught how to treat him – with respect, gentleness and kindness. Never allow toddlers to climb over any dog – big or small.

The Maltipoo is intelligent too and this means training and socialization will be easy for him. Many people use them as therapy dogs and they definitely seem to have an affinity with older people, bringing joy into their lives with their bright nature.

They are dogs that can adapt to life in the city or the countryside, just so long as they are with their beloved human family. They’re essentially indoor dogs but will gladly venture outdoors if it means ball games on the lawn with the children or a walk outside the confines of his home. This gives him the opportunity to smell new aromas, a physically and mentally stimulating game for him.

Characteristics

Children friendliness

The Hawaiian Poi dog was very friendly and good with children

Special talents

The Poi was considered a good luck charm and a spiritual protector of children

Adaptability

Given what they faced in life, the Poi dog was very adaptable, living anywhere on the islands and eating anything it could find.

Learning ability

Due to their poor diet, the Hawaiian Poi dog was seriously lacking in intelligence and learning ability.

maltipoo dog - characteristicsYour Maltipoo is guaranteed to bring much joy into your home. He is a social dog, loving to spend time with his human family, whether indoors our outdoors. He is an active dog so will look forward to his walk every day.

Treat your little pet with love and good care, after all he has got so much companionship to offer and deserves the best there is to that the 12 to 15 years he has are filled with health and happiness.

Health Problems

Probably due to its diet, the Poi dog had several problems to their health. Their poor diet led to a sluggishness both in movement and intelligence. Its development was hampered by a lack of protein. Malnutrition and serious over inbreeding caused a weakness and poor oral hygiene. Due to this lack of teeth and chewing the bones in the dogs heads became flat. The Poi had breathing issues and overall lethargy.

maltipoo puppies - health problemsThe Maltipoo is such a bright little dog, brimming with energy, but even so, he can get sick, just like with any other dog.

Dental Problems:

Small dogs are prone to dental problems and gum disease and tartar build up can cause many problems and tooth loss. Any dental infections can lead to infections which can put the entire body in jeopardy.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)

This is a degenerative eye disorder that can cause blindness and although there is no cure there are things that the vet can do for your pet.

Caring The Pet

Feeding the puppy

With meat being rare in Hawaii, none was available for the dogs. They were fed Poi – from the Taro plant roots. Puppies were fed 2-3 times a day.

Feeding the adult

The adult dog was fed once or twice a day the same as Poi puppies were fed.

Points for Good Health

The Hawaiian Poi dog basically has not good health points.

Games and Exercises

The Poi dog did not need and did not get much exercise, leading to its demise.

maltipoo dogs - caringThe Maltipoo is such a sweet little dog – you want to be sure that you look after him as well as can be.

Vaccinations:

Always take your pet for regular veterinary check-ups if you suspect he is ill. If you get a Maltipoo puppy you will need to take him to the vet because there are a number of vaccines he will need to prevent him from picking up some life threatening canine diseases. Some of these are parvo and rabies among others.

Also, as your Maltipoo reaches adulthood you will need to decide whether you will have the dog spayed or neutered to prevent puppies.

Grooming:

Groom your Maltipoo to keep the coat in tip top condition. Brush him at least twice a week to keep him free of loose hairs. It’s a nice bonding session for your pet too and it gives you the chance to check for fleas and ticks. Most Maltipoo owners take their pets to professional groomers to have the coat trimmed as then he looks and feels more comfortable in warmer weather.

Be careful about bathing him too often as even the mildest shampoos can irritate his skin and it strips the coat of natural oils. Other grooming needs will require you keeping his nails short and cleaning his teeth at least 2 or 3 times a week. Because he has floppy ears, check inside them as they can collect excess wax and debris.

If you are unsure about these kinds of grooming needs, check with your vet or groomer because doing it wrong could cause injury to your pet.

Sleeping Space:

Give your pet a soft, warm, dry bed to sleep in. You can make a soft ‘nest’ on the floor or you can buy a sleeping platform or traditional dog basket.

Diet:

With a Maltipoo, choose a high-quality small breed dog food if you are going to feed him commercially manufactured food. This is to ensure he remains healthy. Try and keep your diet simple for your Maltipoo to avoid stomach problems.

For variety, add in some chopped boiled chicken, brown rice and vegetables to his dry kibble. The amount of food you give him will depend on his size and activity levels but you want to avoid feeding him too much so that it leads to obesity. Obesity can bring on a host of dog illnesses.

As opposed to one larger bowl of food, rather feed him two smaller meals which is far healthier for him. Remember to always have a bowl of fresh, cool water standing close by.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Maltipoo vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Maltipoo vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Maltipoo vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Maltipoo vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Maltipoo vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Maltipoo vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Maltipoo vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Maltipoo vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Maltipoo vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Maltipoo vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Maltipoo vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Maltipoo vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Maltipoo vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Maltipoo vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Maltipoo vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Maltipoo vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Maltipoo vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Maltipoo vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Maltipoo vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Maltipoo vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Maltipoo vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Maltipoo vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Maltipoo vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Maltipoo vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Maltipoo vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison