The Cavoodle and the Moodle — known as the Maltipoo outside Australia — sit at the quieter, gentler end of the oodle family. Both are small Poodle crosses suited to apartment living. Both are devoted, low-energy, and low-shedding. If you are looking at both and wondering what the practical difference is, the answer is mostly size, noise, and how they handle children.
The Quick Answer
If you have young children and want the most socially robust small oodle: Cavoodle.
If you want the smallest, quietest, most lap-dog-natured option: Moodle.
How They Compare
| Trait | Cavoodle | Moodle |
|---|---|---|
| Energy level | 3 / 5 | 3 / 5 |
| Good with kids | 5 / 5 | 4 / 5 |
| Training ease | 4 / 5 | 4 / 5 |
| Grooming needs | 4 / 5 | 4 / 5 |
| Shedding | 2 / 5 | 1 / 5 |
| Barking | 2 / 5 | 3 / 5 |
| Apartment friendly | 5 / 5 | 5 / 5 |
| Good with other pets | 5 / 5 | 4 / 5 |
The Real Differences
Size
The Moodle is the smaller of the two. It typically weighs 2 to 7 kilograms, compared to the Cavoodle's 5 to 10 kilograms. Both qualify comfortably as small dogs, but the Moodle sits firmly in lap-dog territory. This matters for renters with strict pet weight limits, for those who travel with dogs, and for households where a slightly sturdier dog is preferable.
The Cavoodle's Cavalier King Charles Spaniel heritage gives it a bit more physical substance and slightly more athletic capability — it can keep up with a brisk walk or a game of backyard fetch without complaint. The Moodle, with its Maltese parent, is more content as an indoor companion and runs at a quieter pace.
Children and Social Robustness
The Cavoodle scores 5/5 for compatibility with children; the Moodle scores 4/5. This reflects a practical reality: the Maltese parent can make Moodles slightly more sensitive, and very young children who do not yet know how to handle small dogs can overwhelm them. The Cavoodle's Cavalier heritage contributes a patience and gentleness that makes it more tolerant of the unpredictable energy of toddlers.
Both are excellent family dogs. But if the household has children under five who are still learning how to interact with dogs, the Cavoodle is the more robust choice.
Noise
The Cavoodle scores 2/5 for barking — genuinely one of the quieter breeds available. The Moodle scores 3/5, which is moderate but meaningfully higher. Moodles can be vocal, especially if anxious or under-stimulated, and this can be a consideration for apartment living with shared walls. The Cavoodle's lower barking tendency makes it the slightly better fit for noise-sensitive environments.
Shedding
Both shed very little. The Moodle edges ahead at 1/5 versus the Cavoodle's 2/5. If minimal shedding is the primary driver of your decision, the Moodle is the marginally better choice. The practical difference for most households is small.
What They Share
Both breeds have significant separation anxiety tendencies — 4/5 for both. The Cavalier and the Maltese are both devoted, people-dependent breeds, and their Poodle cross offspring inherit this strongly. Neither is a dog you can leave alone for a full working day without consequences. Both thrive in households where someone is home for most of the day, or where the dog accompanies the family regularly.
Both also require the same grooming commitment: brushing several times a week and professional grooming every 6 to 8 weeks. The low-shedding advantage comes with this trade-off.
Who Each Breed Suits
Choose a Cavoodle if:
- You have young children and want the more socially robust small breed
- You want a quieter dog — 2/5 barking
- You want excellent compatibility with other pets — 5/5
- You want a slightly more athletic small dog capable of a proper walk
Choose a Moodle if:
- You want the smallest possible oodle — 2 to 7 kg
- You have strict weight limits in a rental property
- You want the lowest possible shedding — 1/5
- Your household is calm and quiet, without young children
- You want a gentle, devoted lap companion above all else
Still deciding? Our breed matching quiz maps your lifestyle against every breed in our database and surfaces the options most compatible with how you actually live.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a Cavoodle and a Moodle?
The Cavoodle is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel crossed with a Poodle, typically weighing 5 to 10 kg. The Moodle is a Maltese crossed with a Toy Poodle, typically weighing 2 to 7 kg. Both are low-shedding apartment-friendly small dogs, but the Cavoodle is slightly larger, better with young children, and quieter; the Moodle is smaller, even lower-shedding, and more of a lap dog.
Are Cavoodles or Moodles better for apartments?
Both score 5/5 for apartment friendliness and are among the best apartment dog options available. If noise is a concern in your building, the Cavoodle's lower barking tendency (2/5 vs 3/5) gives it a slight advantage.
Which is easier to train — a Cavoodle or Moodle?
Both score 4/5 for training ease — equal, and both quite good. Both inherit Poodle intelligence and respond well to positive reinforcement. The Moodle can have a slightly stubborn Maltese streak; the Cavoodle has a slightly people-pleasing quality that makes motivation easy.