Training A Maltese 101 – Basics Tips
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| Dog Training |
Undoubtedly, the Maltese is among the most popular breeds of dog in the United States. Strangely, many owners almost never take the time and effort to learn how to train their Maltese- they assume that such a small dog cannot possibly get into much trouble. While small and cute, Maltese can be incredibly stubborn, and may not want to follow your commands right away. Indeed, training a Maltese can be terribly difficult and time intensive at times; this is why you want to start as early as possible.
Training a Maltese must be done properly though simply because of their nature. Maltese are bred to be excellent companion dogs that are incredibly attached to their owner. They will be perfectly content to spend every waking minute with you. This extreme attachment has been known to cause a few problem behaviors (mainly shows of dominance) if the dog is not properly socialized with other dogs. Training a Maltese is imperative in avoiding aggression issues. While cute, their tenancy to act larger than they actually are can be rather hazardous. They frequently standoff to strangers and unknown people, even becoming snappy to children and infants.
Taking control of the household is the first step when it comes to training a Maltese. Despite popular belief, these small dogs usually believe that they are in charge of the house unless taught otherwise. If left to his own devices, a Maltese will do whatever he must to show this dominance. Because of this, you should not only establish boundaries, but also establish yourself as leader of the “pack”. In fact, training a Maltese comes down to showing that you are in charge.
The first way to do this is set feeding times. Feed your Maltese at set intervals, paying no heed to the dog when he wants to eat at a different time. He will then notice that you provide him with the food, which is the “alpha male’s” job in the pack mentality. This mentality can also be reinforced by controlling the walk when you take your Maltese out on a walk. Do not let the dog dictate either the speed or the direction. Leash control is vital when you are training a Maltese.
Small dogs such as Maltese can easily get into the mentality that they are allowed to get up wherever they want. This may be cute, but the owner must establish their “territory” to show dominance. Controlling your space is of prime importance in imposing boundaries. Barking and whining should not be responded to at all when trying to decide what furniture the dog is and is not allowed on.
Training a Maltese can be done quickly enough, but most dogs still don’t get enough mental stimulation or exercise. Ask yourself- How often do you take your dog to the park, or play a game of fetch with them? When was the last time you trained them with a simple command like sit or stay? When it comes to training a Maltese, you may reduce the chances of a dominance-question by keeping them from becoming overwhelmed with boredom and/or energy. This will remove many of the bad temperament issues.
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