Maltese Obedience Training
By Sean Green

Maltese, the excellent watch dogs, protect their owners by barking upon suspicious noises, animals and strangers. However, some times, they unnecessarily bark practically at everything they hear or see. Maltese Obedience training comprises of training him to socialize with frequent visitors and also he has to be praised when he stops barking at visitors. The time of remaining quiet can be gradually increased before rewarding with a treat. Alternatively, a squirt gun can also be used. A barking dog should be told to be quiet by squirting some water on the face. Another option of stopping the barking is to put some pennies in a pop can and sealing it with tape. When the dog barks the words ‘Quiet’ should be uttered, after shaking the can well. It should be generously praised when the barking gets stopped. The can may also be tossed on the floor near the dog to interrupt barking, but the throw should not hit the dog.

Maltese Obedience training also should focus on proper care and attention as they are very anxious dogs. They become clingy when the owners are absent from home. Sometimes they suffer from separation anxiety. The Maltese should be trained to adopt the surroundings nicely even when he is left alone. Initially, the Maltese Obedience Training should involve short absences. For instance, at first the owner should walk out of door and return immediately after closing it. A big deal should not be made on the absence. The leave and come back should be short. Maltese should be rewarded for sitting calm during the separation. When the dog does not show any sign of distress, the absences could be gradually lengthened. The dog should not become upset when the owners stay away for a longer period. The absences should be repeated till the dog gets comfortable for a reasonable period of absence.

Maltese obedience training can be carried out efficiently if you buy a range of chew toys to make the Maltese occupied while the owner is not at home. The toys can be stuffed with the favorite food and can be hidden in different places. These things will keep Maltese dogs distracted and busy. The radio or TV can be switched on with some background noise to prevent the feeling of loneliness. Mostly dogs bark due to loneliness and boredom. It has to be ensured that the dog is exercised properly so that he may get tired and sleep when the owner is away.

Maltese Obedience Training and controlling excessive barking require sufficient time, consistency and patience. These methods should be tested and a most appropriate and practical method should be applied consistently. When all the methods fail, the only option left is using an anti-bark collar. While taking care on Maltese, caution should be observed in avoiding over pampering. Pampering ruins the temperament trait and make the dog overprotective of owner and like to spend more time with the master. Like all other dogs, Maltese should be taught its place in the home.