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Positive training · From eight weeks

Maltese Puppy Training Manual

From 8 Weeks

Maltese: short cooperative brushing sessions keep handling predictable and voluntary.

29 chapters · English / 中文

Watercolour illustration of a Maltese sitting calmly on a grooming table beside a brush, folded towels and grooming bottles
Maltese: short cooperative brushing sessions keep handling predictable and voluntary.

Breed profile

Training group
Toy and companion dogs
Origin
The Maltese originated in the Mediterranean as a companion dog.
Weight
2–4 kg
Coat
White, long silky coat
Coat care
Daily brushing needs to be taught as a calm, voluntary handling routine; without early desensitisation, long-coat care can become a lifelong struggle.
Drive keywords
Close companionship · Sensitivity · Environmental alertness
Handling practice
Teach daily long-coat brushing and eye-area wiping as separate voluntary skills: present the brush or soft cloth, touch one easy area, make one gentle stroke, mark, reward and release. Build eye and tear-stain-area contact without restraint; any discharge, soreness or other abnormal change belongs with a veterinarian. · Keep human movements small and give the puppy stable footing; practise calm, supported lifting and returning to the ground without using constant carrying in place of training.

General reference range only; individual dogs vary considerably.

Prevent, escort, reward

Toilet training

Toilet training is a schedule and supervision task. Every outdoor success is information; every indoor accident means the schedule, supervision or health context needs review.

Person in a raincoat holding an umbrella while a small dog sniffs beside a red flag marking its outdoor toilet spot
One marked toilet place and the same calm sequence make wet-weather practice predictable.

Six times the puppy must go out

During the day, add a scheduled trip every 45–60 minutes.

Watercolour toilet timing wheel showing a puppy going outside after waking, meals and play and every few hours
GO OUT after WAKING, after MEALS and after PLAY, plus EVERY FEW HOURS on the dog’s current schedule.

Use the same toilet-place sequence

  1. Take the same route Escort the dog on a secure lead directly to the toilet area without a tour of the yard.
  2. Use the same surface Consistency of place and surface helps the dog recognise the job.
  3. Wait quietly for 2–3 minutes No play, conversation or wandering while you wait.
  4. Mark the instant toileting happens Mark while the dog is still outside and completing the behaviour.
  5. Reward outside Deliver the reward at the toilet place. Do not wait until you are back indoors.
  6. Play only after success If toileting always ends outdoor time, the dog may learn to hold on to make the outing last longer.

Find the missing trip

Record three consecutive days

Chapter 27 provides fields for date, time, outdoor success, indoor accident and last meal time. Three consecutive days usually reveal where the schedule is late.

Regression is information

Expect a setback at 14–16 weeks and again in adolescence

Return to the previous stage’s outing frequency. Do not increase punishment.

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