Training a Maltese dog to perform any command, whether to sit, walk on a leash or heel, requires an owner to be patient, creative and consistent. Choose short, simple commands, give constant rewards and positive feedback and perform the same technique over and over. Your voice, your training environment and what you do before and after training will result in success or failure of a properly trained Maltese.
Things You'll Need
- Dog toys
- Dog treats
- Whistle (if you have a soft voice or want him to respond to this)
Instructions
Beginning Training
Find a quiet room or park with no distractions. You will have to use this place day after day. Most experts say that each training session should last about fifteen minutes. If other people, dogs or distractions come into view, your Maltese will find it difficult to concentrate.
Create a short, simple command for what you want accomplished. The Maltese will understand commands like "sit," "down," "speak," "no" or "yes." If you are training in two opposite actions, choose words that sound very different from one another. Do not use "Shhhh" and "speak" since it will be hard for the Maltese to distinguish the sounds. It is best to choose a command like "quiet" and "talk."
Get a simulation. If you want the dog to stop barking at other dogs, get an audio recording of a dog online and play it near your dog. Training will begin when you start the recording (making him bark). Say the command and stop the recording. When your dog stops barking, give him the reward item. Repeat this over and over.
Force the Maltese to perform the action you want. If you want him to sit, roll, stand or fetch, physically push his rear end, roll him, open his mouth or put the stick in his mouth. Say the command, and force him to perform the action. If he is chewing shoes, find a shoe you can give him. Give him the shoe, say "No" or "Stop" and take it away. Then give him the reward. Once he does the correct action (or you do it for him), give him a food reward and say positive things like "Good Boy!" "Yes!" "Great!" Make sure the positive word is not close to the command word. This will confuse him.
Advanced Training
Let the dog try it by himself. After about a week (5 to 10 sessions), try to make the training more advanced by not forcing him, but seeing if he will perform the action himself. If it doesn't work, you must continue using the simulation, forcing him to do the action (or do the action for him), giving the command and giving the reward (when he performs).
Put him in diverse environments. If he is able to walk off-leash, stop chewing, heel or perform the correct action within the quiet, optimal training location, try taking him outside or to a park. He may still remain trained, or it may seem like you are starting all over since distractions, other dogs, loud noises, new smells and new stimulants made him "forget" the training. At this point, you must train him within this environment.
Keep the object of training next to him and be sure that he, by himself, is trained. If he was chewing a shoe, or doing some incorrect action within the house, keep the object next to him and tell him "No." Reward him if he performs correctly.
Associate training with fun. After a training session, give your Maltese a reward such as taking him to a park and letting him run, take him on a walk or take him to an environment he enjoys.