Did you just bring home your sweet young Maltese puppy? He is cute and soft, and so precious. You have made a nice bed for him, got him food and water, and now he is wandering around his new environment. He seems comfortable, even though a little scared. Suddenly, reality sets in. You need to potty train him! House training Maltese puppies has a bad rap. Many people believe these dogs are difficult. Read on to learn the truth. . .
What is the best way to potty train a puppy? There are tons of books on ways to house train puppies. Luckily, we are dealing with a breed and most books are very general but your pet is not - he's unique and each breed responds best to different styles of training. This article is what is known as the puppy potty train method.
This breed is easy to train since most times they've been use to staying in a puppy pen or crate. We recommend that you continue this program. If your pup was allowed to run free it's time to start using a crate. Chose a crate that is 3 times the size of your dog when they grow into an adult. Most adult size Maltese dogs range in size to 4-7 pounds so you want a crate for a 21 pound dog or larger depending on the space in your home. Dogs like to den and this crate will serve as your dog's private den or bedroom eventually.
When you are not around or at night you must keep your puppy in his crate. To help your pet feel safe place an old shirt you have worn in their crate with them. This will keep them from whining and feeling lonely. Include small chew toys to cut their new teeth on and keep them busy.
Place the old shirt in their bed area and potty pads in the rest of the crate. You can hold these down with rocks placed along the corners. Always make sure they have fresh water and food if you are going to be gone longer than 3-4 hours. Expect them to go pee and poop. The pads make it easy to pick up and toss in the trash - laying down a fresh pad.
When you're home of course you will want to take your dog outside right away and encourage them to 'go potty' or use some other phrase they associate with this task. Then once back in the house you can enjoy being with your pet.
You may be wondering how do I know when he needs to go again? First, you must watch his every move. If he starts sniffing around, he might be looking for a place to relieve himself.
He will need to go right after a nap, and always after he has been in his crate for any length of time.
Take him outside after he eats and drinks water. Take him out every couple of hours, even if he might not need to go. Try to schedule walks, feedings, and play times around the same time each day. Staying
consistent and on a schedule when house training puppies, will help him start to learn the pattern and know when he should go outside.
Once your puppy has been taken outside and goes potty, remember to praise him for his good behavior - with something like 'good dog'. Positive reinforcement is key. Never scold or hit your puppy for his actions. If you stay calm and patient, it will ease his anxiety and make him more willing to learn. What is the best way to potty train a puppy? There is no perfect way to ensure quick success but with love and kindness your puppy will respond because Maltese breeds love to please their owner.
You may be one of the new owners of a puppy that learns within minutes or a few days however accidents will happen, but they will become less frequent, and eventually non-existent. With these simple instructions for house training your puppy should learn quickly having fewer accidents within a few days or weeks.
It will take him some time to figure out when and where he needs to go potty, but it will all be worth the trouble. Just remember house training Maltese puppies is worth it, especially when you see how sweet and
precious your new little puppy can be. |
