A Potty Training Maltese Guide
Before you begin a potty training Maltese program, it’s a good idea to understand your dog and what makes your Maltese… “go,”…(pun intended). In all seriousness, a good potty training Maltese program will make both you and your beloved pet much happier in the long run, and that lays the responsibility of understanding your dog’s elimination needs squarely on your shoulders.
First, rule out factors that cause accidents, especially if you are dealing with an adult dog. These factors may or may not apply if you are training a puppy.
1. Medical Conditions. Sometimes a dog can develop urinary tract infection and the poor thing will not be able to control his eliminations. A veterinarian can help you rule this problem out.
2. Territorialism. Scent marking your home is an issue that has nothing to do with natural elimination needs. Dogs have a natural instinct to mark their territory. Both males and females do this as a way of telling any other animals that they are now the owner of the territory in question. This may happen when the dog is feeling threatened or when first introduced to his or her new home so you will need to be vigilant and learn to distract your Maltese from this behavior.
3. Separation Anxiety. Dogs have no concept of time and live only in the moment. When you leave the house, and he is alone, he doesn’t know that you are coming back. What’s worse is that no matter how many times you’ve gone and come back, your dog will assume each time that you are gone for good. Anxiety can lead to all kinds of aberrant behavior, including soiling in the house.
4. Getting Overly Excited. Puppies are especially prone to losing control of their bladders when they become too excited or fearful.
Once you’ve learned to distinguish these factors, your potty training Maltese program will go much easier. You should watch for your dogs’ natural need to eliminate, and knowing when those times are, gives you the best advantage to implementing a successful potty training Maltese program.
Always take your Maltese out to a pre-determined bathroom area after every meal. Eating triggers the digestive track to eliminate waste in order to make room for the next meal processing job. Using this fact is an excellent potty training Maltese tip.
If your pet has an accident in the house, another great potty training Maltese tip is to take the towels you use to clean the mess up and place them in the pre-designated bathroom area outside. The smells from the towels will help your Maltese associate this area as the place for elimination. And that little fact makes it absolutely necessary to thoroughly clean the area in the house that he soiled, as the smell will attract him and he will associate that as the new bathroom area.
Also, it will do no good to try punishing your Maltese after the fact, as he will not be able to connect the act of indoor elimination with your displeasure. All it will do is confuse the dog and, in his mind, make you out to be unpredictable and, therefore, someone to avoid. This is not the right method for a successful potty training Maltese program.
If you happen to catch your little darling “in the act,” do not frighten him. You can startle him, attempt to distract him and then immediately take him outside. If you frighten him, he will develop some very bad habits, like hiding from you when he needs to eliminate.
It's a long road...
ReplyDeleteYour tips have been very helpful to me, an owner of two young Maltese. Thanks!
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