The Maltese is an energetic, vivacious and gay dog.
It has a loving temperament and is known for its loyalty and devotion to its master.
He is highly intelligent and learns tricks easily if he feels adequately rewarded.
The Maltese is a lovable companion dog; it is elegant and affectionate, fearless and quick to sound the alarm if he hears unfamiliar sounds.
Your new Maltese will be overwhelmed by the sights, sounds and smells in his new world.
Give him enough time to find his bearing and help him get familiar with your family members.
You have to teach him the rules of your house, and that will take some time.
But, once he has learned them, he will be a treat for you and your family.
You may start Maltese training with the "sit" command early in the process, as long as it is clear and consistent.
When you want him to sit, give the command and put your palm on his back without putting any pressure on his back.
However, if he does not get the message, you may have to do it to make him understand what you are trying to convey.
You will have to be patient with him, but you can be sure of success, if you praise him when he behaves well.
Shouting and yelling or losing your temper is of no use.
It will not help you train your dog any better.
Instead, wait for opportunities when he obeys you, and then praise him profusely.
You can boost his confidence with appreciation.
Then he will be ready to venture into unfamiliar territory as well.
If you plan to take your dog to a show, crate training is a must.
If your dog is trained to be in his crate, you can make life easy for yourself and for your dog.
Crate training comes in very handy at the time of traveling.
Of course, you will have to go cautiously as you train him to be in the crate when required.
In the beginning, don't leave your Maltese pup in the crate for more than a couple of minutes, and that too when he can see you all the time.
Don't leave him the crate and go to the other room.
Let your pup explore his crate and begin to instill in him a positive association with it.
As he begins to get used to the crate, you may start increasing the time span adding a few minutes more each day.
However, it is unkind to confine your Maltese to the crate for a long time.
Maltese tend to become unstable and jealous.
So, don't be over protective of him otherwise he may resent visitors to your house.
Maltese training can be a challenging process, but well worth the efforts for your loyal and devoted companion.