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Maltese training
Maltese board and train in Gloucester, MA
The AKC traces the Maltese back thousands of years as a companion to nobles and describes an alert, fearless watchdog in a toy-sized body. The breed also needs daily brushing to the skin and frequent tooth care, so a Maltese is handled more than most dogs. This page covers what a stay can do for the toileting, the barking and the handling.
Small and savvy
A Maltese is clever, fearless at the door and well practiced at training its people, so consistency matters most
The AKC's training notes are candid: Maltese are very intelligent, and in centuries as human companions they have learned how to get exactly what they want from their people. Consistency, it says, is important; the breed can be stubborn and determined but responds well to positive training methods, and it does well in obedience and agility. The trait chart scores watchdog nature at four out of five and trainability at three, for a dog of 7 to 9 inches and under 7 pounds.
In daily life that means a dog that notices which bark gets the door opened and which whine gets it lifted onto the couch. The AKC also calls Maltese alert watchdogs, fearless in a charming toy-dog way, so the doorbell is often the loudest moment of the day. None of this is a flaw. It is a smart dog reading its household, and training simply makes sure the household's answers are the same every time.
- Very intelligent and quick to train its owners, per the AKC
- A stubborn streak, best met with positive methods
- An alert watchdog in a dog under seven pounds
- Every household member gives the same answers
The two stays
Two weeks makes sense once a Maltese is steady at home; until then, a week of routines comes first
Foundation, Dogtown's one-week stay, takes a Maltese through basic obedience and leash skills, place, stay and recall, impulse control, crate and household manners, and daycare integration with enrichment, finishing with a go-home lesson. In this breed, crate and household manners carry the toileting routine, and place answers the doorbell: the bell rings, the dog goes to its cot, and quiet earns the treat. Leash skills matter too, since the AKC observes that many small dog owners do not think leash manners are necessary.
The two-week Advanced stay builds on a Maltese's routines with distraction proofing, real-world outings, neutrality, confidence building and structured socialization, and books two coaching lessons for you. It suits a Maltese that keeps its routines at home but barks at every dog it passes on the sidewalk. Groups at Dogtown are 7 to 10 dogs matched by size and temperament, so daycare integration for a toy dog means small, gentle playmates. The price of a Maltese's stay, and the youngest age we take, are both confirmed at the consult.
House training
A Maltese bladder is tiny, so the schedule is tight and the reward comes outside, right away
The AKC's reminders for toy dog owners put it simply: house training is harder for small dogs, because their bodies are smaller and they physically cannot hold it as long as larger puppies. The same article notes that many people give small-dog house training less priority because the messes are small, and says small dogs are trained the same way as big ones, with supervision and consistency. Expect more trips outside, for longer, than with a bigger breed.
A Maltese that toilets indoors has usually found that it works: the rug is closer than the door and nobody noticed. Close supervision removes that option, and an immediate reward outdoors makes the right spot worth the walk. Wet and snowy days are where routines slip, so choose a sheltered corner near the door for nor'easter weather. If an adult Maltese starts having accidents after being reliable, see your vet before calling a trainer.
Handling
Daily brushing, tooth care and nail trims make handling a Maltese life skill, so it is taught with rewards
The AKC's care advice for the breed means hands on the dog every day: gentle brushing and combing to the skin, regular baths, nails trimmed often because they grow fast, ears checked weekly, and teeth brushed frequently, ideally each time the coat is brushed, since Maltese are prone to dental disease as they age. A dog that dislikes any one of those turns daily care into a struggle for both of you.
Handling is not a named item on either board and train list, so raise it at the consult if your Maltese objects to the brush or the toothbrush. The AKC's small-dog training article suggests putting being picked up on cue and respecting signs of discomfort when a small dog is handled. Brave & Balanced, for pups from 4 months, includes cooperative care, and our groomers work in the same building: a full service is $75, teeth brushing $10 and a nail clip $16.
- 01
Say a word, such as brush, before every grooming touch
- 02
Brush one small section, then reward
- 03
Lift the lip for a second, then reward
- 04
Touch one paw and one nail, then reward
- 05
Stop at the first sign of stiffening and go back a step
- 06
End every session with something the dog loves
Pitfalls
Three household habits undo a Maltese's training: answering the bark, skipping the leash and grooming in a rush
Answering the bark comes first. A Maltese that barks at the door and gets the door opened, or barks at you and gets picked up, has been paid. Wait for a second of quiet before anything good happens, and the bark loses its job. Skipping leash practice is the second: a toy dog carried everywhere never learns to walk past another dog, and carrying it toward something it fears takes away its choice to leave.
Rushed grooming is the third. A coat combed only when mats have formed means a session of pulling, and a dog that remembers pulling braces at the sight of the comb. Short daily sessions keep the coat easy and the dog relaxed. Inconsistency sits under all three. The AKC's point about this breed is that it learns how to get what it wants, so everyone in the household needs the same rules.
- Nothing good happens until the barking stops
- Walk the dog on a leash, not only in your arms
- Short daily grooming instead of long rescues
- One set of rules for every person in the house
Afterward
The go-home lesson passes on the schedule, the doorbell routine and the grooming game, and repetition keeps them
The coaching at pick-up, one lesson for Foundation and two for Advanced, hands you the toileting schedule, the place cue and the handling routine for your Maltese, with a trainer correcting your timing. Keep the schedule for several weeks before stretching it, rehearse the doorbell with a friend, and keep grooming minutes short and paid. Write the rules on the fridge so every person in the house answers the dog the same way.
For days that are hard to cover, a half day of daycare in the small-dog group is $33 after the free evaluation on weekday mornings between 6:30 and 9:30, and a half day of Dogtown Academy, $69, adds a training session. Private sessions start from $94. The Pup Van collects in Rockport, Gloucester, Essex and Manchester-by-the-Sea for $10 each way, so a small dog's training days need not depend on your commute.
At Dogtown
Training and care for a Maltese
The program, an overnight suite, the grooming studio for daily-care practice, and small-dog daycare for long days.
Asked and answered
Questions people ask about this
Short, complete answers you can act on today. More in the full FAQ.
Why is my Maltese so hard to house train?
Can training stop my Maltese barking at the door?
My Maltese snaps when I brush it. What should I do?
Is a Maltese too small for a board and train stay?
More questions? Read the full FAQ
Sources
Rules and dates change. We re-check every beach, licensing and ordinance page each spring and fall; the source above is the current word.
Keep reading
Next step
Consistent answers for a clever little dog.
Tell us on the training form about your Maltese's toileting, barking and grooming. The training team replies within the hour on weekdays.
- 01Free evaluationWeekdays 6:30 – 9:30 AM
- 02Book a dayOnline, in the app or by phone
- 03Play, rest, repeatReport card at pick-up
