The Maltese is one of the most ancient toy breeds in the world, a silky-white companion dog that has been pampered by Mediterranean nobility for over two thousand years. Bred for no purpose other than companionship, the Maltese is affectionate, gentle, and devoted, a true lapdog that thrives on closeness with its people. Behind the glamorous flowing coat is a surprisingly playful, lively little dog with more personality and capability than its delicate looks suggest, and a deep need for the company it was bred to provide.
That companion nature is the key to training one. The Maltese is intelligent and willing, so it takes well to reward-based training and can even shine at tricks. The things to plan around are the classic small-companion-breed challenges: house-training can be slow, the breed's deep attachment makes separation anxiety a real risk, and coddling can produce small dog syndrome. It is sensitive too, so harshness backfires. Lean on the breed's affection, be patient and consistent with house-training, build independence early, and treat it like a real dog, and you get a delightful, well-mannered companion. Spoil it and skip the structure, and you get a clingy, barky, demanding one.
This guide covers what works with a Maltese, week by week, built around how a gentle, attached companion breed actually learns.
What Makes Training a Maltese Different
Four breed traits shape your approach.
1. Devoted and prone to separation anxiety. The Maltese was bred to be a constant companion and bonds intensely, so it can struggle when left alone. Gentle independence training from day one is the most important preventive step, since separation anxiety is far easier to prevent than to treat.
2. Slow to house-train. Like many toy breeds, the Maltese has a small bladder and can be slow to house-train. A strict, consistent schedule, frequent opportunities, and patient, reward-based methods, without scolding, are what get you there.
3. A small-dog-syndrome risk. Because the Maltese is so small and adorable, owners often coddle it instead of training it, producing a bossy, barky, reactive dog. Treat it like a real dog with real rules, structure, and socialization.
4. Sensitive and a sometime barker. The Maltese reads your mood and wilts under harshness, so keep training gentle and upbeat. It can also bark for attention or out of excitement, which is easily managed with early quiet-shaping and proper engagement.
Week-by-Week Training Plan for Your Maltese
Below is the framework we use at TailorPup for a Maltese-specific 12-week plan. Run it at home; the order and emphasis are the point.
Weeks 1 and 2 : Foundation, Socialization, and Independence
Build engagement with high-value rewards and socialize broadly, treating the Maltese like a capable dog from day one. Run three to four short sessions a day: name, mark eye contact, reward. Crucially, begin gentle independence training immediately, with short calm absences, and start house-training on a strict schedule. Our puppy basics guide covers the foundations.
Weeks 3 and 4 : Core Commands and Tricks
Maltese learn well. Lure sit, down, and stay, mark, and reward, adding cues once reliable, then add trick training, which this clever little breed enjoys and which provides good mental work and confidence.
Weeks 5 and 6 : Leash Work and House-Training
Use a light harness and stop-and-stand for any pulling; the Maltese rarely pulls hard. Keep house-training patient and consistent, rewarding every success outdoors and avoiding all scolding for accidents, since the breed can be slow here.
Weeks 7 and 8 : Separation Anxiety Prevention
Deepen the independence work, the breed-critical phase. Practice graduated departures, build alone time slowly, keep comings and goings low-key, and leave the dog something good to do. If distress is appearing, our separation anxiety guide lays out the protocol.
Weeks 9 and 10 : Recall, Quiet, and Mental Work
Build recall indoors and in fenced areas, paying every success well. Shape quiet if the Maltese barks for attention, rewarding calm and managing triggers, and channel the breed's intelligence with tricks and puzzles. See our barking guide if needed.
Weeks 11 and 12 : Generalization
Prove the skills in the real world: calm leash walking past distractions, commands in busier places, settled behavior, and continued alone-time practice. These last two weeks are about consistency and proofing the independence, house-training, and recall rather than new skills.
Common Maltese Training Mistakes
Three mistakes show up repeatedly with this breed.
Mistake 1 : Skipping independence training. Because the Maltese bonds so intensely, owners who keep it constantly attached risk creating separation anxiety. Build gentle alone-time tolerance from the first week, before there is a problem.
Mistake 2 : Coddling instead of training. Treating the Maltese as a fragile accessory rather than a real dog produces small dog syndrome: bossy, barky, and demanding. Give it rules, structure, socialization, and real training like any other dog.
Mistake 3 : Losing patience with house-training or using harshness. The Maltese can be slow to house-train, and scolding makes it worse, while harshness shuts the sensitive dog down. Keep house-training patient and all training reward-based. The full list is in our Maltese training mistakes guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Maltese easy to train ? Reasonably, with a gentle approach. They are intelligent and willing, so reward-based training works well and they enjoy tricks. The main challenges are slow house-training and preventing separation anxiety and small dog syndrome rather than the learning itself.
Do Maltese get separation anxiety ? They can, because they bond so closely and were bred purely as companions. Early, consistent independence training prevents most cases, and the breed does best in homes where it is not left alone for long stretches.
Why is house-training my Maltese so hard ? Toy breeds have small bladders, so progress can be slow. A strict schedule, frequent opportunities, and patient reward-based methods, without scolding, are what get you there. Many Maltese take longer than larger breeds.
How much exercise does a Maltese need ? Modest: around 30 minutes of activity daily plus play and mental work. The breed is adaptable and happy in apartments, but it still benefits from daily walks, games, and training to stay balanced and confident.
Do Maltese need a lot of grooming ? Yes, if kept in the long coat, which needs daily brushing to prevent matting; many owners choose a shorter trim for easier care. Either way, building grooming tolerance early is worthwhile.
Is positive reinforcement effective for Maltese ? Yes, ideally. The gentle, sensitive, willing breed thrives on reward-based training and trick work, while harsh handling creates anxiety and undermines the affectionate temperament.
Are Maltese good family dogs ? Yes, for households that can give them companionship and gentle handling. They are affectionate and devoted, good with respectful, older children, but their small size and attachment mean they do best away from rough play and long isolation.
Why TailorPup Was Built for the Maltese
A generic plan ignores the things that really matter with this breed: slow house-training, the separation-anxiety risk, and the small-dog-syndrome trap. That mismatch is why standard advice can leave Maltese owners with a clingy, barky, hard-to-house-train dog.
TailorPup builds a 12-week plan around your specific dog: its companion nature, its age, and the behaviors you are seeing. For a Maltese that means front-loaded independence training, a patient house-training schedule, real training and socialization rather than coddling, and gentle reward-based methods.
Daily 12-minute sessions plus weekly adjustments based on your dog's progress. Free for 7 days, no card required.
Start your Maltese's plan free at tailorpup.com →
Related: Maltese Training Mistakes · Recall Training · Puppy Training Basics · Barking Solutions