The Malshi is an affectionate Maltese and Shih Tzu cross bred purely for companionship, and its biggest risk is being treated as a living accessory rather than a real dog. Because it is small, cute, and cuddly, owners tend to carry it everywhere, indulge its demands, and skip the training they would give a larger dog, which produces a spoiled, yappy, anxious little companion. Almost every Malshi problem comes from that one habit. Here are the five mistakes that cause the most trouble, and what to do instead.
1. Carrying instead of letting it walk
Owners carry the Malshi everywhere because it is small and portable, and a constantly carried dog never learns leash manners and becomes demanding about being held. The habit shrinks its confidence and its world. Let it walk on its own feet, build leash skills and independence through normal activity, and reserve carrying for genuine safety situations rather than making it the default.
2. Reinforcing demand barking
When the Malshi barks and the owner responds with attention, food, or a pickup, the dog learns that barking works and does more of it. Owners create the demanding barker without realizing it. Do not reward demand barking; wait for calm before giving attention or treats, and the dog quickly learns that quiet, not noise, is what earns what it wants.
3. Treating the dog as fragile
The Malshi is small but not actually fragile, and owners who treat it as delicate skip the normal training, socialization, and exercise the dog genuinely needs. The result is an under-socialized, under-exercised, bratty companion. Apply normal training and socialization, give it real walks and play, and treat it as the capable little dog it is rather than a porcelain ornament.
4. Allowing alert barking to set in
Both parent breeds can be vocal, and unmanaged alert barking quickly becomes a habit in the Malshi. Owners who find the early yapping cute end up with a dog that sounds off at everything. Install a "quiet" cue before the habit forms, reward calm responses to triggers, and manage the dog's environment so the watchfulness stays useful rather than constant.
5. Neglecting coat conditioning
The Malshi's soft coat needs regular grooming, and a dog that was never taught to accept handling fights every brushing and ends up matted. Owners who skip early conditioning create a lifelong struggle. Condition the dog to calm grooming from puppyhood, keep sessions short and rewarding, and build a positive routine before the coat becomes demanding.
What works with Malshis
Let it walk on its own feet, ignore demand barking, treat it as a real dog, manage alert barking early, and condition grooming. The common thread is treating a sweet companion as a real dog: letting it walk rather than carrying it, ignoring demand barking, and holding consistent rules prevent small-dog syndrome, while the breed's affectionate, food-motivated nature makes reward-based training easy. Take training seriously, and the lapdog charm comes with real manners underneath.
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Related: How to Train a Malshi · Barking Solutions · Puppy Training Basics