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Teaching Your
Maltese Puppy Not To Bark
Why Maltese Puppies Bark
The first step in obtaining peace and quiet
is to realize that most Maltese Puppies bark for specific reasons. Some
reasons include:
- Solitary Confinement. A Maltese Puppy left alone or
confined for long periods without supervision is likely to bark because he
feels anxious or sad and is afraid the owner may not return. (Will your
Maltese Puppy be left along for much of the day? Some
Maltese Puppy s adapt to this better than others.)
- Who�s in Charge Here? Your Maltese Puppy may bark
excessively for your attention because you unintentionally trained him to do
so. One "woof" and you open the door to let him out. Another and you let him
in. A polite bark is rewarded with a treat. A loud one brings praise for
alerting you to stranger danger. Too much barking brings censure. To a
Maltese Puppy , humans are consistently inconsistent.
- Inactivity. Lack of exercise can easily result in a Maltese Puppy
that has pent-up energy and barks out of frustration. A well-exercised,
happy Maltese Puppy is more likely to sleep when you're
not there.
How to Stop the Barking
So, what can you do about your
Maltese Puppy �s barking? Here are some tips:
- Let's get physical. Maltese Puppy s that spend most of their
time in the backyard or in the house probably need an exercise outlet. Even
if your yard is large, dashing around it in circles is not the equivalent of
exercise and interaction. Take your Maltese Puppy for a
long walk, or head to the park for a change of scenery and a game of fetch.
- Love the one you're with. Bring your Maltese Puppy
into the house when you�re home. It's important that he feels he's part of
the family and is loved. Develop a relationship with him through play and
fun.
- You've got a friend in me. Maltese Puppy s are social
creatures. Take your Maltese Puppy to the same park daily
or weekly and let him make Puppy friends. Maltese
Puppy s romping around together tire easily and sleep soundly.
More Strategies
- First, teach your Maltese Puppy that barking is okay
until he is told to "Be quiet." Each time your Maltese Puppy
barks, command him to "Be quiet." Simultaneously, hold a treat in front of
your Maltese Puppy 's nose. Most Maltese Puppy s get
quiet immediately because they can't sniff and lick the treat while barking
at the same time.
- Praise your Maltese Puppy continuously during his
quiet time with petting and words of encouragement.
- After three seconds of no barking, let him have the treat. As you
continue with your training, increase the amount of time you require him to
be quiet before giving the treat.
- When your Maltese Puppy makes a mistake and barks (and
he will) reprimand him immediately. Never strike your Maltese Puppy
, but do something that will catch his attention, such as clapping loudly or
squirting water in his face. As soon as your Maltese Puppy
stops barking, you must instantly reward him.
Practice and Patience are
Key
Don't expect overnight miracles from a
Maltese Puppy that�s been barking for months. It may take weeks to
replace an old habit with a new one. If you keep up with the training, you will
see a new pattern develop. Instead of barking relentlessly at the insignificant,
your Maltese Puppy will bark appropriately and for a
reasonable length of time.
Until you have retrained your Maltese Puppy about the
appropriateness of barking, he should be confined to a place where he will cause
the least disturbance. Shut your doors and windows and leave a television on to
mask noises that might provoke your Maltese Puppy from the
street. You may also want to shut off the telephone and doorbell if these set
off a barking spree. |
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