Maltese Training: How To Stop Your Maltese From Chewing
My Maltese Loves to Chew !
A Maltese puppy's urge to chew usually starts around teething time. Simply put, it feels good to chew. Like many other behaviors, most owners do not mind if their Maltese chews appropriate chew toys such as bones, rawhide, hard rubber and alike. It is inappropriate chewing, the rug, the furniture, your shoes, that is usually not appreciated. Dogs may chew when the are isolated and bored. They may also chew when they are anxious and under stress. If this chewing relieves the bordome or the stress, it will most likely be repeated again and again because it is self-reinforcing. Now you have a bad habit that is sometimes hard to break.
The best way to prevent inappropriate chewing is to exercise your Maltese, supervise him when he is out and about and confine him to a kennel or crate when you are not watching him. Puppy-proofing your house is also advised. Your Maltese needs a variety of chew toys. You should have 16 to 20 toys. Half are out one week and the other half are put away. Rotate the group each week. In this way, your dog will not become bored and find new toys that are yours. I provide a toy box for my Maltese. They take toys out when they want to chew. I don't expect them to put them back though.
If you catch your puppy chewing an inappropriate object say, "No!... Chew Toy." and redirect him to an appropriate toy. This "instructive reprimand" will help to shape your puppy's behavior to your liking. Remember, a puppy is a puppy for the first 12 to 18 months of life. When not supervised, puppy is in the crate with a few toys. In this way, your belongings will stay intact and puppy will not be allowed to develop bad habits. With maturity and proper reinforcement training from you, soon your dog will have freedom around your home if you so desire.
Chewing is a common problem in all dogs. Your Maltese is chewing because he may be bored, lonely or stressed. If you have a Maltese puppy that chews, he could be teething.
Here are some training tips on how to stop your Maltese from chewing.
1. If chewing is a problem for your Maltese, keep him in a restricted area when not under your supervision. If you are not able to keep an eye on your dog, place him in a crate and provide him with chew toys. Do not let him roam freely in your house until he's been trained not to chew.
2. Use deterrents such as bitter spray or cayenne pepper on table legs, wooden furniture and carpet to discourage your Maltese from chewing. They are ideal for items that you cannot keep out of reach from your dog. You will still need to provide toys for your dog to chew. Do not give an old shoe or furniture. Otherwise, your dog may think that it is ok to chew on similar items.
3. When you catch your Maltese chewing, tell him ‘NO' firmly and give him a chew toy instead. Praise him enthusiastically when he chews on the toy. You must only correct him when you catch him in the act.
4. Give your Maltese a variety of chew toys to keep him occupied. Each week, alternate his toys so he has something different to play with.
5. If your Maltese is chewing because he is bored or lonely, make sure he gets plenty of physical and mental exercise. You are more likely to have a well-behaved, healthy and happy dog. Bring him for a long walk, a run or play with him. In addition to obedience and behaviour training, teach your dog new tricks. He enjoys learning them if you praise or reward him with his favourite treats. Exercise can also help to relieve tension and overcome boredom in your dog, thereby preventing most behaviour problems.
6. If you take time to puppy proof your home, there is less chance of your Maltese finding valuable things to chew. Keep hazardous items such as electric cords, chemicals, sharp objects and poisonous house plants out of reach from your dog. Besides training your Maltese to stop chewing, you are also preventing potential accidents from happening to him.
It takes time, patience and consistency to train your Maltese from chewing. If you find a method that works, apply it consistently in your Maltese training. If none of the above methods work, you may want to consider using an anti-bark collar.
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