3 Common Maltese Behaviour Problems (And How To Fix Them)

Remember: Maltese are ancient companion dogs bred for thousands of years to provide constant companionship. Accept their need for closeness, provide gentle guidance, and they'll become the devoted, elegant companions they were meant to be.

Where Do Maltese Come From?

Maltese are an ancient breed from the Mediterranean region (possibly Malta, though debated - may be named after the Sicilian town Melita) dating back over 2,000 years.

They were bred exclusively as companion dogs for nobility, particularly favoured by Roman and Greek aristocratic women. They were status symbols and appear in ancient art and literature. They never had any working function.

What were they bred to do?

Maltese had a very specific role:

• Provide companionship as pure companion dogs
• Serve as living accessories for wealthy women in ancient civilisations through the Renaissance
• Offer companionship and warmth
• Act as status symbols of wealth and refinement
• Remain beautiful with their white coat
• Be carried everywhere without any expectation to work or be independent

Key breeding traits:

Maltese have pure white coats requiring extensive grooming and extremely small size perfect for carrying (4-7 lbs). They're gentle and affectionate with attachment to one person.

They're alert despite being lap dogs (they needed to alert to threats in palaces), adaptable to indoor living, and have complete lack of independence or working drive. Any assertive traits were bred out - only the softest dogs were kept.

Why Do Maltese Have These Behaviour Problems?

Your Maltese isn't being difficult. They remain exclusively companion dogs but are now expected to tolerate modern life including owners working away from home.

Their genetics demand constant human contact, but contemporary lifestyle provides extended alone time. This mismatch creates severe separation anxiety. Their coat requires professional grooming every 4-6 weeks or becomes severely matted.

Understanding they were literally bred to never be alone is crucial.

Problem 1: Separation Anxiety & Extreme Neediness

What's happening: Your Maltese becomes extremely distressed when you leave, follows you everywhere, or can't function without being in your lap or arms constantly.

Why it happens: Maltese were bred for millennia as constant companions to nobility who carried them everywhere as living accessories. Their entire genetic purpose is providing continuous companionship. They were never expected to be alone and have no independent working history whatsoever. Being separated contradicts thousands of years of selective breeding.

The fix: Make sure you create "together" time and "away" time. Use a specific command to bring them up to you for a cuddle. After this, use a command to send them to spend time on their own.

Practice "visible but not touchable" training where they learn to settle in the same room but not on your lap - start with just 30 seconds on their bed near you, gradually extending to 10-15 minutes.

Implement extremely gradual departures starting with 10-15 seconds: leave room, immediately return, ignore completely for 5 minutes until they're calm and lying down.

Use regular micro-separations that make leaving and entering your home a non-event. Repeat these 20+ times a day (e.g. close the door to the bathroom, go to the bins, go to the car and back).

Accept they may never tolerate long absences well (6-8+ hours) - plan lifestyle accordingly with doggy daycare, dog walkers, or work-from-home if possible. This breed genuinely suffers more than most when alone.

Extreme separation anxiety? Maltese were bred to never be alone - ever. Join our free Skool community for gradual departure protocols and get realistic advice on managing this ancient companion breed during weekly Q&As.

Problem 2: Excessive Barking

What's happening: Your Maltese barks at every sound, alerts constantly, or seems impossible to quiet down.

Why it happens: Despite being bred as lap dogs, Maltese had a secondary role as alert dogs in palaces and on ships (they were popular with sailors for rodent control and companionship). Their small size required vocal alarm systems as their only defence. They're naturally vigilant and their bark is their primary protection mechanism.

The fix: Teach "thank you, quiet" two-part cues where one alert bark is acknowledged then stopped. When they bark, calmly say "thank you" whilst looking toward the stimulus, then turn your back and walk away. If barking continues, immediately place them in a separate room for 3-5 minutes without speaking.

Consider they were bred to alert - some vocalisation is breed-standard and cannot be completely eliminated. They're not ideal for strict quiet requirements.

Make sure everyone in the household follows the exact same steps. Which noises should they vocalise for and which not? This makes it clear what's expected.

Barking driving you mad? Maltese were bred to alert in palaces. Inside our Skool community, you'll find "thank you" protocols and can get household-wide consistency guidance during live weekly webinars.

Problem 3: Difficulty with Housetraining

What's happening: Your Maltese has accidents in the house, seems difficult to housetrain, or takes much longer than expected to become reliable.

Why it happens: Tiny bladders (they can only hold small amounts of urine) combined with centuries of being carried everywhere and using indoor potty solutions. They were palace dogs who used designated indoor areas and were never required to "hold it" like larger working breeds. Their small size makes accidents less noticeable to owners, leading to inconsistent correction and reinforcement of indoor elimination.

The fix: Implement "frequent schedule" with bathroom breaks every 2-3 hours minimum (puppies need every 1-2 hours) - their bladders physically cannot hold more.

Use "designated spot" training with consistent location and command: take them to the exact same spot every time, say "go potty," and reward within 3 seconds of elimination.

Consider indoor potty options (grass pads, pee pads in designated area) as historically appropriate for the breed - they were bred to use indoor facilities and this may be more realistic than expecting them to signal and hold it for hours.

Use enzymatic cleaners for all accidents to completely eliminate odour. Supervise constantly or use pen/crate when unsupervised - they cannot be trusted loose in the house until fully trained (often 12-18 months).

Housetraining taking forever? Toy breeds have tiny bladders and Maltese used indoor facilities historically. Join our Skool community for realistic training timelines and indoor potty solutions from other Maltese owners.

Is a Maltese Right for a New Owner?

A Maltese might be perfect for you if you're looking for:

An ideal dog for apartment living - Maltese need only 30 minutes of daily exercise and adapt beautifully to small living spaces. They're perfect for urban living and smaller homes.

A hypoallergenic companion for allergy sufferers - Maltese have very low shedding coats, making them suitable for people with allergies. They're one of the best breeds for allergy sufferers.

A devoted lap dog who loves closeness - If you work from home or are retired and want a dog that truly enjoys being by your side constantly, Maltese are ideal. They thrive on companionship.

A beautiful, elegant dog - Maltese are stunning with their pure white, flowing coats. If you're committed to regular grooming (daily brushing and professional grooming every 4-6 weeks), you'll have a gorgeous companion.

A gentle dog for seniors or singles - Maltese are calm, affectionate, and perfectly sized for people wanting a manageable, loving companion. They're excellent for seniors and singles who can provide constant companionship.

If you work from home or can bring your dog with you, can commit to high grooming needs, and want an ancient lap dog who lives for your companionship, a Maltese will bring elegance, devotion, and endless affection to your life.

Get the Full Support System for Your Maltese

This guide gives you real solutions you can start using today. But raising a well-behaved Maltese is an ongoing journey, not a one-time fix.

That's why we created our free Skool community - to give you continuous support every step of the way.

Inside the community, you'll get:

• Weekly live Q&A sessions where you can ask about YOUR specific Maltese and get personalised advice from experienced trainers
• Full breed-specific courses covering everything from puppy raising to advanced behaviour modification
• A supportive community of other Maltese owners who understand exactly what you're going through
• Video demonstrations so you can see techniques in action, not just read about them
• Troubleshooting help when things don't go to plan (because they won't always!)
• Updated resources as we add new courses and training blueprints

Best part? It's completely free. No subscription. No catch. Just dog owners helping dog owners.

Join The Toe Beans Co community today and get the ongoing support you need to build the best relationship with your Maltese.