| You can teach an old dog new tricks, but if you | | | | procedures which some may consider rather harsh |
| want your Maltese to learn some, it works best if | | | | but work with breeds that are more stubborn than |
| you do the teaching when the dog is relatively young. | | | | the Maltese. The Maltese will respond to a more mild |
| It is written that a Maltese can be an 'easy study," | | | | mannered approach. This will be a consistent, firm, |
| because it is reputed to be quite an obedient breed | | | | but kind teaching of commands and tricks. The |
| of dog. Hopefully your Maltese will come with the | | | | person doing the training needs to be well versed in |
| attitude and temperament that is required to learn to | | | | animal training techniques. The Maltese breed will do |
| do the tricks that you choose to teach it. | | | | well with training using a reward system. |
| It is always wise to begin with obedience training | | | | Some of the more complicated tricks that one might |
| which is important for your Maltese. The Maltese | | | | choose to teach are those like: jumping through |
| should be able to learn some basic commands like | | | | hoops, rolling over, playing dead and others. These |
| "sit," "stay," "down," and perhaps some others. You | | | | are the tricks that will require the most work and |
| will be able to capitalize on the intrinsic intelligence and | | | | possibly strain the patience of the person doing the |
| good attitude of your Maltese and the training | | | | training. Therefore, if you have completed the basic |
| process should go relatively smoothly for you. | | | | commands with ease and success, but find that the |
| Remember, initially you are not teaching "tricks," you | | | | road to training the higher level tricks is straining your |
| are teaching basic obedience commands which every | | | | brain and you are beginning to feel your patience |
| dog should know before other and more elaborate | | | | depart, you might want to contact the professionals |
| commands are taught. It is also possible that you | | | | who will help you learn better and more productive |
| may want to consider enlisting the help of a | | | | ways of teaching your Maltese the tricks. Doing this |
| professional dog trainer for some or all of the training | | | | will probably also recharge your patience level. After |
| that you would like your Maltese to have. | | | | you do all the training that you want to do, you will |
| There are many theories about the best way to | | | | have an obedient, well trained Maltese. |
| train dogs. There is a school of training which uses | | | | |