potty train teacup maltese

Question
Hello! i just got a teacup maltese who is eight weeks old and only 2lbs.  I am trying to crate train and puppy pad train while I am home. Even when I put him in the pad and wait he will not go!  he waits and goes under the dining room table!  I am not sure I am doing the right things to help him in this difficult process.  He is my first dog ever.  I am not sure what approach to use.  Do you suggest traininig books and videos?  If yes what do you believe works the best?

Answer
Hi there, well firstly let me remind you he is very young and probably still very scared dont bother with the videos dont waste your money on them, instead one thing i would really suggest is odour and stain remover spray which you can purchase cheaply from any pet store you will proably notice that he keeps going to the same areas this is because the smell still remains and the pups instinct is to go where the odour is and the odour remover will erradicate this. I have never used a crate when training my pups but the pads are excellent remember he cannot tell you when he needs to go, dont worry it will come i assure you! you need to learn your pups behaviour he will have a routine when he needs to go and eventually you will pick this up. i suggest you feed him regular meal times and if he is anything like my little boy was he will be leaving you a little present during the night lol you can expect this with his age but aim to not feed him too late at night perhaps last meal at 5.30 6 ish then pick him up place him on his pad just every so often during the day do this too make it routine. you will need many pads to begin with i know they look a mess round the house but he needs them use one in particular honest he will pick it up just keep placing him on them or you will notice a change of behaviour when hes ready to "shoot" lol please dont get frustrated no one expects you to watch him 24/7 and he will learn. eventually minimise the ammount of pads you have and move them closer to the door and place one outside when you want him to start going outside pick him up and place him on the pad outside may i suggest a product named simple soloution potty training odour spray it is a spray with the same smell as the pads spray it outside the scent attracts the pup to sniff it the go to the toilet its too good to be true. Another area where owners tend to go wrong is by punishing the pup by shounting no!!! no!!! when he goes in an unwanted space many rub the pups nose in it,please dont revert to this what you need to know is your maltese thrives on praise, he looks up to you and wants to please you believe it or not please when he goes somewhere you want shout yeah! yeah and jump up and down n cuddle him believe me it soooo works with maltese! he will see your pleased and you see he will want to please you more. When he goes in the wrong spot just firmly say NO and give him the look! he will know. Its your choice what approach you take but he will pick it up give these techniques a go and if they dont work at least you tried but really i know they will. just give him affection he loves you more than you could ever love yourself and at the moment you are his world! just show him what you like and remember keep plaing him on the pads each time you remember. Good Luck i hoped this helped you will have a happy time with your new maltese.