Maltese Training With Distractions

With thousands, if not millions, of maltese owners all over the world, it is not surprising if you will notice a lot of people trying to know as much as they can about maltese training. Most owners turn to internet to get free tips about training and other information about the breed while some spend a small amount on magazine subscriptions, books and ebooks. Anyway, that is what responsible dog owners should be - eager to learn every information about the breed and applying what they learn to training and caring for their pets.

Training a dog as intelligent as the maltese is easy. The only difficult thing about it is getting your dog to focus on what you are teaching him. Considering the dog's, especially a puppy's short attention span and highly inquisitive personality, this one is really challenging. It is therefore important that you know how to deal with distractions during training.

When training a particular command for the first time, select a quiet spot in the house where he is less likely to hear or see anything that could capture his attention. Once he has mastered the command, gradually add distractions into the scene. You might want to turn the radio on softly while gradually increasing the volume throughout the maltese training session. Other acts that could cause distraction include:

- having someone play ball in the middle of the room

- ask a friend to join the training

- leave his food bowl or favorite treat on the floor

- wave your arms around

- switch on the tv and choose a show featuring dogs

- whistling

- let your phone ring

- ask someone to make a squeaky sound

If he remains focused on the training, give him reward, be it praise or treat. As the training progress, combine two or three distractions to strengthen his capacity.

If he can be trusted with the command already despite the distractions, it is best to train him to other locations like the living room, kitchen or porch. These places are usually frequented by people hence the distraction. This aims to make him understand that he needs to obey the command regardless of the place, the scenario and the people around him. If he remains focused on the training and obeys the command, give him something really rewarding such as the most delicious treat you have in your house.

While giving of treats is an effective method to achieve successful maltese training, be reminded that the use of it must be regulated and must be gradually replaced with praise or time to play to prevent him from becoming treat dependent. It prevents weight issues too.

Dealing with distractions during training can be frustrating at times. Just be prepared to extend your patience a little longer to help you get by.

Clare Rosewood has a lot to share about maltese training. Learn more advice from her site about maltese training.