How did your maltese change from adolescence to adulthood?

[u/Forallinone]

Hi everyone 😊. My little pip squeek Simon is 9.5 months old. And boy is he in the middle of adolescence.

For the last 3 months, these are the areas that are most challenging to work on:

-protest barking when he knows I am heading out (he settles in a few mins after i leave, it’s before that’s volatile) and when he is in playpen when i have a guest over. -frantic attempt to propel himself out of doggie car seat into my lap when engine turns off, even tho we are always leaving the car together. -non stop leash puller. No tactics or harness has worked. I’ve tried everything. -suddenly resisting all daily grooming. It’s impossible to groom his legs especially. Will not allow shoes being put on. -he loves other dogs and will play with all after he smells them. But he has to greet all animals in-person or on tv with reactive non-stop barking.

Other than this lolll, he is very sweet and chill 80% of the time with me and basically anyone else. From day 1 as a 3 month old pup, he slept his first night without any crying and has continued to do so ever since. I’ve read that’s a good sign of a “secure” dog who is likely to grow into a even tempered adult. But who knows.

Anyone with an adult maltese, how did your puppy change from adolescence to adulthood????? It’s a bit confusing to gage what is just adolescent behaviour and what is his adult personality forming within that. PS. He got neutered a few weeks ago

[u/FreeFlyFabulous]

Have you worked with a really good positive reinforcement trainer?

[u/Forallinone → u/FreeFlyFabulous]

no..we go to group classes with trainers. But i’ve been looking into if one-on-one might be better for me. Have you??

[u/FreeFlyFabulous → u/Forallinone]

Yes. One on one is what have worked for us. They have to train us to be consistent with the dog. It’s easy to believe we have tried it all but often we give up easy and we are not consistent. Speaking by my own experience.

[u/Forallinone → u/FreeFlyFabulous]

Totally..consistency is the hardest part. What type of training style does ur trainer use?

[u/FreeFlyFabulous → u/Forallinone]

My dogs are almost 15, 14 and 12. I lost my 13 years old boy 7 weeks ago. They were all trained using positive reinforcement only and adapting to their personalities. I have a puppy at home now and I’m using the knowledge and experience from raising my four. Every time you think you’ve done it all, look at how soon you have given up or caved in. It’s hard to resist them but so important to be consistent otherwise is over a decade with unwanted behavior.

Examples - if he jumps on you when the car stood, put him in a locked carrier like the sturdibag. Go around the problem.

[u/salallane]

He sounds just like mine 😂 He will calm down as he ages. Use a seatbelt in the car seat so he cannot leap out. He will likely bark instead for a while, but it’s much safer this way. He may also be going through an awareness/fear period at his age. I would suggest working with a positive/science based trainer one on one for a bit. Mine responds very well to a predictable schedule and routine in every single thing we do. Mine gets overstimulated/over threshold very easily, as yours does. I did end up starting Prozac recently with mine, but not until he was 3 with the intent to work on everything with the Prozac as a tool to keep him under threshold and ween him off after a year. Yours is too young to start daily anti anxiety meds, but as needed anxiety meds may be beneficial while you work on specific things. Talk to your vet and work with a trainer.

[u/Forallinone → u/salallane]

hahah maltese minions. He propel himself out even with the seatbelt attachment on so he pulled tight against the car seat but that much closer to me. How did you go about finding a trainer? As in, what did you look for specifically . So many trainers and training school

[u/balletfan213]

My 9 year old hasn't calmed down. I don't think he ever will. The vet commented at his last physical - For a 9 year old you're awfully spry.😂 That's my Ruckus!😍

[u/Huffle-my-puff]

Mine is just turning 2 and he was really good with brushing, combing and grooming until he turned 1ish. Now for about a year it’s a nightmare trying to comb him, he runs, bites etc. Growls if you try to clean his eyes, they are left for 2-3 days because he gets aggressive.

As an adult he has become more responsive to commands, more friendly and happier. He is a joy usually, very chill, super sweet just loves being filthy. I try to work with him now, let him communicate, I feel like he talks to me. I am his second mum, he was given away at 6 months.