Do Maltese Dogs Bark a Lot? Reasons & Helpful Tips
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Are you thinking about welcoming a Maltese into your home? If so, you will be adopting the 38th most popular dog breed according to AKC’s 2022 list of most popular dog breeds in the country.1
Maltese are adorable, loyal, and fun-loving dogs that make an excellent addition to any household. They are also intelligent and energetic and love playing with their owners and other dogs. However, it is not all sunshine and rainbows with these canines.
But do they bark a lot?
Yes, Maltese bark a lot, or at least more than the average toy-sized pooch. But just how excessive is the barking, and can you stop it? Keep reading for answers to these questions and more.
The 6 Reasons Why Maltese Dogs Bark More Than Other Dogs
Like other dogs, Maltese bark to communicate with their owners and other dogs or vocalize their feelings. Here are a few reasons that trigger barking in Maltese dogs.
1. Attention-Seeking
Maltese are very much attached to their owners and won’t take lightly being ignored. These pooches often bark to seek their owners’ attention. Sometimes this barking may be accompanied with slight whining and stops the moment they get attention.
2. To Warn/Alert Their Owners
These dogs are super protective and will bark to alert their owners of an approaching intruder. “Intruders” may include strangers, other dogs, animals, and suspicious objects. Warning barks are typically loud, sharp, and aggressive, especially when the intruder gets too close.
3. Excitement
Maltese will bark in excitement when their owners come home or when you pull out a delicious treat for them. This barking is usually short-lived and dies down within a few seconds.
4. Stress and Frustration
Like other small dogs, Maltese are homebodies and prefer staying comfortably within the confines of your home or apartment. Strangers or unusual noises may stress them and lead to barking. Removing the stress triggers should stop the barking.
These dogs also bark when frustrated. For instance, when unable to get something out of reach. Most Maltese dogs won’t stop barking unless they get what they want.
5. Responding to Other Dogs
Dogs can’t resist responding to another dog’s bark. They do so to mark their territory or out of fear and excitement. If you have a couple of barking dogs in your neighborhood, your Maltese barking in response is almost inevitable.
6. Boredom
Some Maltese bark because they have nothing better to do. These dogs will bark when bored to release energy. The barking signifies that they want to play or go out to kill their boredom.
How to Stop Maltese Dogs From Barking Excessively
Incessant barking can get on your nerves. Here are a few ways to stop your Maltese from barking excessively.
Identify the Reason for the Barking
The first step in mitigating your Maltese’s excessive barking behavior is establishing the root cause. As mentioned earlier, these dogs bark for various reasons. Keep a keen eye on your dog to determine what triggers its barking. Once you find this out, you can take steps to reduce the barking.
Training
You can train your dog to stop barking when you tell it to. Training facilitates a common ground for communication so you and your pet can understand each other.
While you can also use hand signals to stop the barking, verbal commands work best for Maltese. Most Maltese are easily trainable, but a few bad apples are a nightmare. Consider hiring a professional dog trainer if you’re having trouble training the dog yourself.
Celebrate Positive Achievements or Progress Promptly
Dogs love positive reinforcement, so when they progress, celebrate the progress by offering them a treat or two. However, do so promptly, or it might trigger excited barking. A little positive reinforcement will go a long way toward stopping your Maltese from barking excessively. So, offer immediate rewards and praise when your dog responds to your commands or acts appropriately.
Don’t Leave Them Lonely
Maltese enjoy human company. Leaving them alone could trigger barking from separation anxiety or boredom. You could also come home to an overly excited dog that won’t stop barking when you finally arrive.
That said, it’s never a good idea to leave your dog alone for more than four hours a day. If you must go to work or school, consider leaving them in a dog daycare center. Alternatively, you could hire a dog sitter to keep your dog company while you’re away.
Companion toys are also a good idea. These are battery-operated toys designed to mimic live animals. They have sensors that respond to touch, sound, and motion and could give your Maltese the company it needs while you are away.
However, these toys are hit-or-miss. They might have the opposite effect and scare your poor pup into frightful or protective barking.
Eliminate Stress Triggers
New people, pets, and other objects can induce stress in your Maltese and lead to excessive barking. Eliminate stress triggers and stimuli from the dog’s environment to eliminate the barking. For instance, you can close the blinds if your dog barks at everyone who passes in front of your apartment. Alternatively, you can keep your pooch in a separate room with their favorite toys whenever you have guests.
Don’t Scold Your Dog Too Much
Excessive barking from a Maltese is only natural, and they can’t help it. Scolding your dog for its excessive barking only worsens its behavior. This could leave them stressed and frustrated, exacerbating the barking.
Instead, try training and positive reinforcement when they stop barking. Try to hush them down when they start barking loudly, and when they stop, give them a treat. Do this repeatedly, and your dog will learn you dislike excessive barking and act appropriately.
Exercise Your Dog
Ensure your dog gets enough exercise every day. Exercise will provide the mental stimulation to keep boredom and unnecessary excitement at bay. Plus, enough exercise will wear it out so much that it won’t have the energy to bark at everything.
- Take them for a walk or jog
- Play fetch
- Visit the dog park
- Play hide and seek
- Try agility classes
- Go for swimming
Get Professional Help
When everything else fails, you’ll have no choice but to get help from a professional dog trainer or behaviorist. The experts will help you identify what triggers the barking and suggest what you can do to stop it. They’ll also check for any underlying health problems responsible for the barking and address them.
Final Thoughts
Maltese are excessive barkers, but that shouldn’t discourage you from getting one. Acknowledge that barking is inherent with dogs, and there’s little you can do to stop it. However, if the barking is intolerable, consider getting help from a professional dog behaviorist to get to the root of the problem. That way, you can live peacefully and harmoniously with your canine friend.
Featured Image Credit: RitaE, Pixabay
