Maltese poodle mixes have physical and behavioral characteristics of both breeds.
A Maltese poodle mix is a small, lively and friendly dog, with characteristics of both the Maltese breed and the poodle breed. A purebred Maltese should weigh under 7 pounds, and be pure white, with hair that continuously grows, like human hair. A purebred poodle can vary among three sizes: standard, miniature and toy. The size of the Maltese poodle mix will vary depending on the size of the parent that is a poodle, but generally they are small or toy-sized dogs. According to the American Kennel Club, the Maltese is among the most gentle of little dogs. Both breeds are intelligent, friendly and energetic, so your training program must be tailored to fit a highly intelligent dog with high energy.
Instructions
1. Purebred poodles come in several colors, which can be seen in the Maltese poodle mix, as well.
Decide on your house-training method and stick to it. The Maltese poodle mix is usually easy to house-train, but consistency is key. You can choose to crate train or confine your pup with a baby gate. It's helpful to teach this pup to use a litter box or papers in the house as well as using the grass or concrete outside. Dogs will develop a substrate preference that can be very hard to break, so the training to inside and outside must be done simultaneously.
2. A purebred Maltese is all white, but a mix may not be.
Socialize your Maltese poodle mix pup well. Socialization is important for all dogs, but the Maltese can become a bit protective and territorial if not socialized properly to accept strangers and varying environments. Take your dog out in public, to safe dog parks and around many types of people and other animals. A safe dog park is clean, has separate sections for very small dogs or young puppies, and has a posted list of rules that are enforced.
3. This dog is even more adorable when it knows behave.
Be consistent with the rules. Do not baby your Maltese poodle mix, no matter how tempting it may be. Let your dog be a dog, not a lifelong infant. Too much coddling and holding and protecting will cause behavior problems that can become severe. All dogs need rules; they thrive on rules. No dog, regardless of size, thrives on inconsistency and coddling. Enforce your leadership role by requiring your dog to obey the rules and perform tasks before receiving attention or other rewards. For example, always require your dog to sit before putting the leash on for a walk. It's fine to hold your dog and pet it, but make sure it earns some attention, and allow it the opportunity to walk for itself, explore and play with other animals.
4. Keep training your dog for its entire life. Teach your Maltese poodle mix as many commands as possible, to keep its mind clear and alert. These are intelligent dogs that will become bored easily. Boredom in dogs leads to behavior problems. Teach you dog the name of each toy, the name of each family member and find things by name. Teach it tricks once it has learned all the basic and advanced obedience. With the veterinarian's approval, consider teaching your Maltese poodle mix to compete in agility, canine dance or other activities.
Related posts
The Maltipoo is a cross between the Maltese and poodle breeds.The Maltese poodle, a hybrid breed also known as Maltipoo, is a cross between the Maltese and poodle. This crossbreed is widely known...
Care for a Teacup MalteseAlthough the term "teacup" is not recognized by the American Kennel Club (www.dog-names.org.uk/teacup-dogs-puppies.htm), the dog popularly known as Teacup Maltes...
Miniature poodles are active and friendly dogs.In the show ring, miniature poodles don a characteristic haircut, which sets them apart from other breeds. As most owners don't regularly groom their...
Yorkies can be high maintenance.Toy dogs such as Yorkshire Terriers can be challenging to house train, because they have smaller bladders. Once they start doing their business in the house on a re...
Train Doberman PuppiesThe American Kennel Club describes the Doberman Pinscher as watchful, loyal and obedient. By paying close attention to training when a "Dobie" is a puppy, you can s...
