Breed guides
Are Maltese hard to train?
The answer to both versions of the question, easy or hard, sits in the same place. Many Maltese pick up sit, down and place quickly because they love being close to their people. What slows them down is rarely brains. It is the life a dog small enough to tuck under one arm often lives: scooped up at every doorway, excused for barking, and forgiven for small accidents on the rug.
Last reviewed October 4, 2026
Where Maltese stumble
Small bladders, big voices and a lot of lifting.
House-training is often the slowest piece. A tiny dog can squat behind the couch in seconds and nobody notices, so the mistake gets rehearsed again and again. Many Maltese also dislike cold, wet grass, which makes a sleety morning a real test of the routine. A crate, a fixed toileting schedule and going outside with the dog every single time tend to do more than any clever trick. If accidents continue despite a solid routine, a vet check is the sensible next step.
Barking is the other common complaint. Many Maltese announce every footstep in the hallway and every rustle at the door. Scolding usually just adds more noise to the room. We teach a quiet place cue, reward calm when the doorbell rings, and block the window view while the new habit builds. Then there is the carrying. A dog lifted over every threshold never practises waiting, walking calmly past a stranger, or settling on the floor of a patio.
- Crate and fixed toilet schedule
- Quiet cue for door barking
- Four paws on the ground
- Vet check for repeat accidents
Training that fits
What lessons look like for a lapdog.
Maltese tend to respond well to markers, food rewards, short sessions and a calm handler. Our work with them leans on the floor: walking on a light lead, holding a place cue while visitors come in, and greeting people without being picked up first. Grooming tolerance matters too, since that long white coat needs regular brushing, so we reward stillness during handling. Questions about teeth, joints, eyes or tear staining belong with your vet rather than with a trainer.
For a puppy, Puppy Fundamentals ($2,775 + GST, three weeks) works on crate comfort, name recognition, place and calm socialization. Owners who want to stay hands-on can choose Private Training at $150 + GST per hour, which comes with a written weekly plan. Day Training at $650 + GST per week keeps the dog home every night. The consultation recommends one, and we will point you to the lighter option when it covers what your Maltese needs.
Asked and answered
The questions people ask us.
Are Maltese easy to train?
For basic cues, many are. They are often people-focused and food-motivated, so sit, down and place can come quickly. House-training and barking usually ask for more patience.
Are Maltese hard to train?
Not because of intelligence. The trouble spots tend to be toilet habits in a dog small enough to hide its mistakes, door barking, and manners skipped because the dog is carried. A consistent routine addresses all three.
What should Maltese training cover first?
Start with a toileting schedule, crate comfort and a place cue for when guests arrive. Those three shape most of daily life with a Maltese.
Is it a problem to carry a Maltese everywhere?
Carrying is fine when it keeps the dog safe, such as near a loose large dog or a busy road. Daily walking, greeting and waiting on four feet builds the manners that carrying skips.
Keep reading
Small dog, real manners
Tell us about the barking, the accidents and the carrying. Book a consultation and we will recommend the program that fits your Maltese.
From real owners
Rated 5.0 on Google.
Real Northline dogs