TIPS FOR HANDLING YOUR NEWLY RESCUED MALTESE

By Lee Oden 

Mark the collar with the dog’s name and your phone number. This is crucial since the dog will be confused about its surroundings and if it manages to get away from you will probably panic and keep running. Your phone number on the collar may be the only hope of getting the dog back.  

Be extra careful that your new Maltese does not accidentally slip out a door. Remind other members of your family of this, particularly any children that might be running in or out of doors. It is sometimes helpful to put a baby gate across the hallway leading to the door or otherwise block access to doors. See number one for cause for concern.  

Using positive reinforcement methods, teach the dog to come to you as soon as you can. This is a safeguard that will allow you to recall your dog if it slips out of doors.  

Let the new dog settle in slowly. Don’t cause too much commotion or excitement until the dog is comfortable in it’s new home. Let the dog come to you when it is ready to. Don’t force the dog to go to someone it isn’t ready to meet. Don’t chase after the dog in the house. Sit quietly on the floor until the dog is ready to come to you.  

Introduce the new dog to other animals in your household very slowly. The new dog may not have been around cats or other unusual pets before and may feel too insecure at first.  
Be very cautious about other dogs that you might own. Don’t leave the new dog alone with other dogs in your household until you are VERY sure that they will get along. This reassurance could take weeks. Any time a new dog comes into the household there will be a re-establishment of the pack order. Because Maltese are so small they can easily be injured or killed by another dog. Always supervise these interactions.  

Always supervise the interactions of your children and the newly rescued dog. Maltese are very fragile and can easily be injured by children rough-housing with or around them. A Maltese will sometimes growl at, snap at or bite a child that is treating it too roughly. If this occurs, it is not the dog’s fault. It is acting in self-defense. Make sure you discuss proper treatment and handling of the dog with your children and make sure they understand.  

Maltese have been injured or killed when they have been dropped from relatively low heights. Make sure that anyone holding a Maltese is paying attention. Young children should not be allowed to pick up and carry the dog around They should be seated on the floor with adult supervision when interacting with the dog.  

Take your new dog, on leash, out to the spot where you want it to eliminate. Praise the dog for doing the job.  Take your new dog out on a leash every time you go out, even if your yard is fenced. This will keep the dog from panicking and frantically running around the yard with you running behind trying to catch it and causing more panic. When the dog is on a leash, you will be able to calmly redirect the dog’s attention back to you. IF YOUR YARD IS NOT FENCED – YOU SHOULD NEVER TAKE A NEWLY RESCUED DOG OUT WITHOUT A LEASH.  

If you are in an area where there are hawks, owls or eagles be sure your dog is taken out on a leash. A small Maltese looks just like “dinner” to these birds of prey.  

Many Maltese have vaccination reactions to the Leptospirosis part of DHLP shots. Unless you are in an area where Lepto is a major problem, ask your veterinarian not to administer that booster.