Can Maltese be left alone for 8 hours
Can Maltese Be Left Alone: 8 Ways To Help Them Stay Alone
Maltese dogs are clingy and need, this always brings up the question can Maltese be left alone and for how long!
That is exactly what we will be discussing in this post, I will answer your questions and outline ways to help your Maltese stay alone.
So Keep reading for more info!
Can Maltese Be Left Alone
Yes, Maltese dogs can be left alone at home for up to 7 hours at a time after which they may become worried which can trigger off separation anxiety leading to behavior issues.
Maltese puppies below 5 months should never be left unattended for a maximum period of 2 hours.
It is important to note that Maltese dogs are prone to separation anxiety and always want human company, leaving them alone for an extended period is never a smart idea.
Disadvantages of leaving Maltese alone for too long
Leaving a Maltese at home alone for an extended period of time can lead to a variety of problems, including:
1. Risk of developing separation anxiety
Separation anxiety is common in Maltese since they were designed to be human companions rather than stand-alone guard dogs.
Separation anxiety might worsen if your Maltese is left alone for long periods of time with little stimulation.
Biting, nipping, crying, chewing, barking, aggression, and urinating in strange locations are all signs of separation anxiety.
2. Risk of developing destructive behavior
Maltese puppies chew at all ages, but their owners have full control over what and why they chew.
Chewing for Maltese can help with stress, boredom, and mild anxiety, but it comes at the expense of your belongings, which is frequently the result of being left alone.
Keep an eye on your Malteses stress level, and provide them with chew toys if they start chewing on things that arent meant to be chewed.
3. Risk of increased barking behavior
Boredom barking is one of the drawbacks of having your Maltese at home for an extended amount of time.
Barking and biting are two types of Maltese aggressiveness, both of which are motivated by dissatisfaction.
Some Maltese may need some time to adjust to being alone. This is particularly true if it is their first time being alone for an extended period.
It might be aggravating for them to be unsure of how to handle this new situation.
If they dont have anything better to do with their time, they may start barking incessantly, causing their neighbors to become irritated.
4. Risk of frequent Potty accidents
Leaving your Maltese alone at home for an extended amount of time may add to his frequent house catastrophes.
When you leave your Maltese at home for an extended period of time, he or she is nearly guaranteed to make a mistake out of frustration or anxiety, which may both be prevented.
You may see your Maltese peeing and pooping in unexpected locations if you leave him alone for too long.
Ways to help a Maltese dog stay alone
Here are some typical ways to train your Maltese to stay at home while youre gone:
1. Educate your Maltese to watch cartoons on TV
For most Maltese, leaving the television on provides both human background noise and something to gaze at.
While youre gone, make sure your Maltese has plenty of fascinating and exciting toys.
Give your Maltese a Kong filled with peanut butter if he or she is still a puppy.
Your Maltese will be more concerned about getting the peanut butter than about you leaving since leaving a Kong can help with separation anxiety.
While interactive electronic toys will keep your Maltese occupied while youre away, youll have to train him not to discard them.
2. Invest in pet cameras
Its fantastic to be able to connect with your Maltese when youre away from home thanks to technology, and you can do so with a pet camera like Furbo, which you can acquire on Chewy or Amazon.
No matter where you are, youll be able to interact with him with only two clicks.
This pet cam could be able to help you break up your days boredom.
You are completely in charge of how you engage with him, including whether or not you feed him!
3. Start a proper crate training
If you know you wont be able to care for your Maltese all of the time, or if you shouldnt acquire a Maltese in the first place, crate training is essential.
Crate training teaches your Maltese to respect limits and understand when he needs to be alone.
Your Maltese will struggle to acclimatize to being alone if he hasnt been crate trained.
When youre gone, teach your Maltese to regard the crate as a secure sanctuary and a peaceful place to rest.
Also, make sure your Maltese has somewhere to urinate himself, whether its in his box or nearby.
4. Provide a calming spot
If you know you wont be able to care for your Maltese all of the time, or if you shouldnt acquire a Maltese in the first place, crate training is essential.
Crate training teaches your Maltese to respect limits and understand when he needs to be alone.
Your Maltese will struggle to acclimatize to being alone if he hasnt been crate trained.
When youre gone, teach your Maltese to regard the crate as a secure sanctuary and a peaceful place to rest.
Also, make sure your Maltese has somewhere to urinate himself, whether its in his box or nearby.
5. Provide a companion pet
Dogs are herd animals who thrive when they are surrounded by other family members.
Most Maltese are prone to separation anxiety since they were designed to be a human companion and rely heavily on human interaction.
If you arent always around, adopting a companion pet as soon as possible is one of the finest, if not the best, strategies to help your Maltese cope with separation anxiety.
If you have a companion animal, your Maltese will be less likely to suffer from separation anxiety.
Get a companion pet for your Maltese to avoid separation anxiety.
Your Maltese will always have someone to play with if you get another dog.
6. Provide a clear window view of the outside world
To keep your Maltese engaged while you are away, provide a clean window view of the outside world.
Teach your Maltese to sit or lie down near a clear window to see whats going on outside.
Ensure that your Maltese can see the birds or a fast-moving road out the window.
To reduce unwanted barking, make sure your Maltese has been well socialized with a variety of items that he can view via a clear window.
7. Drain your Maltese energy before leaving
Take your Maltese on a five-minute walk or play fetch with him before leaving the house to burn off some of his pent-up energy.
This stroll will allow your Maltese to relieve themselves while also providing you and your Maltese with some quality time before you go.
Its vital to play with your Maltese before leaving for the majority of the time so that some of its energy may be utilized.
When the Maltese get tired of playing, they take asleep, which might help you pass the time while youre away.
8. Pay a pet sitter
If no one else is available to spend time with your dog, you can hire a dog sitter or a dog walker.
A pet sitter might cost anywhere from $25 to $35 per day, depending on the state.
You might also bargain with the pet caretaker for a better price.
You may leave your pug with a sitter and return at a later time.
I hope your question Can Maltese Be Left Alone was answered with the information provided on this page!
Related Post
Can Maltese Be Left Alone For Very Long? (Explained For Beginners)
When deciding to take home a furry friend, there are certainly many factors you will need to consider.
Finding the perfect addition to your home takes a little research, but at the end of the day, you will have a new best friend to love and care for.
If you have considered taking home a Maltese puppy or adult dog, you are probably wondering, can Maltese be left alone?The good news is, Maltese can absolutely be left alone. However, they feel much safer and behave better when its only a short period of time. Adult Maltese can be left alone for up to six hours, while puppies can only be alone for a maximum of two hours.
So how long exactly should you leave your Maltese alone?
Can Maltese puppies be left alone?
Can they be left outside? Do Maltese suffer from separation anxiety?
You might have quite a few more questions when it comes to your Maltese, but dont worry! We have everything you need to know, including the answers to every one of these questions as well as how to actually train your Maltese to like being alone and where to safely keep them when youre gone.
Do Maltese Dogs Do Well by Themselves for Very Long?
While technically, your adult Maltese will be able to make it through a six-hour stint without you home, they probably wont like it very much and not respond very well, and they even may start misbehaving.
Of course, these problems are typically symptoms of separation anxiety, and its important to understand if Maltese experience this unfortunate affliction.
Do Maltese Have Separation Anxiety?
Because Maltese are such affectionate and loving dogs, they get very attached to their owners and therefore will most likely suffer from separation anxiety if they are left alone for too long or too frequently.
Common symptoms you may notice include but are not limited to:
- Defecating or urinating in the house.
- Barking or growling right after you leave.
- Chewing, tearing, or destroying things.
- Pacing when they know you are heading out the door.
Now, these responses could in fact be due to a number of different situations or ailments, and they may not be specifically showcasing separation anxiety.
Its important to pay attention to your dogs personal habits; if they still misbehave or appear anxious even when they know youre not going anywhere, it may be a different problem altogether.
When it comes to leaving your Maltese alone, as we have learned, it should not be for longer than six hours, and it really should not be several times a week.
However, even more important than timing is how you train your Maltese how to stay home alone and encourage them to feel safe and secure, but well learn more about that later!
For now, lets answer another part of this important question, can Maltese be left alone outside?
Can Maltese Be Left Outside?
The simple answer is yes, Maltese can typically be left outside. Although there are many important factors to consider before you do so.
The first thing to remember is that Maltese are tiny! They could easily escape through a little hole in a fence if they are bored, anxious, or simply become tempted by something outside their safe area.
The next is that once again about these little guys miniature sizing.
Unfortunately, they cannot easily defend themselves, and often look like a tasty snack to hawks and other birds of prey, as well as other dogs and wildlife that may live in your neighborhood.
If you do decide that your fenced-in yard is escape-proof and that there is no possible threat to your Maltese, its essential that if they are left outside they have access to cold drinking water and a shady cool space to lay down in or a safe space where they can protect themselves from the weather.
Before we go ahead and actually learn how to train your Maltese how to understand and feel comfortable being left alone, its important to talk for a moment about what Maltese puppies need.
Can Maltese Puppies Be Left Alone?
So far, all of our research and recommendations have been based on the needs of an adult Maltese, however, its time to talk about puppies!
If you have ever seen a Maltese puppy, you know that they are quite possibly the cutest little white fluff balls on the planet!
If you think a Maltese is small, wait till you see one at eight weeks old!
Of course, Maltese are really big personalities in a tiny package, and even from a young age, Maltese want to be with their families, which is or is about to be you!
Once they realize that you are their pack, they are going to want to be with you all the time.
Now as an adult, they still have this tendency, but they also understand better what their role is and that you are never going to not come home (if they are healthy and well-adjusted that is).
When they are puppies under a few months old, they need your constant attention for their emotional well-being but also for their physical safety.
You should never leave a Maltese puppy home alone for more than two hours at a time, and if you do decide to leave them, they absolutely need to be placed in a small safe space.
They could easily get stuck in a small hole, lost, hurt trying to move on and off furniture, or just as important, begin developing separation anxiety at a very young age.
When a Maltese puppy is little, they are full of non-stop energy, so not only do they need your presence, they really need to be actively played with to ensure they get it all out in a healthy way, instead of a destructive way.
While Maltese are not particularly challenging to care for, some experts do recommend bringing home two instead of one as they will be able to not only play together and tire each other out, but they are also less likely to suffer from separation anxiety when you do eventually have to leave them for some period of time.
If getting two dogs isnt in your budget or plans, dont worry! You can actually train your Maltese to tolerate staying home alone so it wont get them down.
How to Train a Maltese to Stay Home Alone by Itself
Training an adult Maltese is possible, however, it can be slightly more difficult as they may already have some habits and fears in place and you may have to re-train them.
However, no matter the age of your dog, the training process is actually the same for how to help them stay at home alone by themselves. Heres what you need to know:
- When training your Maltese to stay home alone, its best to start with small increments of time and gradually increase the time away.
- While you are gone, your Maltese should stay in a small area where they feel safe. An office, large bathroom, or sunroom may be a good option. The room should always have water and a comfortable space for them to relax.
- Dont make a big deal about your departure! They will encounter more stress if it feels like a big change is coming.
- If they do begin to show some signs of separation anxiety, make sure not to punish them for it as this will only increase their distress.
Of course, there are a few other helpful hints and tips that we recommend to not only make sure your Maltese can be left alone without suffering from anxiety but to also make their time alone a little more enjoyable.
- Make sure they have entertainment! Leave them with a favorite toy or treat to enjoy.
- Feeding, exercising, or even both before you leave will most likely make them sleepy and they may simply rest the whole time youre away.
- Leave them a safe area to go to the toilet where they wont get in trouble, like a pee pad or newspaper.
- Have someone check in on them periodically and take them out for at least a bathroom break and maybe even a little run around the yard.
Even if you follow these specific guidelines, it could be that your Maltese simply does not like to be alone, no matter the circumstances.
Never forget that while certain breeds do have personality traits and tendencies, every dog, just like every human, is completely different! You will need to learn what works and does not work for your Maltese.
Final Thoughts
So can Maltese be left alone? Hopefully, you now understand that while Maltese can be left home alone, it shouldnt be for a very long time.
Adult Maltese can be safely home alone, if properly trained, for up to six hours, whereas puppies should really only be alone for two hours maximum if its completely necessary.Bringing home a dog is a big commitment, and a Maltese while being a wonderful addition to your family, will need a lot of care and affection, as well as your personal presence.