How to Teach a Maltese to Lie Down
Teaching your Maltese to lie down is an essential foundation for impulse control and settling behavior—particularly valuable for this breed, which tends toward excessive barking and separation anxiety. Malteses are intelligent and affectionate companions (trainability 3/5), but their small-dog syndrome and high barking tendency (4/5) mean they often struggle with self-regulation. The "down" cue transforms a bouncy, excitable toy breed into a calm, focused learner. Because Malteses have moderate energy (2/5) and require only 25 minutes of daily exercise, training sessions fit naturally into your routine. This guide uses positive reinforcement exclusively—the gentle, playful Maltese temperament responds beautifully to praise and treats rather than correction. Mastering down opens doors to advanced settling behaviors and helps manage common challenges like attention-seeking barking.
Step-by-step
- 1
Capture the Natural Down Position
Watch your Maltese throughout the day and mark the exact moment they naturally lie down using a clicker or the word "yes!" immediately followed by a high-value treat (small pieces of chicken or cheese). This teaches your dog that lying down earns rewards without any luring or physical prompting. Repeat this capture method 10–15 times daily for several days until your Maltese begins lying down more frequently to seek treats.
- 2
Add the "Down" Cue
Once your Maltese is lying down regularly, say "down" clearly just before they naturally assume the position, then immediately click and treat. The word must precede the action so your dog learns to associate the sound with the behavior. After 3–5 days of consistent pairing, try saying "down" and waiting 1–2 seconds to see if they respond; reward generously when they do.
- 3
Lure from a Sit for Reluctant Learners
If your Maltese isn't naturally lying down frequently, start with them already sitting. Hold a treat just below their nose and slowly move it toward the floor between their front paws, creating a natural arch that encourages them to follow into a down. The moment their elbows touch the ground, click and treat immediately. Keep luring sessions short (3–5 minutes) since Malteses have modest attention spans.
- 4
Practice in Low-Distraction Settings First
Begin training indoors in a calm room with minimal distractions—not during times when your Maltese's barking or separation anxiety is triggered. Work for just 5–10 minutes per session, as toy breeds tire mentally quickly. End on a success so your dog stays motivated and views training as fun rather than another demand that triggers anxiety.
- 5
Gradually Increase Duration and Distance
Once "down" is reliable in quiet settings, ask your Maltese to stay down for 3–5 seconds before rewarding. Slowly extend duration by 2–3 seconds every few days, then begin asking for down from different locations in your home. This builds the settle behavior that directly counters small-dog syndrome and attention-seeking barking.
- 6
Introduce Mild Distractions and Real-World Scenarios
After mastery indoors, practice down during your daily 25-minute exercise routine or near windows where your Maltese might normally bark. Reward heavily for down even when temptation is present, reinforcing that calmness earns rewards. This transforms down from an isolated trick into a practical tool for managing barking and impulse control in everyday life.
Pro tips
- Use tiny training treats (pea-sized) for your Maltese—this breed's small mouth and tendency toward overweight means frequent, small rewards during longer sessions prevent overfeeding while maintaining motivation.
- Train during your 25-minute daily exercise window or immediately after playtime, when your Maltese's moderate energy is partly spent and they're more willing to settle; anxious or hyperactive Malteses struggle to concentrate.
- Reward down heavily and frequently when your Maltese naturally offers it unprompted—this builds the settle behavior that prevents separation anxiety and reduces barking-driven small-dog syndrome better than any corrective method.
Frequently asked questions
My Maltese barks constantly at the door and windows. Will teaching 'down' actually reduce the barking?+
Down won't eliminate barking (which is innate to the breed), but it creates an incompatible behavior—a Maltese lying calmly on a mat cannot simultaneously jump and bark at the window. Reward down heavily during triggering moments, and over weeks your dog learns that staying down earns treats, reducing the impulse to alert-bark. Combine with settling in a designated calm space.
My Maltese has separation anxiety and gets panicked if I leave the room during training. How do I handle this?+
Never practice down while your dog is anxious or you're leaving—this pairs the cue with stress. Train only when your Maltese is relaxed and you're nearby. Once down is solid indoors, begin pairing it with brief departures (step into the next room for 10 seconds, return, reward). This teaches your dog that staying down keeps you nearby, gradually reducing separation anxiety.
How often should I train my Maltese? They seem to get bored or cranky.+
Malteses have modest trainability and attention spans, so keep sessions to 5–10 minutes, 2–3 times daily maximum. End every session on success with high praise. Short, frequent sessions prevent the frustration that triggers barking or shutdown behaviors. One longer session will exhaust their patience faster than several mini-sessions.
Should I use a dog bed or mat for 'down' training?+
Yes—pairing down with a designated mat or bed is highly effective for Malteses. It creates a visual, tactile marker for the behavior and builds a 'settle zone' where your dog learns calmness is expected. Start by luring down onto the mat, always reward on the mat, and eventually your Maltese will head to the mat when anxious or seeking attention—replacing barking with self-soothing.