Are Maltese Good With Kids: 8 Things To Know

People always are Maltese good with kids, and that is exactly what this post is all about!

We will be discussing some pros and cons of getting a Maltese dog if you have kids.

We will also discuss ways to help your kids get along with Maltese dogs, and finally, we will highlight some rules to follow.

So let’s discuss…

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Are Maltese Good With Kids

Yes, Maltese are good with kids since they are regarded as a non-aggressive dog breed that is often nice with children, being kind and friendly yet still willing to play makes the Maltese a good family dog.

They can, however, be easily and mistakenly damaged by children who are harsh with them since they are little canines.

As a result, it is vital that all children are taught proper Maltese behavior and handling.

Here are the 8 things you should know!

How to help kids get along with Maltese

Here are some popular methods for assisting children in getting along with Maltese or dealing with Maltese:

1. Establish rules and limitations

Make sure you establish and adhere to clear house rules. It’s not a good idea to let your Maltese eat from your child’s plate (or vice-versa).

In your absence, make sure that kids under the age of eight are not permitted to play with the Maltese toys.

Because pet toys are not subject to the same safety requirements as children’s toys, they might be dangerous in the hands of kids.

Whatever your house rules are, be sure you follow them to the letter.

2. Educate your kids on handling your Maltese

Your children will want to squeeze Maltese since they are little and soft, but Maltese are not toys, and this might lead to Maltese aggression.

Teach your kids how to properly care for and appreciate your Maltese, as well as how to treat them as living beings.

Maltese, like humans, have desires, feelings, and pain, which your children should be aware of.

Your children should be able to play with dogs without being pushed or constrained.

3. Educate your kids when to let your Maltese be

Teach your children to leave their Maltese alone when it is feeding, sleeping, or otherwise need solitude.

Teach your kids when it’s time to let go. Your Maltese will need to eat and relax, and your puppy will need space to develop.

If your children are always rushing to be near your Maltese, this can be a good rule to follow to allow your puppy to relax and take some natural pauses.

4. Educate your kids not to share human foods

Garlic and onions, two of the Maltese’s most lethal foods, may be found in a range of dishes, which must be avoided at all costs.

In Maltese, a tiny quantity can induce stomach discomfort, but in humans, it has no impact.

Allowing your Maltese to eat your child’s food might lead to begging, which is difficult to avoid even with thorough training.

As a result, instruct your children not to feed their own food to the Maltese.

5. Educate your kids on how to carry or play with a Maltese

Teach your kids how to pick up a Maltese puppy until they’re confident in their abilities.

Squat down and gently but firmly cradle the puppy from the side, one hand on the rump and the other on the tummy/chest area.

Make it a point to practice with your children at the same time.

Teach your children not to sprint, spin, leap, or swing their Maltese about when they are carrying them.

6. Educate your kids on ways to pet a Maltese

As a Maltese owner, it is your responsibility to educate children, whether your own or guests, how to properly pet your Maltese.

Start by gently caressing the dog’s chin or chest. Scratching is OK as long as your hands do not come into contact with the dog’s face or head.

Demonstrate to the kid that gentle touching or scratching of the neck and back is appropriate in exchange for moderate petting or scratching of the chin/chest. Make a 180-degree turn in the fur’s direction.

Stop petting the dog if he backs away, snaps growls or makes appeasement gestures or fearful body language to avoid unnecessary biting.

7. Allow kids to be part of grooming sessions

Depending on their age and your lifestyle or daily routine, you should teach your children the essentials of brushing.

There’s no reason why your children can’t assist you with grooming your dog, particularly when it comes to combing and shampooing his fur.

Grooming is a terrific time to improve bonding since you’ll have a helper who can take up these activities once your child is older.

8. Educate kids not to scream at Maltese

Because Maltese are often amiable dogs, loud sounds and yelling might be unsettling.

As a consequence, instill the value of never yelling or screaming at your Maltese in your children.

Yelling or shouting at Maltese might result in non-essential barking, biting, nipping, and other Maltese undesirable behaviors.

Warning signs you should not ignore

Here are some of the warning signs you shouldn’t ignore if you have a kid and a Maltese:

When your child keeps punching, kicking, grabbing, and pulling on the Maltese because he or she doesn’t know how to handle it.
Even though the kid isn’t bothering the dog in any way, the dog always growls with bared fangs at him.
When your Maltese refuses to enter your child’s room or area.
The Maltese continue to snap at your children for no apparent reason.
Your Maltese will always run away from your children for no apparent reason.

Why you shouldn’t get a Maltese for your kids

There are a few things to consider before getting a Maltese for your children:

Maltese are prone to heat fatigue, and children may overplay with them, causing respiratory problems in the future.
Maltese are too little to play rough with kids.
Maltese can become violent and attack children for a variety of reasons, including a lack of socialization.
Maltese are sometimes misunderstood by children as being powerful owing to their small height.
Maltese are known for their persistence, which may be challenging for kids to train.
Maltese are frightened by loud noises, and your kids may like shouting or creating loud noises.
Maltese become fixated on the ball quickly, and if they don’t obtain it, they will nip or bite your kids.