My Maltese is antisocial ! She does not like the outdoors. What can I do?
Overview
We have had several emails asking for Maltese advice on this topic. There may be several reasons why your Maltese does not like to be outside. This may include:
Fear - dogs who are not socialized to be outside can be very fearful of all of the noises, sights and the change in environment.
The outdoor elements- Whether you bring your dog out into the heat or bring your dog out into the cold, if the dog is uncomfortable, they will balk at the idea of venturing out. In addition, the surface of the outdoors may be troublesome to her paws.
Boredom - If a dog does not find anything enjoyable outside, they will prefer to stay in.
Let's discuss each possibility.
Fear of the Outside
Your Maltese, being only 1 year old, as you let us know, may never had been socialized to enjoy the outdoors. Most likely the breeder had the puppy indoors for the first couple of months (which is normal) and then you most likely keep her inside until she had all of her puppy shots.
Now, she will need a slow yet steady socialization to the outside world. This is done by exposing your dog to the outdoor environment a little bit at a time and slowly increasing that amount of time.
It is best to do this every day, consistency works best. We also suggest that this be combined with the below advice for the boredom possibility.
Take your Maltese outside for only 5 minutes per day on week 1. 10 minutes on week 2. 15 minutes on week 3. 20 minutes on week 4.
When you have her outside, be very aware of what she is aware of. Does she seem afraid of cars driving by? Does she seem afraid of other dogs barking? If you can identify a certain element that is causing your dog to be afraid, try to limit that element in the first few weeks of training. For example, if your dog seems to be afraid when cars pass by, try to bring her to an area outside where she is not so close to the cars; perhaps the back yard and not the front yard.
As time passes, you can bring her a bit closer and then a bit closer until she finally becomes accustomed to being in the front yard (leashed and supervised by you) where the car noises are the loudest.
Outside Elements
The 2 main elements that may be causing your Maltese to dislike going outside are the temperature changes and the actual surface of the outdoors.
If it is cold outside, certain put a doggie sweater on her and some doggie booties. Clothes for dogs are not just for appearance. They can help keep a dog warm and make a very big difference in how comfortable a dog is.
If it is hot outside, be sure to venture out with plenty of cool water. You may wish to put water inside a cooler so that you can consistently offer cool water to her. Try to find an area in the shade. If you will be outside for an extended amount of time, you will also want to put a dab of sunscreen on her nose and her tummy.
The surfaces of the outdoors can be brutal on a dog. Some people assume that a dog's paws are akin to shoes. They are not. Paws are only made of skin, the skin on a dog's paws is thick of course, but when all is said and done it is only skin. If the area is paved and hot, your Maltese may find this to be very discomforting. Also, an area that has small pebbles is very uncomfortable for a small breed dog. The pebbles can get caught in the cracks of the paws and cause a great deal of pain. Even if the pebbles do not get stuck, walking on them is not fun!
Look at the environment as if you were heading out without shoes on and think about how you would feel if barefoot. Then, either take her to a "paw friendly" environment or put doggie shoes or boots on her. Again, dog clothes and dog boots are not just for appearance reasons. Dog shoes and dog boots greatly help protect a dog's paws from the outdoor elements.
Boredom
Without incentive to go outside, your Maltese may prefer the comforts of home: food, water, toys, a comfortable area to rest and play, etc.
You may need to "bribe" your dog to join you outside. You can do this by making it very fun for her outdoors with you. Coax her to join you by showing her a new dog toy or by offering a dog treat.
Once outside... play ! Act very excited and talk with a happy, excited tone. Most dogs will take the cue from their owner. If you appear to be happy and excited to be outside, your dog will begin to think that she should be also.
Engage her in a game of tug-of-war. Encourage her to chase after a ball and act very excited when she brings it back to you. Play, laugh, roll around! Show her that being outside = a lot of fun.
End each session with a treat and great praise to show your dog that you are proud of her.
