Is it unusual for a Maltese to Respond Only to One Family Member for Training?

[M101]

Babe (8 mos.) and a recent addition to the family is only responding to my commands and tone of voice. He behaves for me, but when other family members approach he goes wild and becomes confused. My commands are the only ones he will listen to.

I have been advised that he should be exposed to people, and not protected during his training.

Any suggestions?

Thank You

[I Found Nemo]

:) Hello,
In my opinion I feel he should be totally exposed to people while he is being trained. The more people he is exposed to the friendlier he will be.
It will help him to learn to trust and that he is accepted, it's important that you teach him your the ""ALPHA"" meaning your in charge and what you say goes..
Good Luck,
ANDREA~:D

[Morkie4]

If he is responding well to your commands, he is really doing quite good for having just come recently into your life. It may not be so much Babe as it is the people..........some people just don't have it in them to be "packleaders." So THEY may be the ones that need a little training with how they need to be with Babe. But he should definitely be subjected to socialization with other people and possibly with other dogs.......makes for a well rounded and pleasant dog!

[bek74]

My furbabies respond to me perfectly, yet sometimes they would test other family members especially my children when they were younger.

My furbabies see me as Pack leader and my family as right next me, so even my 6yr old can say " Sammy SIT, Sammy STAY" and she will. I always involved my children and husband in there training, they would give the command while I was there and then give the treat.

I would suggest to include all your family that is going to be around Babe alot. Babe has also come from a not so good home, so the fact he is responding to you so well, is wonderful. I would just take baby steps in his training.

All the best

[KMitchell]

Babe (8 mos.) and a recent addition to the family is only responding to my commands and tone of voice. He behaves for me, but when other family members approach he goes wild and becomes confused. My commands are the only ones he will listen to.

I have been advised that he should be exposed to people, and not protected during his training.

Any suggestions?

Thank You


MY experience with Mia is very similar! Only, she will only listen to my when I tell her to "go potty" when I put her on her pad....Then when my boyfriend takes her to the pad and tells her to go potty, she will sprint off and pee somewhere else! Sometimes, and ONLY SOMETIMES will she go when he tells her!

[lilybellesmom]

LB and Kira responds to me and Carlos, but sometimes Carlos will have to tell them several times. It only takes me once. I think that Babe sees you as the pack leader. But definitely the more exposure to people and other animals the better.