Maltese Guide

Puppy Proofing Your Home for a Maltese

A Maltese puppy sees the world from a few inches off the floor, and almost everything within that reach goes in its mouth. Puppy proofing your home for a Maltese means looking at each room from that height, and then removing, covering or blocking whatever could hurt a dog the size of a small cat.

This guide covers the dangers that matter most for a tiny dog, a room-by-room checklist, how to stop a Maltese puppy chewing and what to do if something is swallowed. Dangerous foods have their own list in the Maltese feeding guide.

How do I puppy proof my home for a Maltese?

Start by getting down on your hands and knees. Walk each room the way the puppy will and note what you can reach, chew, pull down, squeeze behind or swallow. Then deal with it in this order:

Remove what you can: small objects, loose coins, hair ties, batteries, jewelry and medications.
Raise what must stay: move bags, shoes and laundry to a shelf or a closed closet.
Cover or block what cannot move: cords, open stairwells and gaps behind appliances.
Close off rooms you do not want to proof, using doors or baby gates, so the puppy lives in a small safe zone to begin with.

A playpen or gated area is the simplest answer. It lets the puppy have space without risk when you cannot watch, and it fits well with the routine in the house training guide.

What household dangers are worst for a tiny dog?

Small size changes the risk. A dose of something that barely affects a large dog can poison a puppy of two or three pounds, and a drop that a big dog shrugs off can break a Maltese's bones.

Medications, including human pain relievers such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen, antidepressants, and vitamins. Keep pills in closed cabinets, never in a purse on the floor.
Sweeteners, especially xylitol in gum, mints and baked goods.
Cleaning products, antifreeze, rodent poison, fertilizer, and pest bait. Antifreeze is deadly even in small amounts.
Small objects that can block the throat or intestines: socks, hair ties, toys, buttons, corn cobs.
Heavy or moving things: reclining chairs, rocking chairs, doors, foot traffic, other pets.
Open water: toilets, buckets, pools and ponds.

Which plants are poisonous to dogs?

Check every houseplant and garden plant against the ASPCA's toxic plant list, which is free to read online. Common troublemakers include sago palm (very dangerous, with seeds especially toxic), lilies (mainly a cat problem but still unwelcome), azalea and rhododendron, oleander, tulip and daffodil bulbs, aloe, philodendron, pothos and dieffenbachia.

Mulch, especially cocoa bean mulch, and mushrooms in the yard can also be harmful. When in doubt, put the plant out of reach or give it away. If your puppy has chewed a plant, take a photo of the plant and call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center right away, before any symptoms start.

How do I protect my Maltese puppy from cords and small spaces?

Electrical cords are among the commonest hazards, since puppies treat them as chew toys. A bite can cause burns in the mouth, and swallowed pieces can obstruct the gut.

Run cords behind furniture, through cable covers or up out of reach, and unplug devices when not in use.
Use bitter-tasting deterrent sprays on cords and furniture edges only after checking they are made for dogs.
Block gaps behind washers, sofas and under cabinets, where small dogs get stuck.
Fit baby gates at the top and bottom of stairs, because a Maltese can fall badly, and be careful with sliding glass doors that look open.
Secure trash cans with a lid or keep them behind a door, since discarded food and corn cobs are tempting.

Why does my Maltese puppy chew everything?

Chewing is normal puppy behavior, not defiance. Puppies explore with their mouths, and between roughly three and six months they are teething, which makes the gums sore. Boredom, loneliness and attention seeking can also drive it. A Maltese that chews is not being spiteful; it is being a puppy.

The aim is not to stop chewing but to direct it. Offer plenty of the right items, remove the wrong ones before the puppy finds them and supervise the rest. Grooming time needs the same care: a puppy that swallows hair or fabric can get a blockage, so pick up trimmings and loose hair as you work. For more about the months of teething and change, read the Maltese puppy growth stages.

How do I stop a Maltese puppy chewing furniture and shoes?

Combine management with teaching, and keep it kind.

Swap, do not snatch. When the puppy picks up something wrong, offer a chew toy and praise when it takes it.
Provide toys sized for toy dogs. Soft rubber chews, a frozen damp washcloth for sore gums and puzzle toys for mealtimes are all safe options when the puppy is watched. Throw away toys that are coming apart.
Keep temptations out of reach. Shoes in a closet and remote controls on a shelf are easier than constant correction.
Use a pen or crate when you cannot supervise.
Exercise the mind. Short training sessions, gentle games and a lick mat make a bored puppy less destructive.
Never punish. Shouting after the fact does not work, and it can make the puppy anxious.

Avoid rawhide, hard bones and antlers, which can break small teeth or cause blockages. Chewing that suddenly grows or turns obsessive deserves a vet check.

What should I do if my Maltese puppy swallows something?

Act quickly and call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center even if the puppy seems well. Tell them what was swallowed, how much, when, and the puppy's weight. Do not make the puppy vomit unless a professional tells you to; some substances do more damage on the way back up.

Go to a clinic straight away for repeated vomiting, a swollen or painful belly, drooling, pawing at the mouth, trouble breathing, weakness or collapse. Keep the product packaging to take with you. A puppy that has been chewing on something sharp or a long object such as string needs to be seen, since string can cut the intestines.

How do I keep a tiny Maltese safe around children and other pets?

Most injuries to toy dogs at home are accidents, not aggression. Children should sit down to hold the puppy, never carry it around, and learn that sleeping or eating puppies are left alone. Bigger dogs may play too hard with a puppy that weighs less than their head, so introduce them on a leash, keep early meetings short and separate them when you are out.

Cats are usually fine once they have had time to sniff and retreat, but a claw to the eye is a real danger for a young puppy. Give each animal its own escape route, and keep food bowls and toys separate to avoid squabbles. Supervise every interaction for the first weeks, and be especially careful around recliners, rocking chairs and adults who are carrying things, since a puppy underfoot is easy to trip over.

What does a safe room for a Maltese puppy look like?

A kitchen or a family room with a washable floor works well. It should have a gated area, a bed, water in a heavy bowl, a few toys and an easy-to-clean toilet spot. Nothing dangling, nothing breakable and no cords. Expand the puppy's territory little by little as it earns trust, and proof each new room before it is opened.

Look at the Maltese puppy care guide for the first weeks' routine. When you are ready to meet a puppy, the puppies available at Divine Maltese are shown on their own page.

Quick Answers

Are Maltese puppies fragile?

They are small and can be hurt by falls, rough handling and being stepped on, but with careful handling they are healthy and active. Teach everyone in the house to lift and carry a Maltese properly.

Can a Maltese go up and down stairs?

Adult Maltese often manage low stairs, but a puppy can fall, and jumping from furniture may stress the knees. Use gates and steps or ramps for beds and sofas.

Is it safe to leave a Maltese puppy alone in a room?

Only in a space that has been fully proofed, such as a pen, for a short time. Never leave a puppy loose in a room with cords, plants or small objects.

What chew toys are safe for a Maltese puppy?

Soft rubber or nylon toys made for small dogs, with no pieces that can come off. Watch the puppy while it chews and replace worn toys.

Do I need to proof the yard too?

Yes. Check fences for gaps, remove toxic plants and chemicals, and watch for hawks and owls in open spaces, which can threaten toy dogs, so supervise outdoor time.

Does puppy proofing end when the puppy grows up?

Many dogs grow out of heavy chewing by their first birthday, though a Maltese stays small for life, so cords, medications and heights remain a concern.