How to Help Keep a Bored Maltese Busy

What to know: 

A contributing factor in boredom with dogs is being too sedentary. So, purposeful light cardio such as walking is a great boredom buster. In addition, allowing a Maltese to engage their senses (sight, hearing, scent) while out and about is a mood-booster. So, walks are an amazing therapy for bored dogs. 

What to do: 

Schedule at least 1, but ideally 2 daily walks unless there is harsh or dangerous weather. Plan for a minimum of 20 minutes of walking at a pace that is brisk for your particular Maltese. 

Prepare for the elements. If it’s raining, a large yet lightweight umbrella such as the G4F Oversize Double Canopy Umbrella can easily offer both you and your Maltese cover. 

And if you live somewhere with cold or snowy winters and it’s chilly outside, slip a warm vest or coat on your little guy or gal. One that we like a lot is the Gooby Padded Dog Vest. 

What to know: 

Dogs typically love to explore new places. While walks around new locales may be considered as an exercise session (see previous tip #1), in many cases the pace will be slower as you both take in the sights, so this should be done in addition to daily walks, if possible. 

What to do: 

A quick web search should tell you what sort of places are close to your home. Some destinations that small dogs like the Maltese enjoy are nature walks and trails, ‘easy’ hiking trails, and exploring the shorelines of lakes or the beach. Seasonally, there may be farmer’s markets, flea markets, and other places to visit. 

When you have your Maltese out in a new area, be sure to have them on a harness such as the Puppia Harness Soft B Vest. This is recommended at all times to help prevent tracheal issues and is especially helpful to offer good control when walking in new areas. 

What to know: 

This is the quintessential owner/canine game for a good reason! It’s easy to play, most dogs instinctually love chasing and retrieving items, it’s great for bonding, and sessions can be done indoors or outdoors (especially for small toy breeds lie the Maltese). 

What to do:

There are really only 2 things you need to have successful fetch games with your Maltese: Enthusiasm and a fun toy for them to chase after.

Be vocal and offer encouragement, with lively throwing and praise for bringing the item back to you. 



And if you’re looking for a fun fetch toy for your little guy or gal, a good one for all levels are Midlee X-Small Dog Tennis Balls. These are sized perfectly for this breed. 

And if your Maltese is an advanced player that likes a challenge with some high-flying fun, you may want to check out the Canine Hardware Flying Squirrel - Petite which soars and allows your dog to line up under it. 

What to know: 

If your Maltese does not yet know the basic commands of sit, come, stay, and down, you’ll find that once a dog knows these, life is a lot easier. Additional commands such as ‘leave it’, ‘off’, and others are helpful too. And if your Maltese has those commands down pat, taking things further into the realm of tricks is a fantastic way to keep a dog busy while bringing about other bonuses as well. 

Training sessions of this sort are excellent for bonding with a dog and the process of learning (and receiving praise and reward for ‘good tries’) can boost a dog’s self-confidence and offer a sense of pride. 

What to do:

There are several choices when it comes to training your Maltese. A web search can lead you to instructions to read over or videos to watch. Or, you may want to consider contacting your local SPCA to inquire about in-person training classes. 

There are also lots of books on this topic. One that we love is 101 Dog Tricks: Step by Step Activities to Engage, Challenge, and Bond ; it covers all basic commands and has lots of fun tricks to teach a dog, with easy-to-follow instructions and helpful step-by-step photos. 

#5 Hide and Seek

What to know: 

This is a simply yet fun game for pet parents to play with their Maltese that can help pass the time and offer some physical activity. It’s great for bad-weather days or anytime that you want your Maltese to get moving a bit more. 

What to do: 

The premise is fairly simple. You’ll hide and it’s your Maltese’s job to find you. If you’re playing this alone with your little guy or gal (and don’t have anyone there to keep ahold of them while you run off), it can help to have your hiding spot planned in advance and then have an obstacle (large box, gate with a small opening, etc.) to delay the chase. 

If your Maltese is new to this game, hide in easy spots like behind a door or under a blanket. If they seem very confused, you can let out a few whispers. When they find you, be sure to offer tons of praise. A small training treat can help offer encouragement. 

#6 Bubbles

What to know: 

This is an often-forgot about activity that brings instant joy to both humans and dogs alike. Many dogs love having bubbles blown: the bubbles themselves are intriguing and they’re fun to chase after. 

What to do: 

There are several options to keep your Maltese busy and occupied with bubbles. The easiest and most inexpensive way is to just blow bubbles with a mix and wand that can be found in your local stores like Walgreens, Target, etc. 

6 Tips for Curing a Maltese’s Boredom Based on Independent Play 

#1 A Snuffle Mat

What to know: 

There are several terrific ways to keep a Maltese busy on their own, but snuffle mats are at the top of the list. These are typically fabric mats of varying shapes ands sizes that have lots of flaps; some have pockets too. It’ll be your job to tuck dry treats into the mat, and then your Maltese will stay occupied foraging for them, using their sense of smell. 

Many dogs find it very satisfying to use their olfactory receptors in this way and it is self-rewarding (as they are finding and eating the treats as they go). 

What to do: 

All you need is a snuffle mat and some dry treats (chewy/moist treats can be used, but they mat would need to be washed more often than if you use baked/dry). 

For a snuffle mat, we really love the IFOYO Flower Pet Snuffle Mat. Aside from being utterly adorable, it’s ideally sized for Maltese and is impressively durable. It also has straps to secure it to a chair or other object to prevent it from sliding around. 

For dry treats, something healthy with a strong scent works best, for example Merrick Oven Baked Natural Crunchy Treats, which are limited ingredient, all-natural wholesome treats that are made in the USA and preserved with a vitamin mix (tocopherals) with amazing flavors such Cowboy Cookout (real beef and bacon) and Grammy's Pot Pie.

#2 A Treat-dispensing Toy 

What to know: 

These are dog toys designed to hold treats that releases those treats in a gradual manner, typically when the toy is chewed or moved around. For dogs that are food-motivated, a toy like this can work great to stave off boredom and offer a fun way to stay busy. 

What to do: 

You’ll just need the toy itself and the treats for food to fill it up. Keep in mind that dry treats will often tumble out easier and chewy treats (or those mixed with peanut butter or mashed pumpkin) will last longer and provide more of a challenge. 

One option that we like is the PetSafe Busy Buddy Twist 'n Treat Toy. This is nice because you can adjust the difficultly level. It’s also well-made, durable, and easy to wash. 

#3 An Interactive Toy

What to know: 

This sort of dog toy responds to a dog in some way, typically by making noises and/or moving. A toy like this can be a fantastic method to cure a Maltese’s boredom since it offers interaction and entertainment, essentially ‘playing’ back with them. These are great any time, but especially if a Maltese is home alone. 

What to do: 

There are different types of interactive toys to choose from. For Maltese that like stuffed animals, there is a line of talking animals From Multipet that offers some cute options; each one makes its own particular sound, for example a clucking chicken or a mooing cow. These toys vary in size, the smaller ones in the 5 to 6-inch range like the Multipet's Look Who's Talking Duck are good for toy breeds like the Maltese. 

And if you’re looking for something that offers even more interaction (and again, great for Maltese that are alone for part of the day), another option is a Pet Qwerks Talking Babble Ball. This goes into sleep mode when it’s left alone, but will say all sorts of silly phrases when a dog moves it around (paws or noses it). 

#4 A Lick Mat

What to know: 

A lick mat, also known as a slow-feeder mat or a treat mat, is a really simple idea: Most are silicone-rubber mats with suction cups on one side and grooves on the other that hold thick food like peanut butter. And these can work remarkably well to keep a dog busy and distracted. 

Licks mats are sometimes used to keep a dog preoccupied while being groomed and work as a boredom buster. 

What to do: 

Although most lick mats will stick to any flat, smoother surface such as bathtubs (used to distract while bathing) or fridge doors, many pet parents find it easiest to just suction it down on a tiled kitchen floor. 

And while lots of dogs love to lick off peanut butter (and this lasts the longest), other options include mashed banana, sweet potato, or pumpkin puree. 

For the mat itself, choose one that has good suction so that it doesn’t slide around. One that we like is the Hyper Pet IQ Treat Mat. 

#5 Chews

What to know: 

Most dogs love to work their jaws and chew on things. It’s a hobby for some dogs and a stress-reliever for others. The trick is to find something that offers incentive and will last a reasonable amount of time. 

There are both edible and non-edible chews. Ahead, we’ll look at both options. 

What to do: 

You’ll just need to decide if you want to offer your Maltese edible dog chews, non-edible or both. 

Edible chews are those that are meant to be eaten but at a slow, gradual pace. Popular ones include raw hides and pig ears; we do not recommend those since they can be choking hazards and/or can cause dangerous or even fatal internal blockage in the stomach and/or intestines. A good alternative can be yak chews such as Native Pet Yak Chews for Dogs - Size Small , which are hard chews made from yak milk. 

Non-edible chews are toys that are meant to be gnawed on, but will eventually wear down. Note that even those marketed as ‘indestructible’ will eventually need replacing since nothing can last forever. 

For Maltese puppies who often require scent or flavor motivation, the Nylabone Just for Puppies Teething Chew Keys which are bacon flavored can work well. 

But don’t worry if your Maltese is older and still likes to chew away on something tasty; there are some awesome choices with pretty wild flavors for adult dogs, like the Nylabone Flavor Frenzy Power Chew Triple Pack. 

#6 A Puzzle Toy

What to know: 

Part of the reason dogs get bored is a lack of mental stimulation, so puzzle toys can really fit the bill in these cases. There are countless designs and models, but most revolve around manipulating the toy (moving levers, sliding doors, flipping latches, etc.) to find hidden treats. 

Pet parents will need to set this up for their little guys or gals and in some cases, there will need to be some supervision and hinting to aid a dog in figuring out how to solve the puzzle (at least for the first time). 

What to do: 

There are levels that range from easy to difficult. Even if these are a completely new concept to a Maltese, we recommend starting with a ‘moderate’ level, since an easy-level puzzle is often figured so quickly that a dog may get bored of it too fast. 

A recommended one to begin with is the Outward Hound Level 2 Puzzle. As your Maltese learns and advances, there are some pretty complicated and challenging designs to work up to.

Maltese Dos and Don'ts - A short yet helpful list of the most vital dos and most important don'ts for Maltese of all ages.