Maltipoo Barking Issues

So, while both the Maltese and the Toy Poodle are sometimes listed, neither breed has an overly bad reputation for being an excessive barker. These two breeds that create a Maltipoo are neither hound dogs or have any major history as watchdogs. Therefore, looking at this purely from a breed trait that was purposefully developed or as a characteristic byproduct of development, the Maltipoo is not an excessive barker. 

In regard to other factors such as his size, the Maltipoo is a toy sized breed and therefore will have the reputation of being a barker due to the perceived notion by some that all small dogs bark a lot.

With this being said, a Maltipoo will bark. There are very few dogs that do not. Ahead, we will look at the reasons why a Maltipoo may bark and some tips to help curb unnecessary vocalization.  

While dogs do communicate via tag wagging, body positioning and even such things as eye contact and lip licking, barking will always be a canine's main method of communication. Sometimes a Maltipoo will bark a lot in an attempt to convey a need and other times the dog is essentially speaking to himself as barking will be a way to release frustration. Let's look at the top causes of barking:

1) Barking for Attention - Domesticated dogs are not meant to be alone; their entire purpose is to be our companions. When you look at it that way, it's completely normal for a Maltipoo to bark when he's left alone or is not getting attention from his owners.

When in a loving environment and will all needs met in a timely manner, an older adult Maltipoo is often more secure in his schedule and will not bark as much as puppies. He knows that his owners will be back, he knows that even if he is sitting by himself as his humans are busy with other things that he will be taken outside for a walk, etc. 

Older dogs are terrific with internal time clocks. They know when things 'should' happen. If something does not happen as expected, this can trigger barking. In addition, an adult may bark due to separation anxiety if it is new or if it has not been handled properly and has been a continuing issue.

How to fix this - There are a few things that you can do to help stop attention seeking behavior.

1- Having a really solid schedule that you follow as closely as possible can really help a lot. It helps to write it down and tape it to the fridge. There should be set times each day for: daily walks (2 is best, one in the morning, one in the early evening), command training sessions, one-on-one interactional play, feedings, grooming (brushing, dental care) and set times to wind things down for the night (dimmed lights, lowered noise level, relaxed activity) to help a Maltipoo calm down for a better night's sleep.

While a puppy won't learn it in a week, this is the best way to teach a Maltipoo that he will receive attention on a regular basis. This later will cut down on barking as the dog learns that time alone is temporary and he can count on attention at certain times of the day.

Barking at night also falls under this category of barking for attention and we will cover that in much more detail ahead. 

How to fix this - One of the most effective ways to stop a Maltipoo from barking due to boredom - keeping in mind that you already have a good schedule of activity as discussed above - is to teach the puppy to play independently. While dogs will chew at just about anything and even chase their own tails if they have nothing else to do, many will simply fall into rhythmic barking without stimulus. 

It helps to have an array of different toys; this includes not only chews but also treat-release and importantly, toys that encourage independent play. The best toys for a Maltipoo to cut down on barking due to boredom are those that are made to hold a dog's interest and give the dog a reward - this does not have to just be treats. Reward from a toy can be entertainment (the toy reacts to touch) or interesting noises. The right toy can keep a dog busy for hours. 

You'll also want to keep 2 separate toy bins, alternating them so that every other week or so, your dog is given 'new' items. Do, however, always keep his favorites out at all times because many Maltipoos can quickly become attached to certain toys.

3) Barking due to fear/ stress, nervousness - Each dog has his own phobias, fears and triggers of elements that will induce barking. Anything that causes a Maltipoo to be on alert can additionally prompt him to become vocal. He may just be on guard or something may be causing him to feel as if he needs to go into 'protection' mode of himself, the entire family and/or the house. This can include other animal outside, cars driving by, etc.

If a dog cannot figure out if a sound is a threat, he will often fall back on the assumption that it is unless proven otherwise. Therefore, an array of noises and stimulus can cause a Maltipoo to feel nervous which then manifests as barking.

Other barking triggers for a Maltipoo may be a noise that is irritating to the super-sensitive canine hearing that he possesses. Typically this includes high pitched, piercing sounds such as car alarms and sirens. 

How to fix this - There is not much you can do about outside, unexpected triggers such as police sirens or the neighbor's pulling up the drive each night. Most of these events are short-lived and barking should cease as soon as the dog is distracted, even if briefly.

What's important is to offer assurance that 'all is fine' without offering comfort that could be interpreted as confirmation that there is indeed a danger. Overly soothing words should be avoided and instead an owner should speak in a matter-of-fact tone that implies the barking trigger is a normal, expected part of life that requires neither attention nor worry.

Dogs are fantastic at picking up their owner's feelings; humans send out a vibe whether we mean to or not. Often, if a dog is yapping away and owners become frustrated and begin to raise their voices and appear agitated, this can cause the dog to bark even more. It can be an endless cycle.

The best advice for this - and many other situations is: Distract, ignore, reward with attention when the barking stops.

This is most definitely up on the list of top complaints that owners have about puppies and rightly so. When a puppy is up half the night, it means that you are up as well and this sort of interrupted sleep can cause an array of issues.

The trickiest part of this is that owners don't know why the puppy is barking. Puppies are great at making us think that they need immediate rescue. And if that rescue does not arrive, the barking can become so annoying that we're ready to do anything to make it stop. And unfortunately, that right there can be the reason that a Maltipoo continues to do it.

Here's a great guide to follow that will help you identify the reason for the barking, attend to it if needed and if not, train your Maltipoo to stop barking and self soothe.  

One hour before intended sleep time, the house should go into 'relax' mode. Lights should be dimmed and noises (TV, music, etc.) turned down.

20 minutes before bed, it is time for one last bathroom trip and be sure to allow your Maltipoo enough time to do so; at least 10 to 15 minutes.

2) Have a complete area set up for your dog. A cushion or blanket placed in a crate is a surefire recipe for barking at night. Dogs don't like to feel confined and while you do need to keep a puppy confined to one spot, it's best to have a gated off area with a proper, quality bed. There should be toys and water. It's surprising how many puppies bark at night simply because they were not near their water supply. When the water bowl is placed with the puppy, it does increase the need to later urinate but since a hydrated pup will tend to sleep more and not stay awake barking for water, it's the better choice.

3) Keep things super quiet if you must attend to needs. If your Maltipoo is safe, ONLY if you feel that it is reasonable that the barking is due to bathroom needs should you go to him at night. If so, keep lights dim, do not speak at all unless it is to whisper 'good dog' once the deed is done, and with a quick pat put him right back into his area and walk away.

If barking at night is ignored, a puppy often grows up to be an adult that doesn't bother even trying to bark hours on end for attention; they know it won't work. But if a puppy does not learn that rule, it will have to be taught at other times.

You'll also want to think about house training issues. If she is not yet fully trained, this could be a good or bad thing. If she wakes you right up when she has to go, that would be okay. But if not, you may find yourself waking up in a puddle of urine or stepping into something when you're half awake and step down onto the floor. So, part of this should be based on if she gives you signals and how light/heavy of a sleeper you are to be awoken from them. 

The other thing to think about is that dogs quickly become very accustomed to their bed. In this case, it will be your bed. You'll have to commit to sharing it essentially forever if you go this route. When young, there is always the danger of a pup being rolled over or falling off the bed, etc. For adults, well…. While the Maltipoo is a small sized dog, expect her to claim the entire mattress. 

With that said, if you have carefully thought through the above cons, there is nothing inherently wrong with letting your Maltipoo sleep with you. Only if a dog is having trouble understanding that his human is the leader, we then discourage this. And of course, it's comforting to cuddle up at night with your Maltipoo; it's a great way for humans and dogs to bond.

A: This is not uncommon and many owners react the same way that you are: they stop taking their dog for a walk because it save them from dealing with all the barking and crazy behavior. And this is a shame since this breed needs daily exercise and the opportunity to learn control when outside.

It is important to know that the main reason a Maltipoo will bark at other people, cars, other dogs, etc. is that these are 'new' elements that either elicit fear, intense curiosity, or a protective instinct.

If an owner limits exposure to these things, it often never gets better. If walks are cut back to once a week or just to the end of the drive as you do, a dog will never have the chance to really explore the neighborhood and become accustomed to all of the sights and sounds. It's common to feel embarrassed, but there's no need to since just about everyone knows that many dogs do bark until they learn otherwise.