Hi all. I just got my maltese yesterday, and i just wanna clear some doubts with the pros in this forum. He's 3 months old..and very sticky...always need people's attention... I named him Snowy.

1) I wanted to do paper training but the pet shop owner where i got him from advised me to buy a cage...kinda small..just slightly larger than a normal crate. Snowy lives in my room but i bring the cage to the kitchen and feed him in there. He didnt poo the first day..hahaha..he only pooed today after being fed lunch. The cage has an undertray, which the pet shop owner advised me to just let him poo in the cage then wash it. The pet shop owner also said after doing this frequently he would get used to it then i can leave the door open and he will eliminate there when he wants to. I was wondering if i can housebreak him dat way. If it is wrong, care to advise another method?
Yes, you can train the pup to use the cage as a toilet. but you must repeat this everyday and never let him sleep or eat inside since dogs do not like to dirty their food or sleeping place.

2) The first day home he didnt cry or bark at nite..No sound at all. I was so surprised...literally SHOCKED. Even when i left the room he didnt even make a sound. Im sure he noticed me leaving but he didnt even made a noise. Is it normal?
Timid or shy dogs normally won't bark on their 1st night.

3) Everytime i leave him, he will bark like crazy. Today i tried leaving him for just one hour...and he barked like crazy when i left him. When i came back he was all silent, then saw me then bark like crazy again. I locked him in the cage during that hour. Izzit okay to train him like dat?
If you use the cage as a toilet, do not use it as punishment tool or sleeping area.... you will make the pup confuse. For me, let it go on barking. A puppy's mind is very simple and smart. If it barks and you appear, it will associate barking with you. So if you ignore the pup, then he will learn. Let him bark all he wants... when he quiets down, then only go to your puppy. It will soon learn that barking means you won't show up but quite means you will come. Please also inform your neighbours about this so they do not get too angry with the noise. Tell them you are still training the pup.

4) How fast do they learn their names? Till now, i dont think he knows he's called Snowy. He just want my company dats all.
He doesn't know his name yet. You should keep repeating that name whenever you play with him and touch him. In a few weeks, he will know.

5) How sticky are your maltese? Mine cant be left for even one second...he doesnt bark when im around (not even once) but the moment im gone all hell breaks lose. Anyway to reduce this "separation anxiety"? Even the pet shop owner says my puppy is especially sticky, since arrive in the shop doesnt even want to be caged, just want to be held. I want to at least train him to be more independent, maybe be alone for 3 to 4 hours max. Should i ignore his barks and pleas, or should i be soft-hearted?
As said before, ignore the barks... the more you be soft-hearted, the harder to train him not to bark.

6) I want to train him, sit, stay, come, etc. But when i wanted to buy treats, the pet shop owner says wait till he noes how to differentiate between his staple food and treats. Can i train him using his kibbles? Currently, i soften his kibbles b4 feeding him. Anyway to train him now? or i reli have to get treats?
Do not use treats yet.... treats is not good for puppy. Use back the kibbles. Only use treats after your dog has turned 1 year.... this is so that your pup will not grow up to be picky about food. Really, you do not want to go through the trouble of having a picky and choosy eater.


7) I lock him in the cage when sleeping at nite coz i don wan him to eliminate all over my room..izzit ok he was ok the first nite.
As said before... if the cage is to be used as a toilet, do not cage him in the cage... you can make him confuse and also dirty since there is a chance he may step on his own poo....

Thanks ahead for all the helpful replies.

wah no nit neuter so serious kua..
i'm oni fostering him til this wed..
he's my bro's dog, adopted him this morning.
jack-jack's same father diff mother bro.
i will oni hv jack-jack n xun-xun.
no more.
same as my bro, oni Prince n Cocoha.

crazy the earliest is 6mths rite.. God i gotta neuture my dog at 6mths the earliest. so scared .

Actually my Gf's uncle own 4 dog . His shihtzu now almost 14 years old .
and the shihtzu teach the other 3 dogs . This is what my Gf's uncle told =')
i went my GF's uncle place during CNY , My Gf's Uncle dog really obedient and never fight .
He say when he own other 3 dogs , he no need to teach them already and the other dog seem understand basic command , and this is true . All his dog stay indoor even though a Doberman can friend with shihtzu =')

My recommendation is better teach good a dog first then only decide get a friend for own furkid .
so the other friend of your furkid can learn a good thing from Senior , Just my 2 cents .