Maltese Grooming

The Maltese is notorious for its coat of long, silky white hair that is often compared to human hair. But with Maltese ownership comes a good bit of Maltese grooming! The coats are single-layered, so they don't shed very much, but these dogs will need daily brushing to keep the coats mat- and tangle-free, and frequent baths to keep the white coats sparkling clean. With the Maltese's long, flowing locks, a wide variety of hairstyles are possible.

Here you'll find plenty of info on caring for the coat (including detailed instructions on brushing and bathing), miscellaneous grooming tips, hairstyle ideas, and more. Get answers to your questions about grooming a Maltese in the following sections!

Grooming for Maltese dogs can be a fairly involved, daily task--and as Maltese groomers know, most of the time will be spent caring for that silky white coat. The single-layered coats tend to mat pretty easily, so grooming a Maltese coat will need to include some daily brushing to minimize mats and tangles; and since the silky white coats can get dirty more easily than darker-colored dogs, baths will be required every two weeks or so. The good news is that Maltese have no undercoat, and thus shed very little--so owners will need to groom a Maltese the same amount all year long.

Maltese dog grooming will be much easier with some Maltese grooming tools. The Maltese grooming kit will need to include a pin brush, a 2-in-1 comb, a flea comb, a pair of scissors, and canine shampoo and conditioner.

And many haircuts and grooming styles are possible for these dogs. While some owners use instructional videos and other Web info to learn how to groom a Maltese dog at home, many people rely on professional groomers for their needs. In any case, it's a good idea to visit a Maltese groomer at least once. The groomer can demonstrate how to groom a Maltese face and body, provide tips on how to groom Maltese in general, and give your Maltese the perfect haircut or style!

It's best to give your Maltese's silky coat a good brushing every day. The best brush for Maltese hair is a pin brush, as it will glide through the dog's silky coat the easiest. Another of the best brushes for Maltese dogs isn't actually a brush, but a 2-in-1 comb, which you can use on the dog's face and ear hair, and to help work out mats and tangles.

And how to brush a Maltese? The Maltese brush should happen like this: first wet the coat with water mist from a spray bottle, with a bit of de-tangling solution mixed in if desired. Then, starting at the shoulders, brush the entire coat section by section, using long, sweeping strokes much like brushing long human hair. If you encounter a mat or tangle, first try working through it with your fingers, then continue working it out with the comb if needed. (See more details in the Getting Out Tangles section below.) Finish by using the comb to go through the hair on the face ad ears.

Unfortunately, Maltese hair matting isn't uncommon. These dogs have single-layered coats, so there's no undercoat to mat or tangle--but if the long, silky hair does tangle up, the matted Maltese can be a real pain to deal with! Daily brushing will help minimize the occurrence of mats and tangles in the first place.

Here's the best way to handle Maltese matted hair: if your brush "sticks" on a mat or tangle, first try working it out with your fingers, separating individual hairs if necessary. If the tangle is still there, use your 2-in-1 comb to continue working through it, adding a spray or two of de-tangling solution while you work if you want.

If the mat still won't come out (or if your Maltese has multiple tangles or mats), the only real option left is to take the dog to a groomer. And if the groomer can't work the tangles out either, he or she might tell you the only remaining solution is to shave the coat.

Bathing a Maltese isn't too difficult, but these dogs' silky white coats will need frequent washing--so the Maltese bath should happen pretty often. Specifically how often to bathe Maltese dogs? Several factors should be considered: whether your Maltese has a long or shaved coat, whether the dog is for show or simply for companionship, and how much (and how often) the dog gets dirty. On average, though, owners bathe their Maltese every 2-3 weeks.

The long, silky white Maltese coats also have different shampoo needs than that of other breeds. Several options are available, too. Overall, many owners think the best shampoo for Maltese dogs contains oatmeal, aloe vera, or shea butter, because these keep the hair silky and minimize tangles and mats. Of this type, the best Maltese shampoo is Earthbath Oatmeal and Aloe. Other owners like to use whitening shampoo for Maltese--but because this type usually contains artificial dyes and other chemicals, some steer clear of it. If you prefer this type, though, the best Maltese whitening shampoo seems to be Veterinary Formula Snow White. And still others think the best Maltese shampoo, regardless of its type, is the kind that also contains conditioner, because it's simply more convenient.

Here's how to bathe a Maltese: these dogs are small enough that the Maltese bathing can take place in the kitchen sink. First give the dog a thorough brushing--then place the dog in the sink and wet the coat with warm water. Apply a small amount of your chosen shampoo to the Maltese's back, then lather well, working downward and outward. And don't forget the legs, underbelly, and tail!

Next use a washcloth to clean the head, face, and ears; Maltese eye cleaning, in the areas where tear stains form, should be included here. How to clean a Maltese eyes: use the soapy washcloth to swipe downward from the inner eye area, being careful not to touch the actual eyeball.

Then rinse the coat completely (including using the rinsed cloth on the face/eyes). Unless the shampoo also has conditioner, repeat the entire process with conditioner. To dry: wrap a towel around the dog, and pat or blot the coat to remove excess water. (Rubbing with the towel is not recommended, as this damages the hair and causes tangles.) Letting the coat air-dry is best, but you can also use a hair dryer on its lowest setting--just note that this may make the coat extra frizzy.

Finish with another quick brush-through with the pin brush to make the coat look silky and clean.

With these dogs' long, silky locks that are similar to human hair, numerous Maltese haircuts are possible. Haircuts for Maltese dogs vary widely--from the low-maintenance Maltese puppy cut, to the trendy Maltese Korean cut, and even the intricate, artistic 3-layer cut. And while some owners learn to do Maltese hair cuts at home, others rely on professional groomers to cut Maltese hair. Whatever your preference, cutting Maltese hair styles can be a fascinating hobby! A few of the most popular Maltese cuts:

• Puppy Cut: On Maltese, this style is fairly common because it doesn't take much ongoing care--but puppy cuts for Maltese mean the dogs lose most of their beautiful, silky hair. The Maltese puppy cut: the entire coat is clipped short (to 1-2 inches), with the hair on the face, ears, and legs sometimes left a bit longer. Can be done at home with a little practice.
• Teddy Bear Cut: For Maltese dogs, this style gives the impression of an adorable white stuffed animal. The Maltese teddy bear cut is similar to the puppy cut described above--but the hair on the face, ears, and legs is left a little longer and is carefully sculpted and rounded. Can be done at home, but will definitely take some practice.
• Korean Cut: Maltese dogs with this style have become wildly popular in recent years. The Korean Maltese cut has the neck, back, and underbelly clipped short; the head and ear hair is kept long; the legs are cut to medium length and shaped to look like boots; the beard is trimmed short, and the muzzle is trimmed and rounded. Best done by a groomer.
• 3-Layer: Also called the 3-stack, this artistic style sees the hair on the face and ears cut to shoulder length; the body hair is cut to a line 2-3 inches from the ground; and the leg hair is cut to a line just above the ground. The overall look has three distinct layers or "levels." Definitely will need to be done by a groomer.
• (BONUS) Top Knot: Any Maltese hairstyle can be accentuated with a top knot. A Maltese top knot has the hair on top of the head left at full length and fastened up with a barrette, bow, or hair tie.

A Maltese will need its paws regularly maintained in these areas:

• Nails: If Maltese nails "click" on hard surfaces, it's time for a trim. Use regular clippers to cut each nail just past the end of the toe. Be sure not to clip it too close, though, as doing so can cut into the "quick" (the blood vessel running through the nail), making it bleed and be painful.
• Toe Hair: If the hair between your Maltese's toes gets too long, it can become very dirty and even infected. Use scissors to cut the hairs as close to their roots as possible.
• Paw Pads: The paw pads of a Maltese can become dry or cracked, especially if the dog walks or runs a lot on hot asphalt or snow/ice. Once per week, use a cotton ball or washcloth to apply commercial paw pad moisturizer (available at pet stores) to the paw pads to keep them soft and healthy.

In addition to a Maltese's coat and paws, owners need to maintain their dogs in these areas:

• Teeth: Just like a human's, Maltese teeth need regular brushing to reduce plaque and tartar and to minimize Maltese bad breath. How to brush Maltese teeth: use a regular toothbrush to brush the dog's teeth twice per week--but be sure to use canine toothpaste, as the kind made for humans can make dogs sick if they swallow it.
• Tear Stains: For lighter-colored breeds like the Maltese, eye stains are a common problem. The stains are caused by the tears (which contain iron compounds) turning the areas below the eyes a reddish-brown color--and though they're naturally occurring and painless, they look pretty bad! While a Google search for "Maltese eye stain home remedy" will produce many and varied results, veterinarians believe the best Maltese eye stain remover is a solution containing boric acid, such as contact lens cleaner. Pet safe commercial tear stain removers are available online or local pet stores. Use a cotton ball moistened with the solution to clean Maltese tear stains twice a day.