Maltichon Grooming

The Maltichon is a hybrid mix of the Maltese (with a long, silky coat) and a Bichon Frise (with a medium-length, fluffy one). Both parent breeds' coats are white, and both are hypoallergenic--so their Maltichon offspring's coat will be white and low-shedding as well. These hybrids coats are normally "in between" the parent breeds': medium to long, fluffy, and fairly silky. Overall Maltichon grooming needs are moderately high, and will need to include frequent brushing and bathing.

Here you'll find details on maintaining the Maltichon coat, including plenty of info about the aforementioned brushing and bathing. You'll also see descriptions of some popular Maltichon hairstyles. Get answers to your questions about Maltichon grooming in the following sections!

Overall Maltichon grooming can be fairly time-consuming--and a lot of the work will involve maintaining these hybrids' white coats.

Since both its parent breeds have hypoallergenic coats, the Maltichon is very low-shedding too--but frequent brushing (3-4 times per week, if not daily) is necessary to keep the coat looking good, and to avoid tangles and mats. Using a pin brush, go through the coat section by section, moving in the direction of hair growth. If you encounter a tangle, first try working it out with your fingers, then if needed continue working through it with the end teeth of a greyhound comb.

Maltichon bath time is necessary about once a month--unless, of course, the dog gets especially dirty or stinky and an "emergency bath" is called for. When bathing a Maltichon, be sure to use canine shampoo and conditioner; the kind made for humans has a different pH, and will irritate these little dogs' skin. Also take the time to rinse the coat completely, as any leftover soap residue will cause skin irritation as well. Dry the coat with a hair dryer on its lowest heat setting, brushing the hair out as you dry.

In between baths: these white dogs, like other lighter-colored breeds, often develop tear stains. You can clean them with a topical solution--and while many types of these stain removers exist (both commercial and homemade), vets say a solution containing boric acid (like contact lens cleaner) works best.

And whether your Maltichon's coat is long and silky or shorter and fluffy, numerous hairstyles are possible. (See the Styling & Haircuts section below for descriptions of popular styles.)

While it's possible for owners to learn all aspects of Maltichon grooming themselves, a lot of people rely on professional groomers for major tasks like bathing and haircuts. In any case, it's a good idea to take your Maltichon to a pro at least once. The groomer can give the dog a nice makeover, and provide tips on how to groom a Maltichon at home.

These dogs' coats can be long and silky like that of the Maltese, or medium-length and fluffy like the Bichon's--but regardless, plenty of Bichon-Maltese haircuts are out there! Depending on the style, your Maltichon will need a haircut every 2-3 months.

Some popular Maltichon haircuts:

• Puppy Cut: A very low-maintenance style. The entire coat is clipped short (to about two inches). Some owners like to leave the hair on the legs, face, and ears a bit longer. Can be done at home with some practice.
• Show Cut: This style leaves most of the coat length intact. The hair on the body and legs is scissor-trimmed and thinned out to reduce volume, and the facial and head hair is rounded. Best done by a groomer.
• Teddy Bear Cut: Similar to a Puppy Cut, but the hair on the legs, face, head, and ears is carefully sculpted and rounded to make the dog resemble an adorable stuffed animal. Probably best done by a groomer.
• 3-Layer: Also called a 3-Stack, this intricate style is only possible on Maltichons with long, Maltese-like coats. The hair on the face, head, and ears is cut to a line about shoulder length; the hair on the body 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 gives the impression of three distinct levels, or layers. Definitely needs a groomer's touch.