Grooming the Maltese: Perfect Coat in a Few Simple Steps
Grooming the Maltese: Perfect Coat in a Few Simple Steps
Written by Silvia Capelli
October 5, 2023
The Maltese has naturally long, smooth, and silky hair, without an undercoat and with continuous growth, which requires constant grooming and maintenance.
If you want to save at least on the bath, or want to try grooming your Maltese dog by yourself, read our guide: there you will find not only a lot of information and advice on how to wash, shear, and groom your Maltese, but also the link to the professional products you'll need to turn your Maltese into a show dog!
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How to wash a Maltese dog
Washing a Maltese is not difficult: it's a calm dog that generally lets you bathe it without much fuss.
For basic Maltese grooming, namely washing, you will need the following products:
Long-haired dog brush
Dog shampoo (you can choose adetangling one, or one with awhitening effect for Maltese dogs)
Conditioner (again, detanglingor fordogs with white fur)
Then, simply follow these steps:
1. Make sure to wash your friend in a quiet and calm place, warm enough for comfort.
2. Brush the coat thoroughly to remove excess hair. Pay attention to sensitive areas where knots can form, such as the paws, tail, area around the genitals, muzzle, and hairs under the eyes.
3. Put cotton balls in the dog's ears to prevent water and soap from entering.
4. Wet your dog completely with warm water and apply a good amount of shampoo to the coat.
5. Start massaging the body well, then move on to the head, paws, and tail. Clean thoroughly between the toes, the genital area, and the neck. Be sure to treat the muzzle gently to not irritate your Maltese's eyes. If the dog is very dirty, repeat a second time.
6. Rinse thoroughly and repeat the previous treatment with the conditioner, then remove any conditioner residue.
7. Pat dry with a warm, dry towel and dry the dog with a blower or hairdryer (if using the latter and not a blower, make sure the temperature is gentle). And if you want a 2-in-1 product that allows you to dry the fur while brushing, try a dog dryer with an integrated brush, which can be especially useful for nervous dogs that don't like being groomed.
8. Offer a small treat and plenty of praise.
Note: Occasionally, if the Maltese often meets other dogs, you can use a specific shampoo for parasites.
How Often to Wash a Maltese Dog
In reality, dogs should be washed as little as possible, but even if it's almost impossible to stick to the two or three times a year recommended, try not to overdo it.
Excessive grooming could damage the natural oils that protect the dog's skin and coat, causing discomfort to the animal.
It's important to use only high-quality dog products and not those for humans to avoid damaging your pet's coat, as our detergents are not ideal for Maltese fur care.
The Maltese's fur should be kept long, but knowing how difficult it is to keep it tidy, many prefer opting for a practical and short haircut.
When we talk about shearing a Maltese dog, we obviously mean a short cut and not shaving down to the skin, which should never be done in any case.
The skin must always be covered and protected both from heat and cold, and incorrect shaving could cause injuries and consequently infections or damage to your little dog's health.
The haircut of a Maltese dog is part of what we call advanced Maltese grooming: it can be done, but it requires some experience both in the operation and in keeping the dog calm and relaxed during the cutting phase, especially in delicate areas.
To do it in the best way, you will need the following tools (click the link to see them and find out where you can get them):
Kit with all assorted scissors (if you want to save on individual pieces)
Round-tip scissors for head and muzzle
Normal scissors
Thinning scissors
Fine-tooth comb
Long-haired dog brush
Clipper (and if you don't want to waste time cleaning, a complete grooming kit with a fur vacuum)
Barber's bar for cutting bangs
Then proceed as follows:
1. Wash and dry the little dog thoroughly (see the section related to bathing).
2. If the coat is very long, start by cutting the longer fur with scissors, beginning from the back and rear legs. Proceed with the neck, chest, front legs, and belly, leaving the tail for last.
3. Once manual thinning is done, for a rather short cut start using the clipper (never against the grain). Proceed gently and without applying pressure. For a longer cut, pass the fine-tooth comb along the length of the dog, let about 1 cm of fur protrude (or less for a longer cut) and trim the excess with the clipper.
4. Shorten the muzzle fur exclusively with scissors (round-tip if you are not an experienced groomer), never with the clipper. Be very careful around the eyes.
5. Shape the ears nicely round, so they don't end up in the food when your Maltese eats.
6. Continue with the tufts between the toes and finally shorten the tail fur.
7. Offer a snack to reward the animal.
Note: If you decide to cut only with scissors (for example, to trim the fur you want to keep long) use your fingers and the suitable comb to take measurements, as explained in point 4.
Grooming your Maltese should always include nail trimming, which is essential for allowing your friend to walk correctly and to prevent scratching family members while playing.
Trimming a Maltese's nails can prove extremely difficult: many dogs are terrified of nail clippers or electric files, many won't stay still, and others have paws so small that the task is nearly impossible.
It's therefore important to proceed with extreme gentleness to keep the animal as calm as possible.
For nail trimming, you will need these tools:
Nail clippers (choose one for small dogs) or an electric file
Styptic powder (optional but handy in case of accidents, better to have it available!)
Find a quiet place and bring the dog and everything you need.
Locate the cutting area and if it helps, make a small mark with a marker on the nail.
Sit on the floor with Fido (or find a comfortable position for both you and the dog) and lift its paw.
Start trimming the nails from the front paws. Lift the dog's paw, hold it firmly, and cut each nail from top to bottom, at a perpendicular angle (about 45°). Do not cut too close to the quick, keep a safe distance (about 2 mm).
Trim the dewclaw, which is the nail found on the inside of the leg: it tends to break very easily.
Give your Maltese some treats and lots of cuddles, rewarding him is the best way to ensure he doesn't join the foreign legion before the next trim!
And if you happen to make a mistake and the nail bleeds slightly, disinfect and use styptic powder to stop the bleeding.
Another focal point of Maltese grooming is ear cleaning, which is absolutely essential to prevent the spread of bacteria, mites, and yeast, and the accumulation of hair in the ear canal.
This task is less difficult than nail trimming but equally delicate, as it's important to avoid penetrating too deeply and damaging the dog's eardrum.
For ear cleaning, you will need some simple tools:
Cotton balls and cut-up gauze, or moist wipes
Ear cleaning solution
Long tweezers (like those for eyebrows)
To perform a deep and safe cleaning, it's best to proceed step by step:
Comfortably seat your Maltese on a raised surface, like a table. Make sure they are comfortable and not distracted or disturbed.
Lift the ear and pour in some cleaner. Move the head so that the liquid flows and penetrates deep into the canal. Support by placing your thumb on the cartilage at the base of the ear and slide your finger from the bottom up.
Gently massage to help the liquid penetrate to the bottom and dissolve the wax.
Wrap a piece of gauze (or a wipe) around your index finger and gently enter the dog's ear.
Gently clean the walls. Repeat with the solution and continue cleaning until the gauze is no longer dirty.
If the dog's ears are too small, roll a piece of gauze onto itself to form a sort of stick and use it to clean the ear cavity.
Pat the ear with cotton to limit the escape of cleaner when the dog shakes its head.
Reward them with a snack and lots of praise.
And avoid using traditional ear swabs, they might seem like the most practical solution but just a millimeter too deep can cause your friend harm.
For stress-free wax cleaning, you can also use pre-moistened wipes for dog's ears, they are ready to use and not as invasive as other cleaning tools.
There are regular ones, but you can also find some specifically indicated for treating ear infections.
If you want to learn more about cleaning your dog's ears, read our blog post:
Korean Maltese: Is it a special breed or just a trend?
Maltese Dog: 13 Things to Know Before Getting One
Maltese Dog Problems: A Complete Guide to Their Issues
Feeding Your Maltese: All About Food, Portions, and Nutrients
Author's Note
I invite all readers to share their experiences on this topic in the comments section.
Any information you wish to share on health, temperament, products, and tips on training or diet will help us create a great community of owners who not only love dogs but also know how to manage them best.
The health of your Maltese also depends on the health of its coat and the cleanliness of its body!
If you found this article helpful, come and discover many more with us to learn everything you need to know about khani.co.uk and how to best manage them.
