How to Groom Maltese Dogs
Part of caring for your dog is periodic grooming. Caring for a Maltese is no different. However, the Maltese requires more grooming than other breeds. Maltese have long, fine coats that you must care for to avoid mats and to avoid the coat from breaking since a broken coat does not grow well. You can take your dog to a professional groomer once a week, or you can follow a few simple steps to keep your Maltese well groomed at home.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Dog conditioner
- Water
- Spray bottle
- Brushes
- Comb
- Dog shampoo
- Towel
- Hair dryer
- Nail clippers
- Scissors
- Toothpaste
- Toothbrush
Instructions
-
-
1
Mix one part of dog conditioner to three parts water in a spray bottle. Mist your dog's coat with the conditioner mixture before brushing, as well as periodically throughout the grooming process to make it easier to remove mats from the fur.
-
2
Use a pin brush to work through the coat. A pin brush is a brush with metal bristles. Ensure you brush the entire coat, not just the top layer. Use long strokes, and do not turn your wrist when you finish a stroke. This can break the ends of your dog's coat, causing it not to grow well. Brush your Maltese every two days. Their coats mat easily, and regular maintenance is the best way to prevent this.
-
-
3
Break up mats with your fingers and more of the conditioner mixture. Use a comb to brush the area out once the mat is gone.
-
4
Bathe your Maltese after you have removed all mats. Use a dog shampoo and conditioner, and rinse thoroughly. Do not rub the shampoo and conditioner into the dog's coat. Instead, pour it over the coat, use your fingers to run it through the hair and then rinse it away. Give baths once a week to a week and a half.
-
5
Squeeze the excess water out of the ears, and then use a dry towel to blot her dry. Do not rub her coat.
-
6
Spray your dog with the conditioner mixture. Brush his coat as you did in Step 2. This time, use a hair dryer to dry his coat at the same time. Use low heat to avoid damaging the coat or burning the skin.
-
7
Clip your dog's nails weekly. Use dog nail clippers to trim the nails, taking care to avoid the quick. The quick is the line you can see inside the nail. This line is filled with blood and will hurt your dog if it's cut.
-
8
Check your dog's feet at every grooming. Trim excess hair as needed to avoid mats. Hold your dog on its side, and spread the pads apart. Use scissors to carefully trim away excess hair. When the hair is not excessive, use a comb to brush the hair out to avoid matting. In general, trim your dog's feet every two weeks.
-
9
Brush your Maltese's teeth weekly. Apply a small amount of dog toothpaste, which you can purchase at your veterinarian's office or at your local pet store, to a dog toothbrush. These are rubber brushes that fit on the end of your finger. Rub your dog's teeth with the brush.
-
1
