How to Trim a Maltese Dog's Face

Maltese dogs are often trimmed for grooming purposes.

A Maltese dog has a beautiful long coat. Proper grooming of the Maltese coat is an important part of keeping the dog healthy and happy, as well as eliminating matting problems. To trim the face, owners must take care not to harm the dog and to work on the trim systematically for the best results.

Things You'll Need

• Dog brush
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Brush out the dog's hair to remove any matting or tangles. Never trim the hair until the tangles are removed to prevent any problems while cutting.

2. Brush the hair back on the neck and trim the hair at the top of the neck where the hair falls between the ears.

3. Part the hair in the middle of the head and brush it down to the sides. Remove any tangles and then cut the hair between the ears and the eyes.

4. Pull the hair at the top upward and trim around it to form the shape of a mushroom. Leave it a little longer for a cuter look or for dogs with a larger head.

5. Brush the hair on the muzzle so it parts in the middle and trim the hair to about 1 inch below the muzzle. This gives the muzzle shorter hair in the front.

6. Brush the ears downward and then pull them out and trim along the outside so the hair on the ear is about 1/2 inch to 1 inch long. For balance, trim the hair on the ears the same length as the hair on the muzzle.

References

• Daily Puppy: How to Cut Maltese Hair; Marie Mulrooney
• Foxstone Maltese: Maltese Dog and Puppy Short-cut; Marjorie Martin