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Looking
for tips on how to groom your Maltese?
Basic
Steps
There are
a few basic steps that are involved in grooming
your Maltese and maintaining its coat.
Comb and brush your Maltese at least every other day
- Use a detangling spray or
a mix of water & conditioner to moisten the coat prior
to brushing
-
Use a metal comb, a slicker brush, and a pin brush (without
balled ends)
- To effectively brush your Maltese's
hair, lift up the top layer and brush the hair closest to the
skin
first, then brush
and comb the outer layer
Cut and
file your dog's nails after giving them a bath (the warm water
will make the nails softer and easier
to trim). Also, by trimming the nails regularly, only the tips
will require cutting and filing.
Brush your
dog's teeth once a week to reduce tartar buildup (use a pet
toothbrush & pet toothpaste).
Simply put a bit of toothpaste
on the toothbrush and rub it against the front of the teeth.
It's not
necessary to brush the backs of
the teeth. If you prefer, you can buy a finger brush, which
is a small
rubber toothbrush that fits over
your finger. These brushes are often easier to manoeuver.
Clean your
Maltese's ears with a cotton swab and ear cleaning solution
after baths
Trim the
hair in the ears to reduce the risk of infection. You can also
use blunt tweezers to pluck out
excess hair that has grown too
far inside the ears.
Use a stain
remover to remove tear stains around eyes
- Tear stains are even more noticeable
on Maltese because they have white coats
- Use a cotton pad moistened with
a tear stain remover to get rid of tear stains
Trim and
wash the area around the anus daily to prevent mats of feces
(if the area becomes matted,
it can become infected and sore,
resulting in serious health problems)
Make
sure your Maltese gets regular hair cuts
Using scissors, trim the hair on your Maltese's feet and around
their pads every two weeks
Use dog
bows or dog
barrettes to keep the hair out of your Maltese's
eyes. The recommended size
of dog
bow for Maltese is either a 3/8"
dog bow or a 5/8"
dog bow, depending on the size of your
dog. If you like, you can also
use two 3/8"
dog bows as a pair of ear bows!
Bathe your Maltese
every 1-2 weeks. If you like, you can use a whitening shampoo
to keep your
Maltese's coat bright white (if
you're unsure, get recommendations from your vet or breeder).
Bathing
Your Maltese
Below you
will find a step-by-step guide to bathing
your Maltese. You can bathe your Maltese in a kitchen
sink, a laundry tub or a bathtub. Put a non-skid mat down before
you start to make sure your dog doesn't slip.
Remove
any collars,
dog
bows, dog
barrettes or clothing your Maltese is wearing.
Gently
brush the fur to remove any knots or tangles using a dog comb
or brush.
Wet
your dog thoroughly. Try not to get too much water in your Maltese's
eyes or ears.
Squirt
shampoo in a thin line down the center of your dog's back (don't
apply the shampoo in a swirl
or zig-zag pattern). Apply as
much shampoo as you need at this point, rather than reapplying
halfway through the procedure.
Work
the shampoo down through the hair with your fingers.
Pour
water down the middle of your dog's back to rinse it.
You
can either use a plastic cup to pour water onto your dog, or
you can use a spray nozzle if you
have one. If you're using the
spray nozzle, make sure it's aimed downwards to minimize tangles.
Work
the water through your Maltese's hair until all shampoo is gone.
Apply
conditioner to your dog's hair and work it in through the hair
with your fingers (just like with the
shampoo, don't work the conditioner
through the hair in a circular or scrunching motion - it will
just
tangle the hair).
Rinse
your Maltese as you did with the shampoo. Again, make sure there
are no traces of
conditioner left, as it can irritate
the skin.
Gently
dry your dog with a clean towel. Don't completely dry the coat
- leave it damp for brushing
(this prevents hair from breaking
while it's being brushed).
If
you like, you can use a blow dryer instead of a towel to dry
your dog. Again, make sure the hair is
not completely dry, because it
still needs to be brushed.
Gently
brush the fur to remove knots.
Finish
off the look with a beautiful dog
bow. Either a 3/8"
dog bow or a 5/8"
dog bow would be
suitable for a Maltese's topknot,
depending on the dog's size. Two 3/8"
dog bows would also look
adorable as a pair of ear bows!
Things
to Remember
Maltese
have hair that is easy to break or damage. Some owners like
to use a mink oil spray on
their Maltese's coat, which keeps
the coat moisturized and makes it easier to groom.
If your
Maltese has a soft, cottony coat (instead of a silky one), have
the coat trimmed in a puppy
cut for easier maintenance.
When buying
a pin brush, don't buy one with balls on the end of the pins
(it will break the coat).
Don't brush
your Maltese's coat when it is completely dry. Instead, use
a detangling spray or a mix
of water & conditioner prior
to brushing.
Don't use
natural bristle brushes.
Remember
to only use pet toothpaste (no human toothpaste) when brushing
your Maltese's teeth.
When cutting the hair of your Maltese, the topknot should be
longer than the rest of the body
(that way, it can be pulled back
and secured with a dog
bow).
How
to Get Your Maltese Used to Grooming
Don't force
your Maltese into being groomed if they don't like it. Ease
into it - start with smaller time increments. If your Maltese
doesn't like to be touched or groomed in a certain spot (ie.
feet, ears, or muzzle), start with simply touching the spot
for a second or two. Make sure you reward your Maltese after
every time you have touched the spot and they have been okay
with it.
Make
a regular grooming routine so your Maltese can get used to it.
Keep the
sessions short and to the point. Don't let them drag on, or
your Maltese will get antsy.
Give your
Maltese treats and reward them for keeping still and letting
their feet, ears, and muzzle be
touched.
Believe
it or not, grooming can actually be enjoyable for your Maltese.
If you get them used to it early on, they can grow to like
it and end up looking forward to being groomed.
Top it off with a great bow!
BowBiz Dog Bows offers a variety of top quality, handmade bows for all sizes of Maltese - from puppy to adult. Many assorted, unique styles for all occasions. Top rated and highly recommended.
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Maltese
dogs were bred originally to