The Maltese dog's crowning glory is, of course, its beautiful white silky coat, which is showcased in all its glory in dog competitions, with long flowing locks preened and pruned to perfection. This long silky coat is high-maintenance and the grooming costs are unaffordable for many people. The best way to keep its coat smooth, untangled and matt-free without the expensive dog-grooming appointment is to cut it. Read on for guidance from OneHowTo.com on how to groom a Maltese dog at home.
Unless you have enough time and financial resources to keep its long white coat silky and untangled, we recommend you cut your Maltese's coat fairly short so that it's more manageable. The first step is to wash its white coat - often a dirt magnet - in lukewarm water. Then, gently dry its coat and carefully work out any knots with a comb. It tends to knot easily as it's incredibly fine and soft.
Stand your Maltese on a secure, non-slip and stable surface where you can easily hold it still whilst cutting its coat. Before you start, decide how short you would like to cut it. If you want to keep the hair fairly long and flowing, cutting half an inch or an inch from the ends would be enough. If, on the other hand, you'd prefer to cut it short, bear in mind that the coat will curl as it gets shorter. Therefore, the best thing to do is to trim the ends regularly rather than cutting it really short in one go.
For a good 'puppy cut' that won't just leave your Maltese dog looking wonderfully groomed and smart but will also protect its skin from sun and wind, we recommend leaving at least 1 inch of hair (about 3 fingers' length).
Don't use a razor to shave your Maltese dog because it will be painful and the hair that grows back will be curly and matted. It's also extremely risky and dangerous to shave its hair: any slip or sudden movement could severely injure your dog. If you are going to cut your dog's hair yourself instead of taking it to a professional dog groomer, use scissors. It is the safest and simplest way of cutting its hair. Some professional dog groomers do use clippers, but they tend to be more than 5 mm long and they are very skilled at what they do.
So, using scissors and a comb to help, carefully cut 1 inch off the ends. It's better not to cut the hair around its face yourself because you could easily cause injury to its eyes or ears: take it to a professional dog groomer. Start with its back, combing the coat upwards and snipping the ends above the comb. Finally, delicately trim some of the hair around its paws and tail, removing around half an inch.
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