How To Groom A Maltese

A  lot of lap dogs have a long coat and need routine grooming, and if you have a high-maintainence dog like a Maltese, you may want to know how to groom a Maltese properly.  Without the grooming it needs, a Maltese may suffer from skin disease because of the matted hair that may develop from not getting groomed regularly.

To groom a Maltese, you will need:

• Dog nail clippers
• Detangler
• Dog shampoo
• Coat conditioner
• Blow-dryer
• Metal comb
• Slicker brush
• Tear stain remover
• Dog toothbrush and toothpaste

1. Trimming the nails.  Not only do you need to groom a Maltese regularly, you also need to trim its toe nails once every two weeks.  Do not use a human nail clipper as it may hurt your dog.  If your Maltese knows the "hand" command, have it hand you its paw.  You can also hold your Maltese in your lap with its stomach facing up.  This way, you will have more control. 
2. Cleaning the teeth.  Try cleaning your Maltese's teeth once a week with a pet toothbrush and a bit of dog toothpaste.  If you are having a lot of difficulty keeping your Maltese's mouth open, try giving it dental chew sticks. 
3. Removing tear stain.  As a white dog with a long coat, the Maltese is prone to having prominent tear stains.  Pour some tear stain remover on a cotton wipe and gently clean the area.   
4. Bathing. To groom a Maltese will entail through bathing to remove the dirt trapped under its coat.  Do not use human shampoo as the pH value may irritate the Maltese's skin.  Wet your dog with warm water, then gently rub the shampoo in.  Make sure you rinse the soap away thoroughly before you apply the conditioner.  Message the coat conditioner into the hair and rinse  it away.  Use a towel to dry your Maltese, and blow dry it using medium heat. 
5. Brushing and combing.  This is a big step when it comes learning how to groom a Maltese.  First, groom a Maltese with the metal comb and cut away any knots you come across.  If it is too difficult, use some detangler to help the Maltese feel more comfortable with the process.  The next step to grooming a Maltese is to smooth its coat using a broad brush.  This will give the Maltese coat a shine. 

Tip:  Learning how to groom a Maltese requires a lot of patience, but it is necessary to keep your furry friend happy and healthy.  If you lack the time or skills, you may take your dog to a professional groomer.