| Maltese dogs are not only beautiful but are lovable | | | | thoroughly to get rid of any dead hair and knots. |
| and kind natured dogs. As a member of the toy | | | | If there are any mats present, they must be |
| breed, they are small in stature and don't get | | | | taken care of first because water will only tighten |
| much bigger than 6 pounds. Most of their bulk | | | | the knot. |
| comes in the form of thick white hair. Their coats | | | | Once you've prepared your dog, clean the dog's |
| hang long, flat and silky over the sides of the | | | | ears and then place a small ball of cotton inside. |
| body and skim the ground. | | | | This will help prevent any water from entering the |
| Taking care of the Maltese coat is the most | | | | ear canal and causing an infection. Make sure to |
| important part of grooming the breed. Maltese | | | | have all of your necessary equipment ready |
| should be brushed and combed a minimum of | | | | before beginning the bath and have plenty of |
| every other day. Daily brushing, however, is | | | | towels within reach. |
| recommended if you want to keep their coat | | | | Begin the bathing by getting your dog wet to the |
| healthy. | | | | skin and then applying a quality, tear-free |
| The best brush to use is an open-spaced pin | | | | shampoo along the back, each leg and under the |
| brush. Avoid brushes with "balls" on the pins. Start | | | | tail of your Maltese. Start lathering your dog and |
| by lifting up the top layer of hair, spray a light | | | | work from the back to front. Rinse the coat and |
| coat of water or a leave in conditioner and brush | | | | then shampoo again. |
| the bottom half of the coat free. Continue until | | | | After you've rinsed the second time, make sure |
| that layer is tangle-free all the way to the skin | | | | to wash your Maltese's face carefully with a |
| and then work up to the top layer of hair. Always | | | | washcloth. Rise a third time over the dog's face |
| make sure to brush the dog's underbelly to | | | | and body to make sure all traces of soap are |
| prevent matting. | | | | gone. Any leftover residue will irritate the dog's |
| If your Maltese does develop mats, try to work | | | | skin so this is a very important step. |
| it out gently at first with your fingers. Trying to | | | | Many Maltese owners like to use conditioner on |
| brush it out first may result in hair loss. You can | | | | their dog's coat. A special type of conditioner |
| also try spraying the mat with de-tangler or a | | | | called a "coat handler" works as a leave in |
| coat conditioning oil to loosen the hair. | | | | conditioner, detangler and fragrance all in one. |
| Gently pull apart the mat with your fingers and | | | | Work the conditioner or coat handler through the |
| the end tooth of a comb as necessary. The most | | | | dog's hair and then squeeze excess water from |
| important thing to remember is to go slowly | | | | the coat. Pay close attention to the ears, tail and |
| because if you try to remove the mat too | | | | legs when removing water. Then you can start |
| hastily, you may end up needing to cut the mat | | | | drying with towels. Once your dog is at the |
| out. | | | | damp-dry state you can begin to blow-dry. After |
| Another important part of taking care of the | | | | blow-drying, you can comb out the dog's hair to |
| Maltese coat is regular bathing. Before beginning | | | | make it smooth. Wash your Maltese no more |
| the bathing process, brush and comb your dog | | | | than once a week for a healthy coat. |