Enjoy Grooming Your Maltese Terrier
Fundamentally, Maltese Terrier care involves plenty of grooming to keep these dogs looking perfect! A well groomed Maltese terrier is a happy, beautiful dog. If you fail to keep up with your Maltese Terrier grooming routine, you will find that starting over is extremely difficult and therefore it is far easier to make grooming a part of your daily care routine!
Brushing Your Maltese
The most important part of Maltese Terrier grooming is brushing your dog. If you neglect brushing, the coat will quickly become dirty and matted. Brushing every day is a good idea, but every other day is a requirement of proper Maltese Terrier care.
To brush your dog, mist the dog’s hair with a conditioner to keep it workable. If needed, you can add coat oil to the hair for added control over breakage. You must make sure that the brushes reach every layer of your dog’s coat, not just the top layer. Also, avoid turning your wrist while brushing as this can cause hair breakage.
Taking Care of Mats
One of the biggest problems with a longhaired dog like the Maltese Terrier is the presence of mats in the coat. To take care of this problem, moisten the mat first. Then, patiently pull the mat apart with your fingers. Do not try to brush it out; use a comb to carefully pick through the mat, but never use a brush on a matted dog, because it hurts. If you decide that the mat is unmanageable and you must cut it, use caution to avoid cutting your dog’s skin.
Bathing Your Maltese Terrier
It is better to plan on bathing your Maltese Terrier as part of his weekly or monthly Maltese Terrier grooming plan. Much of that will depend on if you are showing your dog, and how dirty he gets, and what sort of Maltese Terrier hair cut he has. You can wash him in the sink, especially if you have a hand sprayer. Have everything you need nearby before starting the bath. This includes shampoo, conditioner, comb, and towel.
The most important part of bathing your Maltese Terrier is making sure that every portion of shampoo is rinsed off. If you leave any shampoo residue, it will harm your dog’s coat shine, and could lead to skin irritation. When done with this part of Maltese Terrier care, blow your dog dry with a handheld blow drier set on a low setting. Comb through the fur while blowing your dog dry.
Ears and Feet
It is an important part of grooming your Maltese to keep their feet groomed. Also, you must pluck the extra hair from their ears to keep them from getting an ear infection. Start by putting ear powder on the inside of the ear and letting it dry. Pluck a few hairs at a time and work slowly to avoid startling your dog. Apart from a good pair of toenail clippers, make a list of what you need to groom your Maltese Terrier.
