Maltese dogs are not only beautiful but are lovable and kind natured dogs. As a member of the toy breed, they are small in stature and don’t get much bigger than 6 pounds. Most of their bulk comes in the form of thick white hair. Their coats hang long, flat and silky over the sides of the body and skim the ground.

Taking care of the Maltese coat is the most important part of grooming the breed. Maltese should be brushed and combed a minimum of every other day. Daily brushing, however, is recommended if you want to keep their coat healthy.

The best brush to use is an open-spaced pin brush. Avoid brushes with “balls” on the pins. Start by lifting up the top layer of hair, spray a light coat of water or a leave in conditioner and brush the bottom half of the coat free. Continue until that layer is tangle-free all the way to the skin and then work up to the top layer of hair. Always make sure to brush the dog’s underbelly to prevent matting.

If your Maltese does develop mats, try to work it out gently at first with your fingers. Trying to brush it out first may result in hair loss. You can also try spraying the mat with de-tangler or a coat conditioning oil to loosen the hair.

Gently pull apart the mat with your fingers and the end tooth of a comb as necessary. The most important thing to remember is to go slowly because if you try to remove the mat too hastily, you may end up needing to cut the mat out.

Another important part of taking care of the Maltese coat is regular bathing. Before beginning the bathing process, brush and comb your dog thoroughly to get rid of any dead hair and knots. If there are any mats present, they must be taken care of first because water will only tighten the knot.

Once you’ve prepared your dog, clean the dog’s ears and then place a small ball of cotton inside. This will help prevent any water from entering the ear canal and causing an infection. Make sure to have all of your necessary equipment ready before beginning the bath and have plenty of towels within reach.

Begin the bathing by getting your dog wet to the skin and then applying a quality, tear-free shampoo along the back, each leg and under the tail of your Maltese. Start lathering your dog and work from the back to front. Rinse the coat and then shampoo again.

After you’ve rinsed the second time, make sure to wash your Maltese’s face carefully with a washcloth. Rise a third time over the dog’s face and body to make sure all traces of soap are gone. Any leftover residue will irritate the dog’s skin so this is a very important step.

Many Maltese owners like to use conditioner on their dog’s coat. A special type of conditioner called a “coat handler” works as a leave in conditioner, detangler and fragrance all in one.

Work the conditioner or coat handler through the dog’s hair and then squeeze excess water from the coat. Pay close attention to the ears, tail and legs when removing water. Then you can start drying with towels. Once your dog is at the damp-dry state you can begin to blow-dry. After blow-drying, you can comb out the dog’s hair to make it smooth. Wash your Maltese no more than once a week for a healthy coat.

Robin Darch, of PRT Specialised Services Limited has a website, My Pet Dog to help you find all the information you need about pet dogs, dog grooming and training.

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Collies come in two different varieties, “smooth” and “rough.” Rough collies require much more grooming, but smoothes do need to be groomed regularly to keep their coats healthy. Collies have a double coat of hair, meaning there is a thick undercoat and an outer coat of thinner and flatter hair.

A smooth collie has shorter hair like that of a Labrador or Dalmatian. The hair is short and smooth with a thick undercoat. Rough collies have a long and flowing topcoat and a dense undercoat. You can keep your collie looking good, no matter what the variety, with regular brushing.

You’ll need a pin brush, a slicker brush, a comb, scissors and a spray bottle filled with a conditioner spray. You can buy a commercial conditioner spray, or make your own using 1 to 2 tablespoons of dog conditioner diluted with water. Make sure it is diluted well or the spray will make your Collie’s coat greasy.

Make sure to spray your dog’s hair thoroughly before you start to brush. Never brush a Collie’s coat dry because it will break their hair. If you have a rough collie, part the dog’s hair and brush from the roots out. The pin brush can be used if your dog is not shedding and is free of matting.

The slicker brush and comb are helpful for shedding dogs and for removing mats. If a mat cannot be brushed out of the Collie’s hair, you can cut it out. Collies most often have matted hair behind their ears, underneath the front legs and on their underbelly so make sure to check those areas carefully. For a smooth collie, a slicker brush will suffice for both the undercoat and outer coat.

You should brush your collie everyday during shedding seasons, and at least once a week when they are not shedding. Regular brushing is important to remove the dead hair. If left alone, the dead hair will cause hot spots on your dog’s skin.

Collies generally do not require all over trimming, but you might want to keep their feet trimmed. With a small pair of scissors, carefully trim the hair around each footpad.

This will keep your collie’s feet clean. While you are working with your collie’s feet, you can also trim the nails. This should be done every 1 to 2 weeks to keep the nails from getting too long.

If your collie is a puppy, you can train them to be used to a Dremel tool with a sandpaper attachment. Apply light pressure with the Dremel and grind down to just before the pink quick.

The alternative to using the Dremel is to use a standard dog nail trimmer. Before you clip the dog’s nails, find the pink quick and cut just before that point. Cutting into the quick will make the dog’s nail bleed. If this happens, styptic powder is helpful to have on hand to stop the bleeding.

Finally, remember to clean your Collie’s ears about once a week. You can purchase a canine ear cleaner at any pet store. Squirt the ear cleaner into your dog’s ear canal and then rub the base of the ear. This will help the ear cleaner coat the inside of the ear canal. You can use a cotton ball to remove the excess cleaner and then allow the ear canal to dry naturally.

Robin Darch, of PRT Specialised Services Limited has a website, My Pet Dog to help you find all the information you need about pet dogs, dog grooming and training.

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If you have a dog, then you are already familiar with the art of dog grooming. If you are just considering a new pet, there is plenty to think about and this includes their appearance. Some dogs are easier to care for than others, including ones with shorter hair. A dog with long hair requires daily brushing and sheds constantly, which can make for a long day of vacuuming. Dogs with short hair, on the other hand, can be brushed several times each week and their fur will not fill up your vacuum as quickly.

A part of proper dog grooming is finding the right hair brush for your pet. Gentle strokes will allow your pet to get used to the idea of being brushed, which can make them anxious at first. A regular bath is also a part of dog grooming, which can sometimes be the messiest. In the beginning, pets are often resistant to the idea of a bath. It’s best to start as early as possible in teaching your dog how to act, which can be done by bathing your puppy early in his/her life. When they are able to run and play, they are able to have a bath and will probably even grow to enjoy it after time. If you have a friend or relative who is willing to help you, invite them over. While one holds the puppy, the other can wash him/her with a washcloth.

If you are unable to handle dog grooming, there are businesses that can take care of it for you. A local veterinarian or animal hospital is likely to have grooming services, along with businesses specifically dedicated to this purpose. In exchange for a fee, your pet can have his/her nails clipped, be given a bath and get their fur brushed all in one afternoon. This process isn’t necessarily a lengthy one, but it’s best to make an appointment before showing up for dog grooming.

The proper dog grooming techniques will make your pet to feel better overall and will make you happy to see that your pet is in good spirits. Even though they love to dig in our yard or investigate every hole that they find, dogs love to feel good and a part of that means being clean and well groomed. Dog grooming is also a reflection of how much you care for your pet, so let the world know how much you love them.

Learn more about dog grooming - visit our website at http://www.doggroomingguide.info for dog grooming articles and reviews.

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