The Maltese was developed in the central Mediterranean over 2,000 years ago. Roman aristocrats kept them, Greek poets wrote about them, and Egyptian nobles buried them with full ceremonial honours. They were never working dogs. They were always companions, bred specifically to live close to humans, sit on laps, and be admired. The long white coat we know today was selected over centuries for one purpose: to look beautiful in the company of people. Every grooming decision in this guide reflects that history. The coat is not built for weather, work, or temperature regulation. It is built to be cared for.

Almost every breed we have written about in this series has a double coat. A coarse outer guard hair and a soft insulating undercoat that sheds seasonally. The Maltese has neither. It is a single coated breed with no undercoat at all, just one long silky layer of hair that grows continuously, exactly like human hair. This single fact explains everything else about Maltese grooming. There is no shedding season because there is no undercoat to shed. There is no winter coat because there is no insulation layer. There is no break from grooming because the hair never reaches a "natural length" and stops. Every centimetre of your Maltese's coat will keep growing for the rest of its life unless you cut it.

If you have read our Border Collie or German Shepherd articles, you know the cardinal rule of double coated breeds: never shave them. Shaving destroys the insulation layer, damages regrowth, and can permanently ruin the coat. The Maltese is the opposite. Because there is no undercoat to damage, a Maltese can be shaved to any length without harm. The hair will grow back exactly as it was. There is no post clipping alopecia, no patchy regrowth, no thermoregulation risk. Many Maltese owners choose a short cut for exactly this reason: it makes daily care dramatically easier without any cost to the dog. The choice between long show coat and short pet cut is purely about lifestyle and preference, not about coat damage.

Maltese have more legitimate cut options than almost any other small breed because the single coat takes any length without damage. The right cut depends on coat condition, owner commitment, and lifestyle. A working couple with a busy schedule should not choose a show coat. A Maltese owner who works from home and enjoys daily grooming as a bonding activity might love it. There is no wrong answer.

If you own a Maltese, the reddish brown stains under the eyes are probably the most asked about feature of your dog. Tear staining is caused by porphyrins, iron containing molecules in tears and saliva that oxidise into reddish brown discoloration when they sit on white fur. Maltese are particularly prone to it because they inherit shallow tear ducts that overflow easily, prominent eyes that produce excess tears, and a white coat that shows every stain. The yellow staining around the mouth and beard is the same problem from saliva and food rather than tears. Both are signature Maltese issues that need a daily routine, not a cure.

A full Maltese show coat is one of the most beautiful sights in the dog world. It is also one of the most demanding grooming commitments any pet owner can take on. A show coat needs daily brushing in sections, regular conditioning, weekly bathing, and the coat tied up in protective bands or wraps when the dog is not being shown. This is the routine professional show handlers follow. For most pet owners, attempting a show coat without that level of commitment leads to a constantly matted, miserable dog. The pet cut is the smart choice for almost every Maltese owner. It looks adorable, takes a fraction of the time to maintain, and the dog is genuinely more comfortable.

The Maltese topknot is the most recognisable feature of the breed in show coat. It also serves a purpose. Long head hair that is not tied up falls into the eyes, irritates the cornea, traps food and tears, and accelerates tear staining. A daily topknot, either single or double depending on coat length, keeps the hair out of the eyes and the face clean. This is one of the few daily grooming tasks where there is no shortcut. If you choose to keep the head hair long, you accept the topknot as part of every day. If you do not want to do this, ask your groomer to keep the head hair short instead.

Maltese owners often assume that because the dog is small, the grooming is small. The opposite is true. Small dogs cover less ground on walks, which means nails barely wear down naturally and need clipping every 3 to 4 weeks. The ears have hair growing inside the canal that traps moisture and needs to be plucked or kept short. The teeth are the most common health issue in the breed, with dental disease starting earlier in Maltese than in larger breeds. Daily tooth brushing with dog safe toothpaste is genuinely recommended, not optional. Most professional grooms include a nail trim and ear clean, but the gap between grooms is too long for nails on a Maltese. Quick paid nail trims between full grooms are worth the small cost.

A Maltese is one of the few breeds where the coat is meant to be pure white, and any discolouration shows immediately. Dust, urine staining on the back legs, food residue around the mouth, and tear staining all combine to make the coat look dull or yellowed. Whitening shampoos formulated for white dogs help during baths. Conditioner sprays between baths reduce dust pickup. Wiping the face after meals and outdoor time prevent stains setting in. The key insight is that yellowing is rarely about cleanliness alone. It is usually about residue setting into the hair shaft over time. A good groomer will use coat appropriate products that maintain whiteness. A bad one will use generic dog shampoo that strips and damages the coat instead.

Maltese mat in five specific places. The fine silky texture of the hair means even a single missed brushing session can begin a mat, and once it starts, it tightens fast. Mats almost always concentrate behind the ears where the head moves constantly, in the armpits where the legs meet the body, on the chest in long coats, in the beard area below the chin, and on the rear behind the legs. The hair around mats is harder to recover than in other breeds. If you tear out a mat instead of working it gently, the hair often does not grow back in that spot. This is why prevention matters more than fixing.