Maltese Grooming & Coat Care in Sydney

A freshly groomed white Maltese with a neat, clean coat and tidy face sitting on a Sydney park lawn, illustrating a well-maintained short clip — A well-maintained coat, long or in a practical short clip, keeps a Maltese comfortable. Daily brushing between grooms is what prevents matting.

The short answer

The Maltese has a long, fine, silky single coat that mats easily, so grooming is the breed's one real commitment. If you keep the coat long, brush right down to the skin every day and get a professional groom every four to six weeks. If you keep a practical short clip, which many Sydney owners choose, brush a few times a week and clip every six to eight weeks. Manage tear staining with a simple daily face-clean, bathe roughly every three to four weeks (brush out tangles first, dry thoroughly after), and use a professional groomer for clipping. A neglected coat mats painfully, so match the coat length to the brushing you will actually do.

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Understanding the Maltese coat

The Maltese has one long, fine, silky coat with no insulating undercoat, which is why the breed sheds very little but tangles readily. That soft texture is beautiful, but it mats at any point where the hair rubs: behind the ears, in the armpits, around the collar or harness, and on the bottom. Moisture, dirt and loose hair that cannot fall away all speed matting up.

Because it is a single coat, the Maltese does not have the double-coat rule that stops you clipping breeds like Huskies short. A sensible shorter clip is perfectly fine for a Maltese and is often the kinder, more practical choice for a pet in the Sydney climate. The key point either way: a Maltese coat is low-shedding but high-maintenance, and the maintenance is mostly about preventing mats.

Brushing and preventing matting

Brushing is the heart of Maltese grooming, and the golden rule is to brush all the way down to the skin, not just over the surface. Surface brushing leaves mats quietly forming underneath. Use a pin brush and a metal comb, work in sections, and pay special attention to the friction points where tangles gather.

Long coat: brush every day, or very close to it, to stay ahead of matting.
Short clip: brush a few times a week, still down to the skin.
Friction points: behind the ears, the armpits, around the harness, and the bottom need extra care.
Tangles: work them out gently with fingers and the comb rather than dragging a brush through.
Rescue dogs: start slowly and positively, with treats and short sessions, so the dog learns to enjoy it.

A few minutes every day beats a long battle once a week, both for the coat and for the dog's comfort. Keeping the coat clean and mat-free also protects the skin underneath, which links grooming straight to health (see our Maltese health guide).

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Coat length, tear stains and bathing

Long coat or short clip? For most pet owners a shorter clip is the easier, kinder choice. It cuts brushing time and matting dramatically, is cooler in warm Sydney weather, and is simple to keep clean, while a long show coat is lovely but demands near-daily brushing and frequent grooming. Choose the length that matches the brushing you will realistically do.

Tear staining. Keep the face gently clean and dry, wipe below the eyes daily with a soft damp cloth or vet-recommended wipe, and keep the hair around the eyes trimmed short so it does not wick moisture. If staining is heavy or sudden, or the eye looks sore, have your vet check it, as it can signal a tear-duct, eye or dental issue.

Bathing. Every three to four weeks or when dirty suits most Maltese, with a gentle dog shampoo. Brush out tangles before the bath, because water tightens mats, and dry the coat thoroughly afterwards, since a damp coat mats and can irritate the skin. Keep water out of the eyes and ears, and do not over-bathe, which dries the skin.

Home care and professional grooming

A sensible split works for most Sydney owners: do the daily brushing and face-cleaning yourself, and use a professional groomer every six to eight weeks for clipping, tidying the face, feet and bottom, and a proper bath and blow-dry. A good groomer keeps the clip even and spots skin or coat problems early, and the RSPCA Knowledgebase has sound general guidance on coat and grooming care. Budget for grooming as a regular, ongoing cost of Maltese ownership.

If you adopt a Maltese with a matted coat, do not try to brush out heavy matting yourself, as it pulls painfully; a groomer can start the dog fresh with a clip, and a simple routine keeps it comfortable from there. Whatever you choose, the daily brushing between grooms is the part that actually prevents matting, and it is the single most important habit of Maltese coat care. For the full picture on the breed, see our Maltese adoption guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often does a Maltese need grooming?

It depends on how you keep the coat. If you keep it long, a Maltese needs brushing every day or close to it to prevent matting, plus a professional groom or bath and tidy every four to six weeks. If you keep it in a shorter practical clip, which many Sydney owners do, brushing a few times a week and a professional clip every six to eight weeks is usually enough. Either way, the face, eyes, ears, feet and bottom need regular attention. The coat is the single biggest ongoing commitment of Maltese ownership, so be honest about how much brushing you will realistically do before you choose a coat length.

Why does a Maltese coat mat so easily?

The Maltese has a long, fine, silky single coat with no protective undercoat, and that soft texture tangles readily, especially at friction points like behind the ears, under the legs (the armpits), around the collar or harness, and on the bottom. Moisture, dirt and shedding hair that cannot fall away all speed up matting. Once a mat forms it tightens against the skin and can become painful and hide skin problems. The fix is prevention: brush and comb right down to the skin regularly, keep the coat clean and dry, and deal with small tangles before they become mats. A shorter clip makes matting far less likely.

How do I brush a Maltese properly?

Brush all the way down to the skin, not just over the surface, because surface brushing leaves mats forming underneath. Use a suitable pin brush and a metal comb, work in sections, and be gentle, especially around the face, ears and armpits where tangles gather. Doing it a little every day keeps the coat comfortable and turns grooming into a calm routine the dog accepts. If you hit a tangle, work it out gently with your fingers and the comb rather than dragging the brush through it. Starting a rescue Maltese slowly and positively, with treats and short sessions, helps it learn to enjoy being groomed.

Should I keep my Maltese in a long coat or a short clip?

For most pet owners, a shorter practical clip is the easier and kinder choice, and it is very popular in Sydney. A short clip dramatically reduces brushing time and matting, is more comfortable in warm weather, and is simple to keep clean, while a long show coat looks beautiful but demands near-daily brushing and frequent professional grooming. Unlike double-coated breeds, the Maltese has a single coat, so a sensible shorter clip does not harm it. Choose the coat length that matches how much grooming you will realistically keep up: a well-maintained short coat beats a neglected long one every time.

How do I manage tear staining on a white Maltese?

Tear staining is the reddish-brown discolouration below the eyes, and on a white coat it shows clearly. For most Maltese it is cosmetic and managed by keeping the face gently clean and dry: wipe the area daily with a soft damp cloth or a vet-recommended eye wipe, and keep the hair around the eyes trimmed short so it does not wick moisture or irritate the eye. If the staining is heavy or sudden, or the eye looks red or sore, see your vet, because excessive tearing can point to blocked tear ducts, an eye problem or a dental issue. A simple daily face routine keeps most staining under control.

How often should I bathe a Maltese?

Roughly every three to four weeks suits most Maltese, or when the dog is visibly dirty, using a gentle dog shampoo (a whitening shampoo made for dogs can help keep the coat bright). The key with a Maltese is to brush out any tangles before bathing, because water tightens mats and makes them much harder to remove, and to dry the coat thoroughly afterwards, since a damp coat mats and can irritate the skin. Keep water and shampoo out of the eyes and ears. Over-bathing can dry the skin, so stick to a regular but not excessive schedule, and check with your vet if the skin looks dry or irritated.

Can I groom a Maltese myself or should I use a professional?

You can do a lot at home, and daily brushing really needs to be your job, but most Maltese owners also use a professional groomer for clipping, tidying and a thorough bath and blow-dry every few weeks. A good groomer keeps the clip even, tidies the face, feet and bottom, and spots skin or coat problems early. Many owners do the daily brushing and face-cleaning themselves and leave the clipping to a professional, which is a sensible split. If you want to clip at home, start slowly with proper tools and go gently. Either way, the daily brushing between grooms is what actually prevents matting.

What happens if a Maltese coat is neglected?

A neglected Maltese coat mats badly, and matting is a genuine welfare problem, not just a cosmetic one. Mats tighten against the skin, pull painfully, trap moisture and dirt, hide skin infections and parasites, and in bad cases have to be shaved off entirely by a groomer or vet. Severely matted dogs are one of the sad reasons some Maltese come into rescue. The whole problem is preventable with regular brushing or a sensible short clip. If you adopt a Maltese with a matted coat, a groomer can start it fresh with a clip, and then a simple routine keeps it comfortable from there.

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