Maltese Grooming & Coat Care in Melbourne

A white Maltese in a neat short clip being gently brushed on a towel by a rainy window at home, with a pin brush and a folded dog coat beside it, illustrating Maltese coat care through a wet Melbourne winter — A short clip makes brushing quick, but in a Melbourne winter it also means a coat for walks and a proper dry afterwards.

The short answer

Brush a Maltese right down to the skin: daily for a long coat, a few times a week for a short clip. See a groomer every six to eight weeks for a clip, or every four to six for a long coat. Most Melbourne pet owners choose a short clip, which is fine for a single coat, but pair it with a fitted coat for cold or wet walks. Dry the coat thoroughly after rain and baths, because damp hair mats. Wipe tear stains daily, bathe every three to four weeks, and leave heavy matting to a groomer.

Browse Adoptable Maltese →

Understanding the Maltese coat

A Maltese has one long, fine, silky coat with no undercoat. That is why it sheds so little, and also why it tangles so easily. Mats form wherever hair rubs: behind the ears, in the armpits, under a harness and around the bottom. Moisture and dirt speed the process up.

Because it is a single coat, the rule that stops you shaving a Husky or a Pomeranian does not apply. A short clip is perfectly fine for a Maltese and is often the most practical choice for a pet. The catch is warmth. With no undercoat to trap heat, a short-clipped Maltese has very little protection against a cold Melbourne morning.

Brushing and preventing mats

The golden rule is to brush all the way down to the skin. Brushing only the surface leaves mats forming quietly underneath. Use a pin brush and a metal comb, work in small sections, and run the comb through afterwards: if it snags, you have missed a tangle.

Long coat: brush every day, or very close to it.
Short clip: brush a few times a week, still down to the skin.
Friction points: give extra time to the ears, armpits, harness area and bottom.
Tangles: tease them apart with your fingers and the comb rather than dragging a brush through.
Rescue dogs: keep early sessions short and pair them with treats so the dog learns to enjoy being handled.

A few minutes a day is far easier on both of you than a long battle once a week. A clean, mat-free coat also protects the skin underneath, which is where grooming and health meet (see the Maltese health guide).

A Maltese coat through the Melbourne year

Winter and wet days. Melbourne's rainfall is spread across the year and its winters are cool and damp, which is the worst combination for a fine coat. A wet Maltese both chills quickly and mats quickly. A fitted raincoat on drizzly walks keeps most of the coat dry. When you get home, towel the dog firmly, then finish with a dryer on a low heat setting while you brush, paying attention to the legs, belly and armpits. Wipe muddy feet and check between the toes.

Warmth. A short-clipped Maltese needs a coat for cold walks in a way a long-coated one may not. Choose one that fits snugly without rubbing under the front legs, where friction causes mats. Indoors, a warm bed away from draughts matters more for this breed than for most, especially for a senior.

Spring and summer. Many owners book a shorter clip as the weather warms, which keeps the dog comfortable and makes grass seeds and burrs easier to spot after a park walk. On heatwave days above 40 degrees the clip length matters less than timing: walk early or late and keep the dog indoors in the afternoon.

Browse adoptable Maltese in Melbourne

Foster notes often say how a rescue Maltese copes with brushing and grooming, which is worth knowing before you apply. Check live listings and set an alert.

See Available Maltese →

Tear stains, bathing and the face

Tear staining. Wipe below the eyes daily with a soft damp cloth or a vet-recommended wipe, keep the area dry, and keep the hair around the eyes trimmed short. Heavy or sudden staining, or a sore-looking eye, is a reason to see your vet rather than a grooming problem.

Bathing. Every three to four weeks, or when the dog is dirty, with a gentle dog shampoo. Brush out every tangle first, because water tightens mats, and dry the coat completely afterwards. In winter, bath indoors and make sure the dog is fully dry before it goes outside. Keep water out of the eyes and ears, and do not over-bathe, which dries the skin.

Home care and professional grooming

The split that works for most owners is simple: you do the brushing, face-wiping and drying, and a groomer does the clip, the feet and the bottom, plus a full bath and blow-dry every six to eight weeks. A good groomer also notices skin or lump changes early. The RSPCA Knowledgebase has sound general guidance on grooming and coat care. Budget for grooming as a regular, ongoing cost.

If you adopt a Maltese with a matted coat, leave the heavy work to a groomer, who can clip it short for a fresh start. Keep the dog warm with a coat while the hair grows back, then keep up the routine. For where to find one and what it costs, see the Maltese adoption guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often does a Maltese need grooming?

It depends on the coat length you choose. A long coat needs brushing every day or close to it, plus a professional bath and tidy every four to six weeks. A practical short clip needs brushing a few times a week and a professional clip every six to eight weeks. Either way, the face, eyes, ears, feet and bottom need regular attention. Be honest about how much brushing you will actually do before you pick a length.

Why does a Maltese coat mat so easily?

A Maltese has a long, fine, silky single coat, and that soft texture tangles wherever hair rubs: behind the ears, in the armpits, under a harness and around the bottom. Moisture and dirt speed it up. Once a mat forms it tightens against the skin, pulls, and can hide skin problems underneath. The answer is prevention: brush and comb right down to the skin, keep the coat clean and dry, and deal with small tangles before they grow.

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

For most pet owners a short clip is easier and kinder. It cuts brushing time and matting dramatically and is simpler to keep clean. Unlike double-coated breeds, a Maltese can be clipped short without harming the coat. In Melbourne the trade-off is warmth: a short clip gives a single-coated dog very little insulation, so pair it with a fitted coat for cold or wet walks. A well-kept short coat beats a neglected long one every time.

How do I care for a Maltese coat after a wet Melbourne walk?

Towel it properly as soon as you get home, then finish with a dryer on a cool or warm setting while you brush, paying attention to the legs, belly and armpits. A coat left damp mats quickly and can irritate the skin, and a wet, small dog also chills fast in Melbourne's winter. A fitted raincoat on drizzly days keeps most of the coat dry in the first place. Wipe muddy feet and check between the toes too.

How do I manage tear staining on a white Maltese?

Wipe below the eyes daily with a soft damp cloth or a vet-recommended eye wipe, keep the area dry, and keep the hair around the eyes trimmed so it does not wick moisture. For most Maltese the staining is cosmetic. If it is heavy or sudden, or the eye looks red or sore, see your vet, because excess tearing can point to a blocked tear duct, an eye problem or a dental issue.

How often should I bathe a Maltese?

Every three to four weeks suits most Maltese, or when the dog is visibly dirty, using a gentle dog shampoo. Always brush out tangles before the bath, because water tightens mats, and dry the coat completely afterwards. Keep water out of the eyes and ears, and do not over-bathe, which dries the skin. In winter, bath indoors and dry thoroughly before the dog goes back outside.

What if I adopt a Maltese with a matted coat?

Do not try to brush out heavy matting yourself. It pulls painfully and can tear the skin. Book a groomer, who can clip the dog short and give it a fresh start, and ask them to flag any skin problems they find underneath. In winter, keep a newly clipped dog warm with a coat while the hair grows back. From there, a simple brushing routine keeps it comfortable.

Keep reading

Browse