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Maltese care on Cape Ann

The AKC traces the Maltese to the island of Malta and describes a toy dog under seven pounds with a long white coat, plenty of energy and modest exercise needs. This guide covers the whole small dog on this coast: the playgroup, the January mornings and the health checks. Our Maltese grooming page covers the coat in depth.

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A couple sits on a leather couch holding a white poodle and a tan and white dog.

Last reviewed October 10, 2026 · by the Dogtown team

Small-dog daycare

Small-dog daycare for a dog under seven pounds

At 7 to 9 inches and under 7 pounds, a Maltese is one of the smallest dogs in any playgroup. Ours are 7 to 10 dogs matched by size and temperament, and a Maltese goes with the smallest, gentlest dogs, where a game of chase is fair. The AKC calls the breed affectionate and sprightly, full of energy, yet says it needs only occasional exercise; daily walks or play indoors are usually enough. A half day at $33, morning or afternoon, fits that well.

The free evaluation, held weekdays between 6:30 and 9:30 AM, is where our handlers see whether your Maltese enjoys a group or would rather watch. Some toy dogs prefer people to other dogs, and for them a 20-minute at-home walk at $25 and a groom may suit better than daycare; we will tell you what we saw. Bring Rabies, DHPP and Bordetella records and a current city dog license; in Gloucester that comes from the City Clerk at 9 Dale Ave.

  • The smallest, gentlest group, matched at the evaluation
  • Half days at $33; full days at $42 for the bold ones
  • A 20-minute at-home walk at $25 for a dog that prefers people
  • A Gloucester license from the City Clerk at 9 Dale Ave

Cold mornings

Cold mornings: a toy dog feels a January wind before you do

A dog under seven pounds has very little body to hold heat, and the AVMA's cold-weather guidance notes that short-haired and short-legged pets feel the cold faster. A Maltese in a short trim, the cut many pet owners choose, has less coat still. From December to March, a sweater or coat for the walk from the car, a short outdoor trip and a dry towel at the door make the first minutes of the day easier on a toy dog.

Dogtown opens at 6:30 AM on weekdays and 8 AM on Saturdays, and the first drop-off window runs to 9:30 on weekdays and 10 on Saturdays. On the coldest mornings, the Pup Van, $10 each way in Rockport, Gloucester, Essex and Manchester-by-the-Sea, spares a Maltese the wait in a parking lot. Road salt on sidewalks lands on a low dog's legs and belly as well as its feet, so wipe it off and dry the coat when you get home.

  1. 01

    Put a sweater or coat on before the door opens, not on the sidewalk

  2. 02

    Keep the morning potty trip short and on a shoveled patch

  3. 03

    Carry a towel and dry wet legs and belly before the car

  4. 04

    Wipe road salt off the feet, legs and belly after any sidewalk walk

  5. 05

    On the coldest days, let the Pup Van do the morning run

Tear stains

Tear stains and whitening, in brief: the groom handles the hair, your vet the cause

White hair shows tear staining, and the AKC recommends a vet visit if staining around a Maltese's eyes is excessive, to look for a possible cause. The groom manages what can be seen. The $10 face trim keeps the hair at the eye corners short between full grooms, and whitening, an $8 add-on to any bath or full service, brightens a dull white coat. Full service is $75 at the small-dog price, and our Maltese grooming page explains each option.

At home, the AKC's advice is gentle brushing and combing to the skin every day, regular baths and conditioning, ears checked weekly and fast-growing nails kept short; nail clipping at Dogtown is $16. Book the next groom at pick-up and it is $5 off. If heavy staining appears suddenly, or the eye looks red or cloudy, book your vet before you book us.

  • The $10 face trim between full grooms keeps the eye corners short
  • Whitening at $8 with any bath or full service
  • Excessive staining: a vet visit first, per the AKC
  • Nails at $16, since the AKC says they grow fast

Health notes

Knees, teeth and the liver test: the Maltese health list

VCA names the Maltese among the toy and small breeds prone to a luxating patella, a kneecap that moves out of its normal place. You may see a skip in the step or a few strides on three legs, and your vet confirms it by feeling the knee. The AKC lists patella and cardiac exams and a serum bile acid test among the recommended screenings, the last to rule out congenital liver problems in puppies, so ask the breeder for the results.

The AKC also says a Maltese is prone to dental disease as it gets older, and suggests brushing the teeth often, ideally each time you brush the coat, along with routine cleanings at the vet. Teeth brushing is a $10 add-on to any groom at Dogtown. Keep the dog off high furniture jumps if its knees have a history, and tell us what your vet has said.

The Maltese week

The Maltese week: small group, groom and walk, priced

A week built from short pieces suits a toy dog: a half day or two in the small group, a groom on a regular cycle, and a walk on the days at home. Grooming needs no evaluation, so a groom can be the first visit, and it introduces your dog to the building before it meets a playgroup. First-time customers save 15 percent on the first daycare visit with FIRST15.

For an overnight stay, a suite is $78 a night and the dog joins the small-dog playgroup by day; bring its food pre-portioned and a small comfort item. A bath before pick-up sends it home clean, and the Dogtown Classic bundle, $10 more a night, adds a daily homemade pupsicle or puppy cup and 10 percent off grooming. On Sundays, overnight guests are dropped off and collected between 8 and 10 AM or between 4 and 6 PM.

For a MaltesePrice
Half-day daycare, small-dog group$33
Full-day daycare$42
20-minute at-home walk$25
Bath only, up to 25 lb$55
Full-service groom, up to 25 lb$75
Whitening add-on$8
Face trim between grooms$10

At Dogtown

What a Maltese uses at Dogtown

The small-dog group, a groom that keeps the white bright, and short at-home walks.

Husky standing on the turf play yard at Dogtown, looking at the camera Dog DaycareFrom $33 · Explore Groomer blow-drying a red goldendoodle in front of the Dogtown Grooming sign Dog GroomingFrom $55 · Explore Dogtown walker and dog on a coastal trail at sunrise in Gloucester Dog WalkingNewFrom $25 · Explore

Every price on one page

Asked and answered

Questions people ask about this

Short, complete answers you can act on today. More in the full FAQ.

Is a Maltese too small for daycare?
Not for the right group. At Dogtown a Maltese joins the smallest, gentlest dogs in a playgroup of 7 to 10 matched by size and temperament, after the free weekday evaluation. Some toy dogs prefer people to other dogs; for them a 20-minute at-home walk at $25 may suit better, and we will tell you honestly what we saw.
Does a Maltese need a sweater on Cape Ann?
On cold, windy mornings, many do, especially in a short trim. A dog under seven pounds holds little heat, and the AVMA notes that short-haired and short-legged pets feel the cold faster. Put the sweater on indoors, keep winter trips short, and wipe salt off the legs and belly when you come back in.
Can grooming get rid of Maltese tear stains?
Grooming manages them; it does not remove the cause. The $10 face trim keeps hair at the eye corners short and whitening at $8 brightens the coat. The AKC recommends a vet visit if staining is excessive, since the cause can be medical. Our Maltese grooming page explains the options and prices.
What health tests should a Maltese breeder have done?
The AKC lists a patella evaluation, a cardiac exam and a serum bile acids test, the last to check puppies for congenital liver problems such as a liver shunt. Ask to see the results. VCA names the Maltese among the breeds prone to slipping kneecaps, so a skip in the step is worth showing your vet.

More questions? Read the full FAQ

Sources

Rules and dates change. We re-check every beach, licensing and ordinance page each spring and fall; the source above is the current word.

Keep reading

Dog grooming in GloucesterMaltese groomingSmall dog daycare in GloucesterWinter dog walks on Cape Ann Breed guides All guides

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