Maltese grooming
Maltese grooming in Gloucester, MA
The AKC describes the Maltese as a toy dog under seven pounds in a long, straight, silky, pure white coat with no undercoat. White shows everything, a single coat knots wherever something rubs it, and a Cape Ann winter adds road salt and static. Here is how the groom handles each of those.
Single white coat
A Maltese coat is single, silky and white, so it shows stains and mats wherever something rubs it
Without an undercoat, a Maltese coat hangs long, flat and silky, according to the breed standard, and that makes it fine and quick to tangle. The AKC's grooming advice is gentle brushing and combing to the skin every day, plus regular baths and coat conditioning. The collar line is the classic trouble spot: a collar or harness worn all day rubs the hair at the neck and chest with every step, and a ring of mats forms underneath while the rest of the coat still looks perfect.
White hair also records everything the dog does. Grass, beach sand, food in the beard and tears at the eyes all show. That is what the whitening add-on is for: an $8 brightening shampoo that restores white and light coats during a bath or full service. It lifts general dullness and discoloration across the coat. It is not a cure for staining that has a medical cause, which the next section covers.
- Collar and harness line: the first place a Maltese mats
- Behind the ears and in the armpits
- Beard and mustache, after every meal
- Whitening at $8 for a coat that has dulled
Tear staining
Tear staining is common on a Maltese; grooming manages it while your vet finds the cause
The AKC's tear-stain article lists the Maltese among the breeds commonly affected, and the AKC's Maltese page recommends a vet visit to look for a cause if the staining around the eyes is excessive. The causes the AKC names include eye shape, allergies and tear ducts that do not drain properly. A groomer cannot fix any of those. Grooming can keep the hair at the inner corners short and clean so tears do not sit in it, and brighten the hair around it.
In practice that means the $10 face trim between full grooms, which tidies the eyes, muzzle and ears, plus whitening at $8 when the coat is bathed. At home, the AKC suggests a quick face grooming every day, and a soft, damp cloth does the job. If heavy staining appears out of nowhere, or the discharge turns yellow or bloody, that is a call to your vet rather than a booking with us.
- Inner eye corners kept short with the face trim
- A daily wipe with a damp cloth at home
- Sudden heavy staining or colored discharge: your vet
Collar line and cycle
Every four to six weeks keeps the collar line from matting; a skipped visit costs $15 per 20 minutes
A shorter trim is the practical choice for many pet Maltese, and the full service covers it, along with the breed-style long look if you can brush every day. A short trim usually stays tidy for four to six weeks before the face grows into the eyes and the neck starts to knot under the collar. A long coat needs the groomer for haircuts less often, but it needs you and a comb far more often.
When a Maltese arrives with mats around the neck, the groomer works them out at $15 per 20 minutes, agreed with you at check-in, or suggests taking the coat shorter there if the mats are tight to the skin. A fine single coat breaks easily when pulled, so a shorter clip at the collar line is often the gentler route. Rebook at pick-up for $5 off and the next visit lands before the collar line felts again.
Price
Full service for a Maltese is $75, with whitening at $8 and a face trim at $10
A Maltese weighs under seven pounds, per the AKC, so it is always in our small band: $75 for full service and $55 for bath only, each with a warm bath, blow-dry and brush-out. The add-ons that matter most on this breed are whitening and the face trim. Teeth brushing at $10 also earns its place, because the AKC describes the Maltese as prone to dental disease as it ages, and nail clipping at $16 suits a breed the AKC says has fast-growing nails.
For a white coat between haircuts, a bath-only visit with whitening keeps it bright for $55 plus $8. Members on the unlimited daycare plan take 15 percent off grooming, and overnight guests can have a bath or full groom before pick-up so they come home clean. Final prices are confirmed at check-in after the coat assessment, and nothing is added without your say.
| Add-on | Price | Why a Maltese owner books it |
|---|---|---|
| Whitening shampoo | $8 | Brightens a white coat that has dulled |
| Face trim | $10 | Keeps hair short at the eye corners between grooms |
| Teeth brushing | $10 | Small mouth, and the AKC flags dental disease with age |
| Nail clipping | $16 | Fast-growing nails, per the AKC |
| Sanitary trim | $10 | Keeps the rear and belly clean |
| De-matting | $15 per 20 minutes | Collar-line mats worked out before the haircut |
Winter at home
In a Cape Ann winter, mist the coat before you brush and wipe the salt off the legs
Heated houses dry the air from December to March, and a fine single coat answers with static, flyaways and split ends when it is brushed dry. A light mist of water or a dog coat conditioner before brushing helps the comb glide, in line with the AKC's advice on regular conditioning. Brush gently in layers to the skin, starting at the collar line and the chest, then comb the armpits, ears and beard.
Outside, the salt on Gloucester sidewalks and parking lots sticks to the legs and belly of a low white dog, staining the hair as well as irritating the skin. The AVMA advises wiping a dog's feet, legs and belly after winter walks to remove salt and de-icers, so keep a towel by the door. Dry the coat completely afterward; a damp white coat under a sweater is how the collar line starts to felt.
- 01
Mist the coat lightly with water or a dog conditioner
- 02
Brush the collar line and chest first, in layers down to the skin
- 03
Comb through the armpits, behind the ears and the beard
- 04
Wipe the corners of the eyes with a damp cloth
- 05
After a salted walk, wipe the feet, legs and belly, then dry fully
At Dogtown
A bright white coat, before or during the stay
Full service at $75 with whitening, a groom before an overnight-stay pick-up, or one added to a daycare day.
Asked and answered
Questions people ask about this
Short, complete answers you can act on today. More in the full FAQ.
What does the whitening add-on do for a Maltese?
How much is a Maltese groom?
Why does my Maltese mat around the neck?
Can my Maltese keep a long coat?
Can my Maltese be groomed during an overnight stay?
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.
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Next step
Keep the white coat white.
Book a $75 full service online or in the Dogtown app and add whitening for $8. No evaluation for grooming, and $5 off when you rebook at pick-up.
- 01Free evaluationWeekdays 6:30 – 9:30 AM
- 02Book a dayOnline, in the app or by phone
- 03Play, rest, repeatReport card at pick-up
