How Do I Groom a Maltese Yorkie Cross?

Maltese/Yorkie hybrid dogs usually have a lot of thick and curly hair. It is important to comb the hair daily or weekly, depending on the texture of the hair. If too much time passes between regular combings, tangles will develop. To comb the fur, use a wide-tooth comb and follow up with a smoothing brush. If minor tangles, called snarls, are present, use a wide-tooth comb to gently remove them while taking care not to hurt the dog. The use of a detangling conditioner can help the tangles to loosen more easily. If tangles are severe, they quickly become mats; it will be necessary to cut them out of the dog's fur.

Bathe the dog in a bathtub, a shower or a kitchen sink, depending on your preference. If you're bathing a Yorkie/Maltese in the sink, use a leash to secure the dog during the process. This will prevent the dog from jumping out of the sink and onto the floor, which could be fatal for a dog of this size.

Make sure that the water isn't too hot. Take care not to spray the dog directly in the face.

Use a shampoo safe for dogs' eyes.

Be sure to wash the fur under the belly, under the tail and under the eyes, because these areas tend to become soiled more readily.

Most groomers find that removing tangles afterwards is easier if shampooing is followed up with conditioner.

Trim the nails after bathing. The use of a guillotine-style trimmer is the best way to avoid hurting the Maltese Yorkie dog during trimming. This style of nail trimmer has a ring portion that is stationary and a sliding blade. Take care not to cut the nails too short, which will cause injury the dog.

Do not manually insert any object into a dog's ear; you can damage the dog's ear canal easily. To access the ear hairs for plucking, hold the dog in the groomer's lap with the groomer's chest pressed against the dog's back or rear. Fold both of the dog's ears on top of the dog's head using a pincher grip. Pluck only the hair that is growing from the ear canal itself and not the outer portion of the ear. Use ear wash to rinse out the dog's ears.

Dry the Maltese/Yorkie cross with a hair dryer while holding the dog still in a large towel. Rub the dog's fur as dry as possible while taking care not to cause the hair to tangle excessively. Blow the hair dry with a hand-held hair dryer, taking care not to set the heat too high. While the hair is still damp, use a comb to smooth the hair while drying it.

If a longer style is desired, use scissors to trim the hair. In order for the hair to come out looking sleek and more similar to a Yorkie than a Maltese, use thinning shears to thin the coat. Spend additional time blending the hair around the backside and the hips.

If a shorter style is desired, use clippers with a guard attached. Make sure the clippers have a long blade. Scissor-cut the hair on the legs for a longer fur length there.