How to Groom a Maltese Shitzu

A Maltese Shitzu is considered a designer dog, owing to its unique cross-breeding and happy, intelligent and friendly character. Caring for a dog requires grooming it to ensure that it is clean, and looking after a Maltese Shitzu is no different. The coat of a Maltese Shitzu does not shed as much as many other dogs so is a suitable choice of dog for those with allergies. Despite this, it needs to be groomed to maintain its good health.

Things You'll Need

  • Dog brush
  • Gentle dog shampoo
  • Hairdryer
  • Scissors
  • Nail Clippers or nail file
  • Cotton buds
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Brush the coat of the Maltese Shitzu once a day. The hair can easily become matted and it needs a good brush to avoid this. If it has a long coat, then it can take up to 30 minutes to remove all the tangles.

    • 2

      Wash the dog when it is dirty, or at least once a month. Maltese Shitzus have white fur, and this can easily stain or get caked in mud after a walk. Buy a gentle dog shampoo to wash it. This breed of dog is smaller and more delicate than larger dogs, therefore stronger products may irritate its skin.

    • 3

      Blow dry the fur after it has been bathed to prevent it catching a cold, and "poof" up the hair. Simply use a human hairdryer to do this, but ensure that it is set on a low heat setting to prevent burning the dog's skin.

    • 4

      Trim the coat of the Maltese Shitzu around its rear end, ears and eyes especially. These areas attract a build up of dirt and debris which can easily cause infection in smaller dogs. Use a pair of scissors to remove the excess hair.

    • 5

      Clip the Maltese Shitzu's nails every two weeks. Cut them down to just above where you see the end of the line of blood, inside the nail. If the dog walks a lot outside the nails wear down naturally, however this is not the case where the dog is mostly kept indoors.

    • 6

      Check inside the dog's ears. Look for mites, sores or dirt and remove any foreign bodies gently with the end of a cotton bud. Ears are high risk areas for the build up of bacteria, and consequently infection so it is important they are kept clean. Mites however, need to be treated professionally by a vet.