Maltese Hair Cut Styles

A Maltese looks best with flowing, well-brushed hair. However, it's not always feasible to maintain a long coat. The type of haircut you choose for your Maltese depends on how much grooming time you want to spend each day.

  1. Puppy Cut

    • The Kellys Maltese describes a common hair style for Maltese dogs that's easy to maintain and is generally called the puppy cut. The body and legs are cut to a length of approximately 1/2 to 1 inch. The face and ears can be cut short or left any length you wish. A poodle- or schnauzer-type beard and/or mustache is an option. The tail can be left long or trimmed to any length. It all depends on how much brushing you care to do.

    Leisure Cut

    • Another type of trim is called a leisure cut by some and a short cut by others. Whatever the name, it is similar to the puppy cut in that the body is clipped short and the head and tail are clipped or trimmed as desired by the owner. The difference is that the legs are left long and scissored, blending the top of the legs into the body.

    Scissor Cut

    • If you like the look of a fluffy, long-haired Maltese but want to cut down the brushing time, the hair can be scissored to whatever length you desire. The type of cut is only limited by your imagination, your dog's hair and your pocketbook. Scissoring a dog's coat is labor intensive, so expect the groomer's price to reflect that.