Types of Dog Clippers to Use on Maltese Dogs

Maltese are small, friendly dogs with charming personalities. They are popular as house pets and good with families. Because these dogs have long, silky hair, they require consistent bathing and grooming. Grooming generally involves clipping toenails and hair and is best started early in a dog's life. Because professional grooming can get expensive, some dog owners choose to do it themselves.

  1. Electric Clippers

    • The easiest and most efficient way to groom a Maltese is with electric clippers. Choose a blade that is designed for Maltese-type hair, and will cut to the length you want. Blades come in numbered measurements, which dictate how close they'll get to the skin. Run the clippers slowly up the dog's body, against hair growth. Be careful not to push too hard, as you may hurt the dog. Keep in mind that clippers get hot after a length of time, and could burn both you and the dog.

    Scissors

    • Some areas of the Maltese are too small or sensitive for clippers. Use small, sharp scissors to trim eyelashes, whiskers and the hair at the end of a dog's ears and feet. If your Maltese has hairy ears, you might also consider using the scissors to trim the hair inside the dog's ears to keep them clean and prevent ear infections. You can also use the scissors to neaten up your clip job along the Maltese's body and legs. Some people use scissors to trim the entire body, though this is a long and tiresome process.

    Nail Clippers

    • Dogs need regular nail care, and if you're not taking your Maltese to a groomer, this is something you need to take care of yourself. According to Washington State University, the best type of nail clippers to use for general nail care are the guillotine-type trimmers, which have a stationary ring and a sliding blade. Slide the tip of one nail through the ring so that the blade will cut the nail from the bottom up. Squeeze the handles to slice the nail. Use scissor trimmers for any nails that are too curved to accommodate the guillotine trimmers. Cut off only the tip of the nail. Make sure to avoid cutting into the quick (the blood vessels and nerves). Cutting too much of the nail will hurt the Maltese.