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The Maltese carries a long, flowing, pure-white single coat with a silky texture and no undercoat. It sheds very little but tangles readily, and the breed's prominent eyes and pale coat make tear staining a constant management task. Owners choose between a glamorous long coat that demands daily work or an easy-care puppy clip.
Coat group
Long-coated
Shedding
Low
Difficulty
High
Typical cost
$60–$95 full groom in SEQ
Professional grooming
Professional groom every 4–6 weeks
At-home brushing
Brush daily — the fine single coat tangles very easily
Coat type: Fine, long, silky white single coat with no undercoat that grows continuously.
Maltese coat is fine and silky rather than woolly, which means it slips into tangles quickly, particularly around the legs, behind the ears and under the collar. A long 'show' coat needs daily gentle brushing with a pin brush and combing, plus regular bathing to keep the white bright. Many pet owners find this commitment too much over time.
The practical alternative is a puppy clip — the coat taken down to an even short length all over. It looks tidy, stays comfortable in the Queensland heat and reduces brushing to a quick daily once-over. It's by far the most common choice for family Maltese in SEQ.
Tear staining is the breed's signature challenge. The reddish-brown marks under the eyes come from porphyrins in tears, made more visible by the white coat. Daily wiping of the eye area, keeping the face hair trimmed short, ensuring clean fresh water and a vet check for any blocked ducts or irritation all help keep staining under control.
Puppy clip
An even short trim over the entire body and a rounded short face. Low-maintenance, cool and the most popular pet clip for the breed.
Full / Show coat
The long floor-length flowing coat parted down the spine. Stunning but requires daily brushing, frequent bathing and often wrapping to protect it — a serious commitment.
Top-knot with short body
Body kept short for ease while the head hair is grown out and tied up in a top-knot, keeping hair out of the eyes and adding a touch of the breed's classic style.
Regular bathing with a quality whitening shampoo, daily wiping of the face and rear, clean fresh water, and keeping the coat trimmed shorter all help. Persistent yellowing around the mouth or eyes can also point to staining that's worth raising with your vet.
For most SEQ families, a puppy clip wins — it's cooler, far less work and still looks smart. A full coat is gorgeous but really only practical if you can commit to daily brushing and frequent baths.
Her coat is a fine, silky single coat with no undercoat, so the long hairs slide over each other and knot rather than dropping out. Daily brushing right through to the skin is the answer — surface brushing alone won't reach the tangles forming underneath.
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🐾 Find a groomer near youThis guide is general grooming information only and is not a substitute for advice from a professional groomer or veterinarian. Coat care needs vary between individual dogs.