Rowdy and cute!

This week’s Klip Joint dog of the week is Rowdy, a 4-month-old Maltese. He was being very cute the day he came in for his bath and brush.

Maltese are bred to be cuddly companion dogs. They are extremely lively and playful, and even as a Maltese ages, his energy level and playful demeanor remain fairly constant. They adore humans, and prefer to stay near them. The Maltese is very active within a house, and, preferring enclosed spaces, does very well with small yards. For this reason, the breed also fares well in apartments and townhouses, and is a prized pet of urban dwellers.

Maltese have no undercoat, and have little to no shedding if cared for properly. Like their relatives, the Poodles and Bichon Frisé, they are considered to be largely hypoallergenic and many people who are allergic to dogs may not be allergic to the Maltese. Daily cleaning is required to prevent the risk of tear-staining.

Regular grooming is also required to prevent the coats of non-shedding dogs from matting. Many owners will keep their Maltese clipped in a “puppy cut”, a 1–2 in (2.5–5 cm) all over trim that makes the dog resemble a puppy. (Rowdy still IS a puppy!)

Maltese dogs can exhibit signs of tear staining underneath the eyes. Dark staining in the hair around the eyes, “tear staining”, can be a problem in this breed, and is mostly a function of how much the individual dog’s eyes water and the size of the tear ducts. To get rid of tear staining, a solution or powder can be specially made for tear stains, which can often be found in local pet stores. A fine-toothed metal pet comb, moistened with hot water and applied perhaps twice weekly, also works extremely well. The antibiotic, Cephalexin has been shown to completely clear up “tear staining” in some cases. Maltese are susceptible to “reverse sneezing”, which sounds like a honking, snorting, or gagging sound and results often from over-excitement, play, allergies, or upon waking up. It is not life-threatening or dangerous—it will go away after about a minute.

At the Klip Joint Dog Grooming we can help keep your dog beautiful and mat-free!

Rowdy – Maltese puppy