Maltese Puppies, Maltese puppy, Maltese Grooming Techniques
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Proper Groomer Techniques
There
are different techniques for grooming a puppy depending on the breed of puppy
that you have and the coat length and type. Since using the right grooming
technique will make grooming faster and more pleasant for both the owner and the
puppy, using the right grooming supplies and methods is very important.
There are literally thousands of websites, articles, online demonstrations and
tutorials on how to groom your puppy. The more information and ideals you have
the better you will be able to find the techniques and methods that meet your
needs as well as your puppy. Probably the two biggest issues to consider is if
you have a single coated or double coated breed, and the length of the hair.
Single coated breeds have one type of hair over their body. Some of the terrier
breeds are single coated as are most of the puppies with a very short coat such
as a Boxer. Many of the puppies with long, flowing coats such as the Maltese
also have single coats. Typically most single coated puppies will have a coat
that lies very close to the body without any volume or fluffy appearance. Double
coated breeds have an outer, coarser hair and then a thick, dense and almost
woolly inner coat. In double coated breeds the outer coat typically provides a
protective layer that is water resistant and the inner coat provides a dense,
insulating layer for warmth. All of the Northern breeds including Samoyeds,
Huskies and Spitz types have a double coat. Double coated puppies typically shed
or "blow" this dense inner layer at least twice a year.
Short
coats are often the easiest to care for, although some short coated puppys shed
more than puppies with longer coats. The only difference is that shorter hairs
are often less noticeable, but actually no easier to keep off furniture, carpet
and clothing. Ideally a short coated breed should still be brushed two to three
times as week as this will help with circulation, removal of dead hair, plus
give the owner time to completely check the puppy for any possible injuries,
skin problems, dental issues or even long toe nails. Grooming a short coated
puppy is typically done with a stiff bristle brush or pin brush, followed by a
slicker brush. For those puppies with very short coats a slicker brush may be
all that is used. If is absolutely critical to only brush the coat in the
direction of hair growth. In most puppies this will be from the neck to the tail
with a slightly downward angle. Brushing against the direction of hair growth
can irritate the skin and cause small skin lesions that may become infected.
Some puppies, such as Bull puppies, Boxers, Boston Terriers, Pugs and even
Chihuahuas can be groomed using a grooming mitt or glove. In addition a special
grooming chamois cloth can be used to add a natural gleam and shine to the coat,
it is simply rubbed over the coat in the direction of hair growth.
A puppy
with a medium to long coat is much more prone to tangles and mats in their coat,
regardless of it being a single or double coat. In the spring and fall shedding
in double coated puppies will make matting a particular problem, so additional
grooming will be necessary at these times.
To groom a medium to long haired puppy the owner will typically need at least
two brushes, a pin brush and a slicker or stiff bristle brush. The pin brush can
be used to groom the outer coat in the direction of hair growth and remove any
and all tangles from the surface. The stiff bristle brush, or the pin brush if
necessary, can then be used to brush out the woolly undercoat. To get through to
the dense undercoat use your non-brush hand and simply push the longer outer
coat up and forward, starting either at the neck and working back or at the hips
and working forward. Use the stiff bristle or pin brush to gently brush the
undercoat back down and in the direction of hair growth. As the undercoat is
groomed down the outer coat will also fall back into place. Finish with the
slicker brush for a polished appearance.
In the spring and fall a shedding blade can be used to trap the dead hair and
remove it from the coat. These shedding blades, or a grooming rake, are just the
tool to help get rid of the dead hair quickly and painlessly for the puppy.
Never pull out clumps of dead hair, this can cause the puppy to become very
sensitive in one area and can even lead to skin infections if the hair is pulled
against the direction of growth.
Be sure when brushing a long haired breed to get all the hair, especially the
areas prone to mats. These are typically the areas under the ears, along the
neck, especially if the puppy wears a collar, behind the legs and where the tail
connects to the hips. The long hair on the rump, often known as the breeches,
may also be an area prone to tangles and mats. If the mats are significant and
cannot be removed with the brush, use scissors to cut them out.