The Maltese is a beautiful dog breed known for its silky white coat. If you have a Maltese, you know how important it is to keep their fur in good condition. Fortunately, plenty of stylish haircuts can help show off their lovely coats.
We’ve compiled a list of the best Maltese haircuts to keep your dog looking its best. Keep reading to learn about different haircuts to bring to the groomer or try out at home.
Before scrolling down, check out these other Maltese guides: Best Shampoo for a Maltese and Maltese vs Maltipoo.
1. Teddy Bear Cut
The teddy bear cut is perfect for those who want their dog to have a more natural look and feel. It entails trimming the hair around the dog’s body shorter, about ¼ inch, while leaving longer hair everywhere, typically around ½ inch or more. You have the freedom to decide how long you keep the hair.
Then, cut the hair around the dog’s face until you achieve a fluffier and round teddy bear appearance. Ensure you round off the hair on the forehead to complement the coat’s length. You should leave enough hair on the head and tie it into a top knot.
The style necessitates minimal trimming following the first cut. However, you’ll need to brush your dog’s coat daily using a soft-bristled brush to remove any dirt or tangles.
2. Puppy Cut
The puppy cut is among the top low-maintenance Maltese puppy haircuts. The cut is similar to a teddy bear cut, but the hair is left long on the face and neck.
You can achieve the cut by trimming the back and sides of the dog’s coat with thinning shears and leaving the hair around the face, neck, and legs longer.
To keep the puppy cut neat, consider using a clipper blade to clip the hair along the top of the head and around the ears. You can also use thinning shears to shape the coat along the sides and back.
3. Bob Cut
This haircut’s name stems from the style’s resemblance to a human bob cut. It involves shortening the hair on the dog’s body except for the ears and tail.
A Maltese bob cut is easy to maintain, and with just a few quick trims, it can stay looking sharp for months. It’s also practical for keeping your dog cool in the summertime, as the shorter hair prevents them from becoming too hot.
4. Show Cut
The show cut complies with Maltese breed standards. It’s the pinnacle of canine grooming if you plan to have your dog participate in a competition. The style features short sides and back, with a long top that can be parted and pulled into a pompadour for a unique appearance.
It may take a bit of practice to get the cut right, but with a few helpful tips, you can master it. Brushing your Maltese hair against the grain is best to remove knots and tangles. Then, use clippers or scissors to trim down the sides and back of your pup’s coat until they are even with the top.
Leave enough length at the top to style it into a pompadour. Finally, separate the top of the coat into sections and comb each piece into place.
This can be a tough cut to get right, so if you aren’t confident doing it on your own, talk to a professional groomer first.
5. Korean Cut
A Korean cut gives your Maltese a stylish, modern look. The style features short hair on the face, legs, and tail, and slightly longer body hair. You can tailor the cut to complement your dog’s physique.
To achieve the desired appearance, use thinning shears to remove excess hair on the dog’s body and around the ears. Then, trim the hair on the legs and tail shorter than the body. You can also leave longer hair on the dog’s face if you want to.
6. Lion Cut
This style will have your Maltese looking like a majestic lion with clean lines and a full mane. To create a lion cut, the groomer will start with a full shave of the dog’s back and sides. They will then trim the top of the head, the chest, and the legs to create a fluffy mane resembling that of a lion.
The groomer can adjust the mane’s length to your preference. You must brush your dog’s hair regularly to prevent matting and tangling.
7. Scissor Cut
The scissor cut is simple to perform and customizable in many ways. The cut requires nothing more than a pair of scissors. It entails maintaining short hair on the dog’s whole body. You should begin at the neck and work your way down to the base of the tail. You can achieve that by using scissors like a comb.
Take your time and ensure you don’t snip too-short sections, which can cause discomfort. Then, neaten any stray hairs on your dog’s legs and paws. Consider clipping the hair around the ears to give them a tidier appearance.
A Maltese wearing the scissor cut will shed less. Before cutting, wash and dry your dog’s hair to eliminate tangles.
8. Short Cut
The short cut might appear simple, but it requires expertise to achieve a perfect look. Consider entrusting a professional groomer with this cut.
The style involves giving the hair on the dog’s back and sides a short trim while leaving the hair on the chest, belly, and neck at a length of about 1/16 inch.
Keep the hair on the legs about 1 ½ inch. You can also opt to keep a 2-inch-long tail fringe. The style is ideal for the warmer months and provides your dog maximum comfort without sacrificing style.
9. Standard Cut
The standard cut is quick and easy to achieve. It entails keeping the hair on the dog’s body and head shorter while leaving the hair around the tail, legs, and ears a bit longer, typically 1 inch. It’s ideal for owners who prefer to spend minimal time on their pets’ grooming.
10. Medium Length Cut
Medium-length cuts work incredibly well with long hair and are relatively easy to maintain. The best way to achieve this look is by clipping the hair around the dog’s body and head, leaving the hair on the legs and tail at full length.
Use a medium-sized comb and scissors to get the style’s full effect. Start by combing your Maltese hair to remove tangles and knots.
Then, comb down the fur on the body, trimming it to a shorter length than the legs and tail. Finally, trim the top of the head to create an even layer of hair that falls naturally in a rounded shape. You can achieve this haircut quickly and easily with a little practice.
11. Female Maltese Hairstyle
Many Maltese owners like to fashion a small ponytail on their pets’ heads and tie it with a decorative ribbon. This style involves longer hair everywhere, with the possible exception of the chest and stomach. The length of your dog’s hair should be proportional to its size.
12. Little Pony Haircut
The little pony haircut is one of the most popular summer Maltese dog haircuts. The cut is classic since it emphasizes your dog’s physique. It leaves the hair on the body a bit longer than other cuts, giving your Maltese a fun and stylish look.
The hair on the back legs is left longer for a fluffier and softer look, while the fur around the face and neck is kept shorter. The cut is perfect for keeping your dog cool and clean in hot weather. It’s also an ideal option if you’re looking for a low-maintenance style.
13. Plush Toy Haircut
The plush toy haircut aims to give your dog a look resembling a cute stuffed animal. The hair is cut slightly longer on the back and sides and kept short on the head. The groomer also trims the hair around the following areas:
- Face
- Ears
- Feet
It’s great for owners who want their dogs to have an extra level of fluff.
14. Summer Cut
The summer cut is perfect for keeping your dog cool and comfortable during the hot summer months. It entails keeping the hair on the dog’s body and a head even and short while leaving longer hair around the ears and tail.
Because it is a simple style to achieve, anybody with suitable clippers and ample practice can do it.
15. German Cut
The German cut is comparable to the summer cut, but the sharp angles give it a more fashionable appearance. Use hand-held scissors to achieve the necessary angles to highlight the dog’s physique.
Unlike the summer cut, the style removes the hair around the ears and leaves no poof on the tail. The style gives your dog a more lean appearance. Keep the hair on the dog’s body and the tail short to facilitate easy brushing and maintenance.
16. Modern Cut
Many dog owners consider modern cut the best among the cute Maltese haircuts on this list. Keep the length of the hair at a medium length, but shorter than other clips like the lion cut.
Always keep the hair around the front legs straight. Make sure to give the hair on the hind legs a complete shave to show off its contours.
Despite its roundness and fluffiness, the puff on top of the dog’s head blends in with the neck. The tail and the ears retain their fluffy appearance. Trim the hair on the tail’s base, paws, and head. A professional’s touch is necessary to produce this look.
17. Curled Look
It’s one of the best female Maltese haircuts. It gives your dog a more fashionable appearance. To achieve this look, you will need to apply gel or mousse to your dog’s hair and then curl it in small portions using a curling iron.
Nevertheless, the curls won’t last for many hours. Therefore, once you’ve curled your dog’s hair, you’ll need to do it again every day to maintain the style.
18. Cupcake Cut
The style involves shaping the dog’s head and ears into a cupcake. The cut’s rounded ears set it different from the puppy cut. It’s also a little trickier to make this cut. So, it would be best if you considered hiring a professional groomer.
FAQs
Still wondering about Maltese dog haircuts? Here are a few frequently asked questions.
The show cut, teddy bear cut, short cut, and bob cut are some of the most popular Maltese haircuts.
Yes, a Maltese can get a teddy bear cut. To achieve a teddy bear cut, the groomer trims the dog’s sides and back to around 1/4 inch, leaving the rest at around 1/2 inch. Then, the face is trimmed to look round and fluffy like a teddy bear.
A Maltese needs to be groomed every 4 to 8 weeks to maintain a healthy coat.
Conclusion For “Best Maltese Haircuts”
Even though they’re small, Maltese dogs have big personalities and beautiful hair. They have long, straight, silky coats that need care and maintenance. Unlike most dog breeds, Maltese hair may grow to lengths without excessive shedding.
Maintaining a consistent grooming routine is crucial to preventing your dog’s hair from matting and tangling. With the right tools or the help of a professional groomer, you can create a beautiful cut that will show off your dog’s gorgeous Maltese coat. We hope our list of the best Maltese haircuts will help you make the right choice.
For more guides similar to this list, check out these other dog haircut articles:
If you want to learn more about Maltese grooming, you can, by watching “How To Groom Your Dog at Home (Maltese Grooming)” below:
Dr. Sabrina Kong graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in England in 2016 and has been working at a small animal clinic in Northern California since then. She grew up in the Bay Area and got her bachelor’s degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. She also became a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner through a program at the University of Tennessee.
When she isn’t in the clinic taking care of her four-legged patients, she enjoys traveling and trying new foods with her friends and her three-legged dog, Apollo. She adopted Apollo from her clinic when he was a puppy with numerous health issues. Dr. Kong truly cares about taking care of animals.