Click here to visit the most complete Maltese site on the WWW

Archived Message

ORIGINAL MESSAGE:
by Lauren Brier-Mills.

Hi Everyone,I have a nearly 10 week old female Maltese. Every time I try to groom her, she thinks it is a game and tries to bite the brush. I never manage to completely brush her.I use a slicker brush. Also, Milly seems to be afraid of newspaper and won't piddle on it. I live in a house that doesn't have a yard, only big verandas, so I have to train her to inside on something. Does anyone have any suggestions on what would work well? Thankyou.Sorry, 1 more thing,I took Milly for a checkup at the vets the other day, and she was perfectly healthy. I asked the vet what I could use on the tearstaining and he told me there was nothing I could use at all.I have read about a few products but wondered what other people use and what works.I would really appreciate it.Lauren

DISCUSSION:

Lauren, try using wee-wee pads instead of newspaper and see if there's any difference. I never used them, but I think maybe because of the scent on them as well as the fact that they are quiet different from newspaper, you may get a different reaction. As for the grooming. I don't have a lot of advice though I know others here will have. What I do want to tell you is that if you plan on grooming your dog regularly yourself, you need to put and end to the play and become ALPHA on this. I thought it was sweet and adorable and funny when Lucy chased the brush at 15-16 wk; now that I have to hogtie her to groom her it doesn't seem so cute! (Actually we are trying to re-visit this issue with some behavior modification right now) I end up taking her to bath and brush twice a month and the groomers once every 6 wk or so just to make sure she doesn't get matted up and it certainly makes it difficult to grow a coat. So don't "play" with your little one. Let her know this is business and you are in charge. One thing that "sort of" works for us is if I put Lucy's collar/leash on before grooming her. I think she makes a connection between being restrained during grooming at the groomer and the leash, but don't know for sure. She does tend to settle down and let me brush her though.
-cathy brown

My puppy is now 15 weeks old. She tried to bite the brush and play at first, too. Two things that worked for me: I brush her when she is drowsy, and I give her a chew stick as we start. Good luck!
-Carol Friesen

I'm a new Maltese owner - just got a 12-week old male I've named "Willy" so I'm sure I will have more questions thatn answers, but the pet store recommended something called "Diamond Eye" for tear staining. It's a clear liquid that you can apply with a cotton ball or swab. Too early to tell whether it actually works.
-Michael Beecher

Michael, when I got Lucy they too recommeded the Diamond Eyes. I didn't think it worked very well. So don't be disappointed.
-cathy brown

In regards to your grooming question, where are you working with your baby? I have found that the best place for me is up on a table, I now have a grooming table but have used the counter in kitchen or table. Even with my older kids that is the only place I can handle them. I can't remember if I read it or if someone told me but I'd be carfull using a slicker brush if you intend to keep your pup in full coat, a slicker seems to split and break the hair on our little angels (most of the time they are).
-Carol A