Do I have to keep the long coat? No, most pet owners prefer a puppy clip or other short haircut.

What grooming tools do I need? You need a comb with fine teeth and a brush. Always brush the coat first, if you encounter tangles, carefully pull the tangles apart with your fingers or your comb. Be sure and get out any and all snarls----all the way to the skin. Check those high friction spots----the arm pits, collar area, back of the legs, tops of the feet, mouth corners. When your dog is a puppy, do not make him sit still for long long periods of time, but break it up into small amounts of time and reward him (big kisses and lots of praise) for good behavior. Make grooming time a happy time.

What products do you use? For everyday I prefer the Bio-Groom line of shampoos and conditioners. I really like the Oatmeal Shampoo and conditioner, it has a great smell. The Bio-Groom Bright White works great on the Maltese and then the Bio-Groom Silk Creme Rinse is great on either the Yorkie or the Maltese. I always shampoo, then rinse, rinse, rinse. Follow with conditioner, and rinse again. If the dog has a long coat, you may want to consider one of the show coat oils. Be careful about using one of the grooming sprays that leaves a build up on the coat, after a time the hair is sticky and attracts dirt and dust---this breaks the coats and makes the dog appear "tacky" and is not good for the coat. If you take the dog to a groomer, he will look best if he is hand dryed NOT cage dryed.

For extra conditioning try the Bio-Groom Super Cream Coat Conditioner. If you are really trying to grow that coat out, you can leave a little extra in, helps protect the coat from play time.

Do I have to blow dry the Yorkie/Maltese, I prefer to let him air dry? Of course dry the  hair, the pup could get cold or chilled! Do not set the dryer set on a high temperature as this can damage delicate hair (or overheat your Yorkie or Maltese pup----to the point of death!), a nice medium temperature is best. Comb the hair straight as you dry it. Special dryers are available from grooming supply stores for under $50 that allow your hands free to hold the dog and comb the dog at the same time.

Will I hurt the puppy clipping the nails? Not if you don't cut them too short, simply clip them once a week at the crook and you should be fine. I prefer a kitten type nail clipper as they are smaller and easier to control the amount removed.

What about the hair in the ears? You should pull the hair in the ears so that air freely flows. (If you prefer, your groomer can take care of this for you.) Clean very gently with a cotton swab---do not go too deep or you can hurt the ear drum. If you get water in the ears when bathing be SURE and dry the ear throughly with the warm dryer. Check the ears often for a musty smell---this is a sign of ear infection, yeast etc. and should be handled by the vet.