9 Best Brushes for Maltese – 2024 Reviews & Top Picks
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A Maltese’s hair is an essential part of their health. In prime condition, it stays supple yet strong while allowing the underlying skin to breathe, playing an enormous role in how your dog looks and feels.
The luxuriously smooth coat that serves as the Maltese’s hallmark doesn’t happen by chance. Your dog’s coat requires ongoing care to maintain its glossy, knot-free appearance. It takes more effort than other dogs, but you win half the battle from the outset when choosing the right grooming equipment.
A high-quality pin brush will keep your combing session short and your dog comfortable. They’ll emerge refreshed and ready for the day, while you’ll appreciate the positive experience and quality bonding time with your pet. Guarantee success with every grooming session by checking out these nine best brushes for Maltese dogs.
A Glance at Our Winners in 2024
Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
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Best Overall | Hartz Groomer’s Best Combo Brush |
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Best Value | Frisco Cat & Dog Pin Brush |
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Premium Choice | Safari Combo Brush for Dogs |
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H&H Pets 2-Sided Dog & Cat Grooming Brush |
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PetBrush Detangler Dog Brush |
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The 9 Best Brushes for Maltese
1. Hartz Groomer’s Best Combo Brush – Best Overall
Size | 2” x 2.4” x 10.5” |
Style | Metal Pin/Nylon Bristle Combo |
A combo brush is one of the best initial tools to keep your Maltese’s hair in tip-top condition. Hitting all the right notes in design and price, Hartz Groomer’s Best Combo Brush is one of the safest investments and our pick for the best overall brush for Maltese dogs.
Thanks to the coated pin tips and ergonomic handle on this small breed-sized brush, grooming is as comfortable and convenient as possible for you and your dog. Nylon bristles on the back let you finish up without switching tools. It’s an excellent tool for light tangling and daily brushing that won’t harm your pup.
- Coated pins for comfort
- Ergonomic grip
- Breather backing for gentler brushing
- Dual-sided with nylon bristles
- Metal bristles prone to detaching
2. Frisco Cat & Dog Pin Brush – Best Value
Size | 3” x 1.4” x 8.3” |
Style | Plastic Pin |
The Frisco Cat & Dog Pin Brush may be inexpensive, but we shouldn’t call it cheap. The one-sided brush is a pet-friendly groomer with a sturdy build. It’s simple, but for the long-term value, it’s also the best brush for a Maltese for the money.
The plastic pins are gentle yet firm, helping to smooth hair without harming your dog’s skin. A breathable hole prevents moisture buildup after washing and adds flexibility to the backing for extra comfort.
- Low cost
- Gentle on skin
- Ergonomic rubber grip
- Flexible mesh backing
- Pins may bend
3. Safari Combo Brush for Dogs – Premium Choice
Size | 4” x 2.4” x 11” |
Style | Steel Pin/Nylon Bristles |
The Safari Combo Brush for Dogs is slightly more expensive than other dual-sided brushes, but you won’t complain about the price when you recognize the quality. The firm, well-spaced pins are efficient detanglers, though the tips may feel harsher against sensitive skin than a soft-coated variety. With the nylon bristle backing, it’s everything you need to detangle your Maltese’s coat and distribute the oils for a smooth shine.
- Effective, gentle detangling
- High-quality build
- Dual-sided with bristle brush
- Pricier than other options
- Pins may feel stiff to sensitive dogs
4. H&H Pets 2-Sided Dog & Cat Grooming Brush
Size | 3” x 2.5” x 8” |
Style | Steel Pin/Nylon Bristle Combo |
A high-quality build makes detangling much easier and less stressful for your Maltese. The H&H Pets 2-Sided Dog & Cat Grooming Brush makes grooming enjoyable and effective, removing tough tangles and dirt for a healthy coat.
The sturdy metal pins glide fluidly through hair, with rounded tips staying safe against your dog’s skin. A breathable backing keeps contact light and prevents moisture accumulation, while the durable nylon bristles give you a great way to finish up and tend to your dog after a fresh puppy cut.
- High-quality metal pins
- Comfortable grip
- Dual-sided brush
- Rounded tips not as gentle as coated
5. PetBrush Detangler Dog Brush
Size | 8” x 2.1” x 8.8” |
Style | Plastic Pin |
The PetBrush Detangler Dog Brush from WetBrush brings a few design quirks that could make a difference for a sensitive or thin-haired dog. While you’ll love the fun “dog camo” design, your Maltese will benefit from the soft-tipped pins that bend as needed for the gentlest touch possible.
While the IntelliFlex design won’t help with a thick double coat, it will make quick, pain-free work of your dog’s single coat, whether dry or wet. It’s an excellent daily groomer for your medium or long-haired Maltese that they’ll gladly accept.
- Gentle IntelliFlex coated pins
- Dog camo design
- Ergonomic anti-slip grip
- Not ideal for thick tangles
6. PetPaw Joy Slick Brush
Size | 4” x 1” x 6.3” |
Style | Metal Slicker |
Slicker brushes can sometimes feel too abrasive on sensitive Maltese skin, but the PetPaw Joy Slick Brush keeps your toy breed in mind with its coated pins. You get the firmness and tight spacing you need for matted and super-tangled hair without worrying about poking your pup.
The sturdy stroke of a slicker brush will make your dog’s coat feel smoother with less effort, though the comfortable anti-slip grip will put you at ease if the grooming session goes longer than expected.
The sleekest feature is a 360-degree rotatable head. The pins have slight bends, making them firm for detangling hair in one direction and gentle for massaging in the other. Flip the head around according to your grooming goals.
- Gentle yet firm detangling
- Rotatable head for grooming or massaging
- Ergonomic grip
- Pricier than some other options
- Bristles may detach
7. Bass Brushes Hybrid Pet Groomer Oval Brush
Size | 5” x 1.5” 8.4” |
Style | Metal Pin/Natural Bristle |
Pristine white hair defines the Maltese, making proper grooming a critical practice. The Bass Brushes Hybrid Pet Groomer Oval Brush does more with each stroke to ensure your dog walks away with a shimmering clean coat in less time.
Rather than separate pins and bristle brushes on opposite sides, this groomer has a patented design that features both on one side, allowing you to detangle and distribute the natural oils in only one motion. The build exudes quality from its eco-friendly bamboo handle to its natural bristles and stout steel pins, enhancing the benefits to your dog’s skin and coat.
- Detangles and shines in one stroke
- Premium bamboo handle
- Durable metal pins
- Natural bristles
- Relatively expensive
- Pins may feel rough on sensitive skin
8. ConairPROPET Pet-It Dog Metal Pin Brush
Size | 5” x 2.75” x 4” |
Style | Metal Pin |
For a more intimate bonding experience, try ConairPROPET Pet-It Dog Metal Pin Brush. The handle-less design offers a durable plastic grip that slips easily through the fingers and puts the brush against your palm. The firm stainless steel pins detangle and smooth the hair as you pet your dog. Coated tips stay gentle on the skin without taking away from the performance.
- Petting motion encourages bonding
- Strong pins detangle effectively and gently
- May feel too small in the hand
9. FURminator Dual Grooming Brush
Size | 5” x 2” x 11.3” |
Style | Metal Pin/Natural Bristle |
The FURminator Dual Grooming Brush is a quality tool for keeping a healthy Maltese coat. The heavy-duty metal bristles power through snarls and mats while the coated tips stay soft against the skin. A boar’s hair side enhances the experience with a dense set of bristles smoothing the coat’s natural oils for a sleeker appearance.
The design offers extra comfort for you in its molded non-slip handle. The grip can be more prone to breakage or detaching than other models, so you may need to be extra careful during use.
- Durable metal pins
- Natural boar hair bristles
- Ergonomic anti-slip grip
- Handle prone to breaking
Buyer’s Guide: How to Pick the Best Brush for Your Maltese
What Is the Best Brush for My Maltese?
A Maltese’s non-shedding single coat doesn’t require a heavy-duty fur remover like a rake. As it grows, the hair is more prone to tangles and damage from dirt, gunk, and debris. Although you’ll love the easy maintenance while they’re young, it can become a challenging cleaning chore, especially when you have to be tough but gentle to avoid hurting your delicate dog.
The following are a few practical brush options for Maltese hair.
Pin Brushes
Pin brushes are usually oval-shaped and feature an array of metal, plastic, or sometimes wood pins. To prevent scratching and protect the dog’s skin, the tips are often rounded or coated with a hard resin bead. Although they’re gentle, unlikely to pull, and effective in removing dead hair and managing a relatively groomed coat, pin brushes are inefficient for intense tangles and mats.
Slicker Brushes
Slicker brushes can work for medium or long-haired dogs, especially those with wiry or curly hair. The tight pack of rigid wires on the typically rectangular brush head is ideal for undoing tough matted hair.
A slicker brush can be uncomfortable for your Maltese if it scrapes across the skin. You’ll need to take extra precautions and fine-tune your technique to avoid any discomfort or distress. Once you get the knack of keeping it separate from your dog’s body, you may find it’s the most efficient for your dog’s routine.
Bristle Brushes
A short-haired Maltese can benefit from the bristle brush’s gentle surface cleaning. The soft bristles remove dirt, dander, and loose hair while spreading the dog’s natural oils evenly across its hair for a healthier coat. The gentle strokes also massage the skin and stimulate healthy blood flow.
Rubber Brush
Rubber brushes help short-haired dogs with a gentle massaging touch. The flexible bristles delicately loosen and pull hair and dirt to the surface for you to easily brush away.
Tips for Brushing Your Maltese
Maintaining a Maltese coat can be challenging as you let the hair grow to show length. If your pet is active and needs constant grooming, keeping the hair short will make you and your dog more comfortable.
Try to make daily brushing a part of your routine, no matter how you cut the coat. You’ll avoid many of the tricky matted sections that demand slicker brushes. Grooming sessions will be quicker and simpler. Your dog will appreciate the ease and likely be more compliant and open to grooming when the time comes.
The following are a few extra tips to keep in mind when brushing your Maltese:
- Check for mats, tangles, and debris by hand before brushing
- Work in an orderly direction, one section at a time, to ensure you brush all the hair
- Use a detangling spray to ease brushing, particularly on matted sections
- Run a comb through the hair to check for mats, but use your brush to undo them
- Pull large matted sections apart gently by hand without pulling your Maltese’s skin
- Snip off any mats that are too challenging to separate
- Spritz the coat with a conditioner for Maltese dogs when it grows long to prevent mats and make the hair healthier and stronger
Always brush gently. Grooming is an excellent opportunity to bond with your Maltese, reinvigorate your pup, and create positive associations. They should be excited to see you pull out the brush. With a thoughtful and patient approach, your dog will appreciate the experience and always look forward to the next grooming session.
Conclusion
A versatile, quality design earns Hartz Groomer’s Best Combo Brush our number-one spot among the best Maltese brushes. Value seekers get a bargain with the Frisco pin brush, while the dependability of Safari’s products hits the mark for anyone willing to spend a few extra dollars. Whether long-haired or short-haired, there’s an ideal fit in our rundown of the top products for your dog.
Follow these reviews to take the guesswork out of creating a successful routine for your Maltese. With the perfect tools, your pup will love every brushing session, and you’ll make the experience far more valuable for both of you.
- See also: 7 Types Of Dog Brushes (With Pictures)