Maltese dogs require regular grooming. They should be brushed daily if you want to keep them with long hair, using a metal comb and a slicker brush to help break apart knots. By maintaining a daily grooming routine you can have your Maltese with long hair within a year.
If you plan to keep your Maltese in a puppy cut, then grooming can be done 2-3 times per week. It depends on how short their hair it.
Some things that can matt your dog’s hair quickly are collars and harnesses because they are constantly rubbing and moving the hair, which can create terrible knots in just an hour. If you are going out, use the collar/harness, however when you get back home, take it off and brush down the hair.
Another tip is not to bathe your dog more than once a week. This is to avoid the skin from drying and becoming itchy. And after bathing, VERY IMPORTANT, is to clean the ears with an ear cleaning solution. If you don’t do this, there is a very high chance your dog will get an ear infection.
This video shows bathing and grooming tips (This Teddy bear grooming style is actually my favorite!)