A Maltese Terrier weighs very little but asks for daily attention, mostly to a white silky coat that shows every tangle and stain. A weekly checklist turns that care into small, named jobs so nothing piles up into a matted, uncomfortable grooming emergency.
Give the White Coat a Daily Line
A Maltese Terrier's coat tangles at the friction points, behind the ears, under the collar, and where the legs meet the body, so the checklist schedules a gentle brush-through every day and a longer detangling session once a week. A bath usually lands weekly for a Maltese kept in longer coat, with a note to dry the coat fully so damp hair does not knot as it moves. Check the skin as you work, because redness hides easily under white hair until it is parted. If the coat is kept in a short clip, the same checklist slots shrink but stay on the page.
Put Face, Eyes, and Teeth on Repeat
A Maltese Terrier commonly develops tear staining, so a daily wipe of the eye area with a clean, damp cloth belongs on the checklist, along with a weekly look at whether staining is suddenly worse, which can point to irritation worth a veterinary opinion. Teeth are the other standing item: this breed's small jaw crowds teeth, so schedule brushing on most days in very short sessions and add a weekly gum check. Note any loose tooth, bleeding gum, or new reluctance to chew on one side. Small dogs hide mouth pain well, and the checklist is often what catches it early.
Keep Exercise Gentle and Mostly Indoors
A Maltese Terrier needs daily movement, but short walks and indoor play usually cover it, so the checklist can pair exercise with training games and sniffing time rather than long outings. Add a weekly note on weight by feel, because extra ounces register quickly on such a small frame and measured meals matter. In cold or wet weather, shorten outdoor time and add an indoor activity instead, since a Maltese loses heat fast. Also note safe handling once a week for the household: lift with support, keep the dog off high furniture edges, and supervise floor play with bigger pets.
Add Harness, Warmth, and Indoor Toilet Notes
A Maltese Terrier's checklist should specify a harness rather than a collar for walks, noted weekly so every walker uses the same gentle setup for a small, delicate neck. In poor weather, record the indoor toilet arrangement the dog actually used, because a Maltese who dislikes rain may quietly hold on unless the routine is clear to helpers. Add a weekly check of drinking and eating from raised or floor bowls, whichever this dog manages best, and note any coughing or fussing at meals. Warmth belongs on the list too, a coat for cold outings and a check that bedding sits away from draughts.
Review the Small Changes Weekly
At week's end, compare the Maltese Terrier's notes on appetite, tear staining, coat condition, and energy against the previous week, because in a dog this small, subtle shifts are the early warnings. A skipped meal here and there may be nothing, but repeated pickiness, increased staining, or new scratching deserves a veterinary call rather than another week of notes. Update next week's list with anything the groomer flagged, such as a mat-prone patch or a tooth to watch. Recording the review in KinsLe's Care Teams keeps sitters and family working from the same up-to-date Maltese routine.