Silky vs Cotton coat

[Zo zo's mom]

This may sound like a dumb question but what is the difference?

Do you have to groom a silky coat differently (which is what I would guess Zo zo has, but I may not be right)?

Thanks for helping the new kid

[I Found Nemo]

I don't know about the grooming aspect of it, but Nemo is silky on his tail and head and beard his body is like a mixture of cottony and silky, but I keep him in a puppy cut. Great post I wonder to if grooming is different.
ANDREA 6829

[Morkie4]

I'm not sure if there is a difference in the grooming because of the cottony or silky coat..............just know that a good shampoo, conditoner and daily brushing is one key to a beautiful coat!

[mia's mom]

I have one that is real silky the other one so so. I tend to use more conditioner and product on the one that is not all silky. Just like when a human has straight or curl. For curly you use more products ie: gel, mousse.

[Ehunney]

I don't know about the grooming aspect of it, but Nemo is silky on his tail and head and beard his body is like a mixture of cottony and silky, but I keep him in a puppy cut. Great post I wonder to if grooming is different.
ANDREA 6829

Dolce's the exact same way! His head,tail and beard are super silk and then his body seems to be a mixture of both,but straight. I was trying to grow his hair out floor length,but it's so much darn work,so I might opt for a puppy cut,haha!

[I Found Nemo]

Dolce's the exact same way! His head,tail and beard are super silk and then his body seems to be a mixture of both,but straight. I was trying to grow his hair out floor length,but it's so much darn work,so I might opt for a puppy cut,haha!

:( It's to much work for me, but it's beautiful and I give alot of credit to people who take such nice care of it:hearter:

[Morkie4]

Dolce's the exact same way! His head,tail and beard are super silk and then his body seems to be a mixture of both,but straight. I was trying to grow his hair out floor length,but it's so much darn work,so I might opt for a puppy cut,haha!

I didn't fine it that "hard" per say but it does take time and regular without fail daily brushing. I only cut my lovely Kallie's hair because of the heat, but I loved her in full coat! I am going to grow Brandy's hair full coat at least once. Toby will always be in full coat........he needs it to slow him down.:lol2: :lol2:

[maltesemum]

I personally find the silky coat easier to work with, does'nt matt as much & lies flat against the body!

[I Found Nemo]

I personally find the silky coat easier to work with, does'nt matt as much & lies flat against the body!

I would think that aslo:D

[jazzysmom]

I use the same shampoo on mine but Macy has that cottony-silk coat and Jazzy has the silky not sure what Sprout is going to have. I use a leave in conditioner on Macy which softens her coat up I like the way it works on Macy I don't use it on the boys b/c it makes their coat to limp

[Love my Leo]

I don't know about the grooming aspect of it, but Nemo is silky on his tail and head and beard his body is like a mixture of cottony and silky, but I keep him in a puppy cut. Great post I wonder to if grooming is different.
ANDREA 6829

:( It's to much work for me, but it's beautiful and I give alot of credit to people who take such nice care of it:hearter:

Leo is about the same as Nemo in the hair department and I had his hair fairly long before cutting it for the summer and he just seemed so much happier with it short that I will keep it this way for now (plus, he's cute as a button with short hair).

My hats off to those that keep them in a full coat but i'm with Andrea on the grooming thing. Just too much for me but maybe I'll give it a go someday after all the kids are gone.

Cathy:D

[Love my Leo]

I use the same shampoo on mine but Macy has that cottony-silk coat and Jazzy has the silky not sure what Sprout is going to have. I use a leave in conditioner on Macy which softens her coat up I like the way it works on Macy I don't use it on the boys b/c it makes their coat to limp

Belinda, what do you use for the leave in conditioner? I've been using frizz ease for humans which appears to work great so far.

Cathy:D

[Grandma J]

Can you tell when there puppys if they have a silky or cottony coat? Can someone post pics of what the difference in the two coats looks like?:confused:

[I Found Nemo]

Can you tell when there puppys if they have a silky or cottony coat? Can someone post pics of what the difference in the two coats looks like?:confused:

Nemo is silky on the tail head and beard, his coat is a mixture of cottony and silky. Some Maltese are differnt, but Nemo is from a petstore also.Usually when you buy from a reputable breeder USUALLY not all the time the coat will be silky. I love Silky coats they are beautiful:hearter:
I am not able to find pictures right now, only of real dogs who belong to someone which I can't take a picture and post it, ya know those copyright laws:D I will try to find some.
ANDREA

[Love my Leo]

Can you tell when there puppys if they have a silky or cottony coat? Can someone post pics of what the difference in the two coats looks like?:confused:

When Leo was a pup he was cottony. Now that he's 1 yr. you can see how his hair is softer and shinier on his head, legs and tail with his torso being kind of a mixture. All maltese pups that I've seen so far are so fluffy appearing cottony so I think you may have to wait until their adult coat comes in to be sure. Just an observance on my part as I am no expert.:D

Cathy:D

[mia's mom]

Can you tell when there puppys if they have a silky or cottony coat? Can someone post pics of what the difference in the two coats looks like?:confused:

Here is Mia on the left she is still cottony and Cody on the right pure silk:hearter: :hearter: .
68976898

[Grandma J]

Thank you for the pics that really helps. Is the type of coat inherited from the parents or can a litter have both silky and cotton type coats?

[Love my Leo]

Here is Mia on the left she is still cottony and Cody on the right pure silk:hearter: :hearter: .
68976898

Mia's lookin pretty shiny there. Now I'm confused:confused:

Cathy:D

[GrannyKnot]

Can you tell when there puppys if they have a silky or cottony coat? Can someone post pics of what the difference in the two coats looks like?:confused:
This site (http://www.dogworld.co.za/breed_focus/Maltese_breed_focus.htm) describes different coat types quite well and there are pictures. One thing it doesn't mention is that a silky coat is cool to the touch. A puppy's coat could change as the adult coat comes in anywhere between 8 to about 15 months. You can't always tell how the coat will be at maturity although the coats of their parents, grandparents etc should be a good guide. Having said that most of my Malt's predecessors had heavy/coarse silk coats but he has a wave to his body hair while the rest of him is relatively fine silk that has to be treated gently because brushing the wrong way can cause breakage. His litter sister looks more like a Bichon :(

[bellaratamalt]

Mia's lookin pretty shiny there. Now I'm confused:confused:

Cathy:D

I agree! Mia doesn't really look cottony there, she looks kind of curly/frizzy. Lucy's coat looks like that and I know she is coarse silk (not because I figured it out but because I was told by some top breeders that she was coarse silk) I thought she was cottony because after having a puppycut and growing back out, the coat didn't lay very nice. Her nickname is Puffy because she is ... well... puffy.

7052
Caira has an awesome fine silk coat but it's really durable, thank goodness! She still has her puppy coat but I don't think she will change that much
7053

Two of my puppies have nice silk coats but the third one is puffier, straighter and a bit coarser. I don't THINK it will be cottony but I'll just have to see how it turns out. I dont' know enough to predict how he will turn out!

The cool to touch method is good to see what texture the coat is. What I've been told though is if your malt has a cottony coat, you can't grow out.

If someone has a maltese with a true cotton coat, can you post pics?

[kelkiss5]

I agree! Mia doesn't really look cottony there, she looks kind of curly/frizzy. Lucy's coat looks like that and I know she is coarse silk (not because I figured it out but because I was told by some top breeders that she was coarse silk) I thought she was cottony because after having a puppycut and growing back out, the coat didn't lay very nice. Her nickname is Puffy because she is ... well... puffy.

7052
Caira has an awesome fine silk coat but it's really durable, thank goodness! She still has her puppy coat but I don't think she will change that much
7053

Two of my puppies have nice silk coats but the third one is puffier, straighter and a bit coarser. I don't THINK it will be cottony but I'll just have to see how it turns out. I dont' know enough to predict how he will turn out!

The cool to touch method is good to see what texture the coat is. What I've been told though is if your malt has a cottony coat, you can't grow out.

If someone has a maltese with a true cotton coat, can you post pics?

How is the puppys doing Stacey. Have you any pics of them, id love to see how they have grown.:)

[mia's mom]

So Mia is coarse silky....cool!