It’s time to clip your Maltese’s nails whenever you can hear them clicking on the floor. In fact, the nails should be even with the paw pad; anything hanging over should be clipped. Distasteful as it may be for your dog, it’s important for his health that his nails are kept at a reasonable length. Untrimmed nails can cause the toe pads to splay and make it difficult for your dog to move properly.