Many dogs suffer from plaque and tartar. Just like us humans, it is ideal to brush your dog's teeth every day. Lack of dental care can result in loose teeth and gum problems, among other things. This can result in expensive trips to the vet, which many of us would rather avoid.
It is clearly easiest to teach puppies and young dogs to have their teeth brushed, but adult dogs can also easily learn it - although the training process may take longer. When introducing your dog to the toothbrush, it is important to associate it with good experiences! That is why we recommend focusing on voluntary handling.
It is important not to go too fast when teaching your dog to have their teeth brushed. It may be a good idea to practice for a few minutes each day by allowing them to look at their teeth and gently pick at their mouth before beginning toothbrush training. It is also important to get a toothpaste designed for dogs and a toothbrush - either one specifically for dogs or a soft one for children.
Here are 5 steps on how to teach your dog to have their teeth brushed :
1. Start by putting dog toothpaste on your finger and letting your dog lick it off. Praise your dog when he licks it off and introduce something you can say to your dog every time he needs to brush his teeth before you let him lick your finger.
2. Once you have been successful with step 1 over several rounds, or if the training went really well the first time, you can start touching the teeth while you have the toothpaste on your finger, so that the dog gets used to the movement and touch in the mouth.
3. After success with step 2, you can now introduce the toothbrush. Start again by just putting toothpaste on the brush and letting the dog lick it, while you praise. Feel free to use the word or phrase you have chosen to introduce to the dog before it has to brush its teeth.
4. Once your dog feels comfortable, you can start brushing the canine teeth a little. Start small, brushing only briefly, then remove the toothbrush and let your dog lick it again.
5. You can now increase the time the toothbrush is in your mouth and try to brush further inside your mouth.
After a few weeks of training, you should have a dog that appreciates having its teeth brushed more. And REMEMBER to praise the dog during the training process.
Really enjoy brushing your teeth
Should you brush your dog's teeth?
Many dogs suffer from plaque and tartar. Just like us humans, it is ideal to brush your dog's teeth every day. Lack of dental care can result in loose teeth and gum problems, among other things. This can result in expensive trips to the vet, which many of us would rather avoid.
It is clearly easiest to teach puppies and young dogs to have their teeth brushed, but adult dogs can also easily learn it - although the training process may take longer. When introducing your dog to the toothbrush, it is important to associate it with good experiences! That is why we recommend focusing on voluntary handling.
It is important not to go too fast when teaching your dog to have their teeth brushed. It may be a good idea to practice for a few minutes each day by allowing them to look at their teeth and gently pick at their mouth before beginning toothbrush training. It is also important to get a toothpaste designed for dogs and a toothbrush - either one specifically for dogs or a soft one for children.
Here are 5 steps on how to teach your dog to have their teeth brushed :
1. Start by putting dog toothpaste on your finger and letting your dog lick it off. Praise your dog when he licks it off and introduce something you can say to your dog every time he needs to brush his teeth before you let him lick your finger.
2. Once you have been successful with step 1 over several rounds, or if the training went really well the first time, you can start touching the teeth while you have the toothpaste on your finger, so that the dog gets used to the movement and touch in the mouth.
3. After success with step 2, you can now introduce the toothbrush. Start again by just putting toothpaste on the brush and letting the dog lick it, while you praise. Feel free to use the word or phrase you have chosen to introduce to the dog before it has to brush its teeth.
4. Once your dog feels comfortable, you can start brushing the canine teeth a little. Start small, brushing only briefly, then remove the toothbrush and let your dog lick it again.
5. You can now increase the time the toothbrush is in your mouth and try to brush further inside your mouth.
After a few weeks of training, you should have a dog that appreciates having its teeth brushed more. And REMEMBER to praise the dog during the training process.
Really enjoy brushing your teeth