Teeth Brushing: Teaching a Dog to Be Comfortable & Calm, by Dogs Explained (Donna Hill) on YouTube. 6 min 41 s.
- Video length
- 6 min 41 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Sit beside your dog in a quiet spot and let them settle. Keep sessions short and calm, and stop before your dog gets worried.
Teach a chin rest first. Let your dog rest their chin in your hand or on your lap, and reward them for staying there.
Handle the mouth gently. Lift the lip, touch a tooth briefly, then reward and release. Build up slowly.
Work toward the back teeth. Lift the lip on each side so your dog gets used to hands near the molars.
If your dog pulls away, pause and wait. Let them come back to your hand, then reward calm behavior.
Show the brush or finger scrubber and let your dog sniff it. Reward any calm interest before touching the mouth.
Combine the chin rest with the brush. Touch the brush to a tooth for a second, then reward and end.
Add duration to the chin rest. Ask for a few seconds of stillness before rewarding, then build up gradually.
Start brushing gently along the gum line. Use small circular motions on the outer tooth surfaces.
Rinse or wipe the brush between repetitions. Use a three-sided brush for the back teeth if your dog tolerates it.
Tips and common mistakes
Keep movements slow and calm, because fast hands make dogs pull away.
Let your dog set the pace and end each session on a success.
Use a soft finger brush first if a full toothbrush feels like too much.
Ask your vet about dog-safe toothpaste and never use human toothpaste.
Questions
How long does it take before I can brush all the teeth?
It varies by dog. Many dogs need several short sessions over a few weeks to accept full brushing. Go slower if your dog pulls away.
Do I need toothpaste?
You can start with a dry brush or finger scrubber. Dog toothpaste can help acceptance, but never use human toothpaste.
What if my dog hates having their face touched?
Start with brief chin rests and reward calm behavior. Work near the face in tiny steps and use a dog bed or quiet space.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
