Dog care / First dog & Teeth & Training & play
Getting your dog used to hands in their mouth
Brushing is the easy part. The hard part is getting a dog comfortable with fingers in their mouth. Start slow, keep it fun, and most dogs come around.
Why it matters
Checking teeth, brushing, giving pills, taking away something they shouldn't eat, a vet exam: all of it is easier with a dog who is used to your hands.
Five small steps
Spend a few days on each step, or as long as your dog needs.
- Touch the outside. Rub their muzzle and lips for a few seconds, then treat.
- Lift the lip. Gently lift it, look at a few teeth, praise, let go.
- One finger on the gums. Put a dab of pet toothpaste on your fingertip and rub along the gums. Most dogs like the taste.
- Add the brush. Use the small end of a soft toothbrush on a few front teeth, then work further back over the next sessions.
- Build to a full brush. Small circles over teeth and gums, about 30 seconds to start.
Tips that help
- Keep sessions short, at the same time each day, and stop before your dog gets fussy.
- Start young if you can. Puppies who get this early grow up thinking it's normal.
- Always end on a good note, with a treat or a cuddle.
- Never use human toothpaste. Many contain xylitol or fluoride, and dogs swallow it.
Our dog Pepper now lets us check every single tooth. Mostly she just licks our fingers.
We're dog people, not vets. If something looks serious, call your vet.
