| Re: showing teeth
Then the one that too many turn into a fight.
To begin, let him sit. Have his favorite treat ready to hand.
Maintain control of his head with your right hand positioned as described. I tell my dogs "Open". Use your thumb and little finger to gently apply a little pressure - isn't even really a push, per se - to the area behind his lower canines without covering the teeth that are there. Use your left hand - I use thumb and ring finger - behind the upper canines to gently guide open.
It is vitally important that when you start this one that you keep the open short! You want to release long before he tries to close or resist.
If you are really dextrous, you can put the treat on his tongue when his mouth is open but that takes some skill! Just be sure that he knows you are really, really pleased with him even for trying! The attempts will get better.
I strongly recommend that you ignore any attempts that do not go well and just keep trying. If you correct him or show displeasure it will become a really unpleasant exercise for him - more than it is already! - and it will always be a struggle.
If you just keep working on it - starting with short, quick attempts and lengthening them as he has success - it will become very easy and matter of fact.  |