Checking Teeth

[JaniceH]

Hi,

When I brought my 13 week old puppy home at nearly 8 weeks, I regularly checked her teeth and gums by gently lifting her lips and saying "teeth". Then lots of praise. This was so that if they ever had to be checked by a vet she would be ok with it.

She was fine at first. Now she really struggles and tries to stop me by nipping my hand. I do not want to make this into a battle, nor do I want to have to reprimand her for trying to bite me, as I think it might make the matter of letting me look at her teeth a really unpleasant issue. She is happy for me to open her mouth if she has an undesirable in it (which is quite often) and take it out of her mouth.

Please can anyone advise me how I should progress with this bit of training.

Thank you.

[LJSmith]

Don't let her win. If she struggles and you stop then she will just continue to struggle to make you go away. It seem like what you were doing before worked, so keep at it. Just take little peeks followed by treats at a time. Build up over time and she will get used to it. You just don't want to inadvertently reinforce her struggling. Same thing applies to clipping nails when you get to it.

[Rott-Wiley]

Yes, I agree with Smith. You also should examine her ears in much the same way. This is the age when you need to be doing these things with her to get her over this idea she's got.

[Storm]

To make it less of a struggle, put a hot dog folded in your hand and let the dog nibble at that, at the same time take the other hand and lift the gums...............putting a word to it i.e. teeeth. This way the dog's attention is diverted, you get the response and the opertunity to create the association between action and command. As you progress the food aspect gets smaller and eventually is delayed slightly, this should all help in going about things calmly while teaching the whole thing.

[damp]

Here is an other suggestion:
Place you pup at you left site. Grip the collar with you little and ring finger under the pup’s chin so the head is lying in your hand. Gently hold the pup’s head against your leg while you lift up the head. Praise and talk calmly to the pup. That way you support the head and in the same time control it… but remember still gentle. Give your command and now with your left hands fingers lift up the upper lip and with the right hands thumb, fore and middle pull down the lower lip. (You have now “examined” the left site of the pups mouth and that will do it in the teaching process) Then of course praise, offer a goodie and play. Make the sessions very short and avoid stress. When the pup makes progress and is totally relaxed you just support it’s head against you leg and increase the “examination” of the mouth....ect.

Also when your pup is dozing in front of your feet while you watch a good movie… touch the pup’s lips, put your fingers in it’s mouth (and all over it’s body)

[Storm]

As Damp mentioned make use of every opertunity to get the dog used to been handled around the mouth area, while informal and relaxed. Also remember that the command to show teeth is just like a command to sit, down, etc. and command action release should all play a role here where once the "exercise" is complete the dog should be released of the "exercise" in conjunction with verbal praise, food or into a toy. Release always means back into you..................what's next and not go sniff the ground or pee, this is for other times.;)

[JaniceH]

Thank you all for your advice.

I have done as you suggested. When she is relaxed sitting on the floor curled up between my legs, I have gently moved my fingers over her mouth and lips, and occasionally lifted each lip, whilst praising her quietly.

I have started to give her the command "teeth" again, but this time with a treat which she can have when she has allowed me to lift her lip, even if for a second or two. Then we play. I have done the similar thing with a long treat whereby she can chew a bit of it whilst I am holding it, and then allow her a little more as I lift her lips. Additionally, when she is chewing her chew stick or little bone I occasionally just lift her lips so she gets used to my hand around her mouth again. She is very comfortable lying on my lap (on the floor not the furniture I must add) chewing these things and is very happy to share them with me ie. let me hold one end if I want. This is such a lovely thing because initially she was possessive about such goodies, but we have worked together on this, so I feel pleased she is more relaxed with me.

Anyway, improvements have begun already, and she is learning to trust me again, even if it is treat orientated at the moment.

As regards claws and ears. Well, I am always looking in her ears and even cleaned them once and she seems fine. I have groomed her every day although she doesn't need it but it gets her used to being groomed and handled. She is happy providing she has something in her mouth, preferably a brush !!!!! whilst I use something else. I twiddle with her toes at the same time and
regularly just clip the very end of a claw. In fact I did this to about 6 claws last night. She is very good but it is probably cheating because she always has something to concentrate more on like a toy or a chew.

Thank you so much again for your help. I know it is like taking a few steps backward, but I have the patience, and now the knowledge thanks to you.