Exercise 4-6: Brush or Wipe Teeth
Handler lifts the dog’s lips gently and brushes or wipes the outside of the top teeth, on both the side and the front. The handler may use a toothbrush and toothpaste/gel or a dental wipe.
Purpose
Maintaining a regular brushing schedule will help keep the dog’s teeth healthy and also allows the handler to examine the dog’s mouth on a regular basis.
Equipment
Treats, a toothbrush and toothpaste (toothpaste is optional), or a dental wipe.
Exercise set up
The dog can be in any position and any orientation to the handler. Make sure you are close enough to comfortably handle your dog’s mouth. Gently lift the dog’s lips and with the toothbrush and toothpaste, or dental wipe, gently brush the top teeth in the front of the mouth as well as on the sides. You may use a chin rest to your hand or an object to steady the dog’s head.
Scoring
In order to pass this exercise, the dog must be comfortable with the handler handling their mouth as well as having their teeth brushed or wiped.
Non-qualifiers
The dog repeatedly tries to move his head away. The handler uses restraint (beyond a chin rest) to complete the exercise. The handler does not clearly brush or wipe the dog’s teeth on both the front and sides.
Tips
Building a strong foundation of mouth handling will be very helpful with this exercise before trying to bring the toothbrush or wipes into the picture.
Video example:
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