Establish a consistent daily routine in a familiar location to make teeth cleaning a normal part of your dog's day, promoting comfort and familiarity.
Use a towel to contain mess and provide reassurance, laying it on your lap or floor to create a comfortable, predictable environment for your dog.
Begin by gently petting around your dog's mouth and lips, gradually introducing mouth handling and rewarding with treats for calm behavior.
Apply dog toothpaste to a chew toy to introduce your dog to the taste and associate tooth cleaning with a positive, enjoyable experience.
Encourage your dog to take the toy bone, using a cue word like "Open," to train them to willingly hold the bone for cleaning.
Steadily support the toy bone to maintain a slight mouth opening, facilitating easy access for brushing without causing discomfort.
Make teeth cleaning fun and rewarding by using the toothpaste-coated toy bone exclusively for this purpose, reinforcing with praise and treats.
Gradually introduce a toothbrush or gauze-wrapped finger with toothpaste, allowing your dog to sniff and become familiar before gentle insertion.