toothbrush

Geordie is really fond of Breath Buster biscuits, and when he finished a package all that remained were very fine crumbs. Since he liked the biscuits so well, I figured he would enjoy the crumbs, so I poured them into his bowl and let him help himself.

I didn’t give it another thought until later I saw him sitting up on his haunches, using his paws like a bunny washing her face. What?!? Geordie doesn’t wash his face that way! Upon investigation, I found that the biscuit dust I had given Geordie had turned into a paste and stuck securely to the roof of his mouth. I wanted to use my finger to gently dislodge it for him, but he would not let me put one in his mouth. (The look on his face said that he thought I was going to try to take the food from him.)

Hmm…what can I use? I know, his toothbrush! I grabbed his toothbrush (and promised him that could still eat the food) and carefully pried the paste loose. I thought it was interesting that Geordie would allow a tool in his mouth (but not a hand), and it made me grateful that I had gotten him used to it.

Today’s lesson: if you give your puppy biscuit dust, make sure it is in tiny quantities so it doesn’t stick to his mouth.

In the past week, the subject of brushing your dogs teeth has come up several times among friends. These days, I tell myself that the reason I do it is for my dog’s health. Thinking about it, however, started to bring up long-buried memories of why I really brush Bitey’s teeth…

Prior to Geordie, my family had a dog, and in all his years we never brushed his teeth. We never even thought about brushing a dog’s teeth. When I first heard about the practice, I thought people were going overboard with anthropomorphizing their pets. On the day Geordie showed up on my doorstep, my folks brought along a little puppy starter kit with a leash and bowls and toothbrush/toothpaste. I wasn’t sure how much I would use it, but it was a gift, so I wanted to at least try.

If you’ve ever brushed a puppy’s teeth, you know how awful this process can be. They are bitey creatures by nature, and putting your fingers in their mouths sets you up for a world of hurt. The reason I was so persistent about brushing Geordie’s teeth was that it was a war of wills. He was determined that he was going to be the boss of everything, and I was even more determined to prove him wrong. Wrestling the puppy each day and forcing him to be still while I cleaned his teeth turned out to be a good lesson on which of us was stronger willed.

Eventually, I found a brand of toothpaste that Geordie liked, and that helped the process a lot. Nowadays, he will actually remind me if I forget to brush his teeth. He still doesn’t like the brushing part, and for as long as he can, he stalls and hides his face against my shirt so that I can’t get to him. He thinks he is getting away with something, but to me it is a chance to get some snuggles from my non-snuggly guy.

Go ahead. Hide away, my little boy. I will take all the hugs I can get.

The Adventures of Bitey Dog

Biscuit Dust

The Real Reason I Brush Puppy’s Teeth