When I first got Winston the corgi, my vet encouraged me to brush his teeth regularly.
Now, a few years later, I want to show you how I’ve managed to do this.
Brushing a corgi’s teeth requires patience and daily practice. First, you want to get them used to having your finger in their mouth. Then gradually introduce your finger with dog toothpaste. Finally, introduce a toothbrush with toothpaste.
It can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months for your corgi to get used to having his teeth brushed.
But I promise that it will happen!
Let’s take a closer look at how I managed to get into a good teeth-brushing routine with Winston.
The best toothpaste and toothbrush for a corgi
The two products I use are:
Winston is now very used to having these two items in his mouth on a (almost) daily basis.
However it took a lot of practice and patience to get there. Here’s the step-by-step process we followed.
Step 1: Rub your fingers over their muzzle and teeth
Get your corgi used to having your fingers over their muzzle and teeth from an early age. Ideally, a few days or weeks after you bring them home as a puppy.
Start by running your index finger over their top teeth and gums. Remove your finger and reward them with verbal praise and a treat.
Then repeat this process across their bottom teeth and gums.
Continue this process, increasing the length of time you rub their teeth and gums over several weeks.
Be patient with your corgi. It may take time for them to get comfortable having your finger in their mouth so take it slowly, and build up their confidence over multiple short sessions.
Even if you’ve rehomed an older corgi (as I did), it’s never too late to start brushing their teeth. It may just take a little longer to get them used to the process.
Step 2: Get them used to the toothpaste
Once your corgi is used to having their teeth and gums massaged, it’s time to introduce the toothpaste.
There are lots of flavored toothpastes available from beef to banana to grape and you may find that your corgi prefers one flavor more than another.
Similarly to step 1, simply add some toothpaste to your finger and rub it across their teeth and gums over a series of short sessions.
Step 3: Introduce the toothbrush
Now it’s time to introduce the toothbrush. This step may take a little longer than the others for your corgi to crack, but that’s ok! Practice makes perfect.
Begin by rubbing the toothbrush in gentle circular motions across your corgi’s front top and bottom teeth. Do this every day for at least a week (if not more) and keep the session short.
As your corgi gets comfortable with the toothbrush and is no longer nibbling on the bristles or pulling his head away, you can progress to brushing the back top and bottom teeth.
We’ve found that it’s important to hold your corgi firmly (but gently) while brushing his teeth.
Step 4: Now try the toothbrush and the toothpaste
Now that your corgi is used to the toothbrush (great job, this is the hard part over!), you can progress to using both toothbrush and toothpaste.
As with every stage in the tooth-brushing process, approaching it gradually and see how your corgi responds. If they’re comfortable with the toothbrush, continue to brush their teeth for a minute or two.
If they’re a little unsure, start with short sessions and build it up from there.
Top tips for brushing your corgi’s teeth
Want some tips on how to brush your corgi’s teeth from somehow who’s actually done it?
Here’s my advice:
1. Be patient
Brushing a dog’s teeth takes time, consistency and patience.
YouTube videos make it look much easier than it is, so if it feels like you’re doing something wrong – you’re not!
The key is to practice the process little and often, and don’t get frustrated with your corgi.
They will get it eventually.
2. Practice daily (or as often as you can)
Your vet will tell you to brush your corgi’s teeth every single day. But let’s face it, that’s not realistic for most of us.
I aim to brush Winston’s teeth at least 3-4x per week.
As far as I’m concerned, as long as I’m doing it a few times a week, every week, that’s good enough.
3. Talk to your vet
If you’ve tried brushing your corgi’s teeth for months and you’re still struggling, speak to your vet.
They may be able to suggest techniques to make the process easier or alternative brushes/toothpaste your corgi might prefer.
How often should I brush my corgi’s teeth?
I recommend you brush your corgi’s teeth at least 3 times a week to maintain dental hygiene and reduce the risk of needing expensive surgery.
