When my previous dog, Thor developed a tooth infection after an extraction, I discovered he hated when I tried to look in his mouth. Instead, I taught him to hold a wooden dowel so I could get a better look (he was 10 at the time, old dogs can learn new tricks!). With my current dog, Badger, I chose to teach this skill before I needed it. While practicing with a wooden dowel, I realized a different shape would allow for a much clearer view of the inside his mouth. That’s when I began designing and testing alternatives.
The result is the bite block—a tool that helps you train your dog to open their mouth on cue, making it easier to inspect teeth, tongue, palate, and lips in a low-stress, cooperative way.
Measuring your dog
To measure your dog, use a ruler, calipers, or a measuring tape to find the width of their jaw behind their canines. Only include their jaw and teeth, do not include lips/jowls. Try to measure to the closest half centimeter and if your dog is between sizes, select the larger size.
How to Use Your Bite Block
Training
Using a bite block requires some foundation training. Your dog should first learn a reliable “hold” behavior before you ask them to hold the bite block. The bite block is more challenging than other objects because it requires a wider mouth opening and is made of a solid material that’s less naturally appealing to hold. Don’t rush the process—once your dog understands “hold” across a variety of objects, they’ll be able to generalize the skill to the bite block more easily.
Start simple:
- Begin with an intuitive object like a toy
- Progress to a wooden or PVC dowel
- Then introduce the bite block
Below is a good video on teaching this skills. There are a LOT of great tutorials on Youtube about teaching a hold, but you’ll want to avoid tutorials that mention “Force fetch.”
Here is a great video on teaching this skill. There are many helpful videos on Youtube about teaching a “hold” but avoid videos that mention “Force Fetch.”
Safety
- This is not a chew toy—do not leave your dog unattended with it
- Do not allow your dog to chew or break pieces off
- Never force your dog’s mouth open
- If your dog spits it out, allow them to
- The dog should voluntarily hold the bite block, they should not have to strain their jaw or have their mouth forced open to use it. This is a cooperative care tool.
Material
The bite block is made from PETG plastic, which is generally considered chemically food-safe, non-toxic, and BPA-free. However, 3d printed items are not typically classified as food safe because the printing process creates tiny gaps in between the layers that can be difficult to completely sanitize.
To prevent the spread of disease and bacteria between dogs, I recommend using a different bite block for each dog.