The words Dog Breed Info with the letter D inside of a black paw print

Showing, Genetics and Breeding: Teeth - The Bite

A Show Dog's Life

Top Photo - Close up - The teeth of a dog with its tongue coming out. Bottom Photo - Close up front view - The teeth of a dog. In both pictures the dog's top teeth meet evenly with the bottom teeth.

This is a good example of a scissors bite in a dog (above). Notice how the teeth line up nicely. This page gives an example of different types of bites in dogs.

The "bite" refers to the way the top teeth line up with the bottom teeth. Dogs with a poor bite may have a hard time chewing their food when eating. Some breeds do allow for an underbite, however the pictures shown are of a dog whose breed should have a scissors bite.

Below are pictures of a very poor bite for a breed that should have a scissors bite. This dog has what is called a "crooked wry" bite, which means it is abnormally twisted or bent to one side, in addition to an underbite. Dogs with poor bites may have a hard time eating and should not be bred.

Close up - A person is exposing the teeth of a dog. It has a big underbite Close up - A person is exposing the severe underbite of a dogs teeth. Close up - A person is exposing the teeth of a dog showing how its bottom teeth stick out further than its top teeth. Close up - A person is showing the teeth of a dog. It has crooked teeth and its bottom row stick out further than its top. Close up - A person has their hand near the mouth of a fluffy grey with white dog. The dogs bottom K9 tooth is sticking out. Close up - The underbite of a grey with white dog. Close up - The left side of a grey with white dog's mouth. A person is exposing its teeth. Close up - The right side of a grey with white dog's mouth. A person is exposing its underbite where the bottom row stick out further than the top. Close up - A person is exposing the underbite of a grey with white dog.
Dog Breed Info Center(R) DBIC