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You can teach your dog to endure just about anything if you slowly work up to it, desensitizing him to it with very short sessions that gradually increase in length and intensity of brushing. Slowly work up to it by putting him on his back in your lap and opening his mouth, touching the empty, toothpasteless toothbrush to his teeth for an instant and then let him up, give him a treat, praise and play with him a little. An hour later, repeat. An hour later, repeat. An hour later, repeat. After 2 days of doing this hourly all day long for just that brief touching over the weekend, he'll be quite used to your just opening his mouth and putting the toothbrush on his teeth. On Monday, brush the toothbrush along one tooth and that's it. Let him up and treat him. An hour later, repeat. And so on. Do this for a day. Don't rush this at first - later you will make up much more time.

Day 4, brush two teeth for about 30 seconds and let him up, treat. Add a drop or two of water if his mouth seems dry to help smooth the brushing. Repeat in an hour and so on every hour. If you skip one hour, okay at this point but please, keep on schedule. During any of the episodes before you use toothpaste, add a drop or two of water if the dog's mouth seems dry to you. Usually they salivate quite a lot during this time but add moisture if he doesn't.

By Day 5, your dog should let you very gently run the toothbrush along his upper teeth in a brushing motion with some resistance but just ignore it. Don't take longer that 30 - 45 seconds to do it and let him up, treat. Here is where you need to repeat this every hour strictly. If he struggles, just keep going and don't feel sorry for him - you have got to do it and he's used to it by now.

Day 6, do the above on the lower teeth.

Day 7, you should be able to briefly and gently brush the empty brush along the top and bottom teeth without freaking your dog out. Keep doing this for a couple days or so.

Day 9 or 10 - add a small bit of toothpaste and do a short session and repeat 3 or 4 more times that day.

Keep slowly working up until you brush for about 2 minutes with the recommended amount of toothpaste and always, always, always treat your dog and praise and play with him afterward. Remember, your dogs gums are quite sensitive so the slow beginning of brushing without toothpaste and just his saliva as you help toughen the gums is important. Always brush softer and less vigorously than you do your own teeth. Most people brush their dogs teeth as they brush their own - hard. It hurts their gums, especially at first but if you will gradually toughen the gums and get him used to the sensation and overpowering nature of this activity, he won't be as scared or fight at hard. In time, he will just endure it as we do a dental cleaning or other necessaries we dislike doing.

Some dogs do very well if you wrap them in a heavy towel and securely snug it around them and others do not like that. If it helps settle your dog for brushing, by all means do it.