Puppy teeth begin to shed and be replaced by permanent adult teeth at about four months of age. Although there is some variation in breeds, most adult dogs have 42 teeth, with the molars coming last, at about six or seven months. Teething can be accompanied by drooling, irritability, and fluctuations in appetite. Boomer has six incisors on the upper jaw and six on the lower. He uses the incisors to nibble shreds of meat from bones and to groom himself and other dogs.
Mutual grooming is a greeting and bonding behavior in dogs that maintains pack order.
Dominant and submissive dogs both groom each other, but the solicitation and order of grooming is quite specific. Owners of two or more dogs can learn a lot about their pets by watching mutual grooming sessions. Canine teeth are the scary ones. Four premolars line each side of the upper and lower jaws in back of the canines. These are the shearing teeth, used to rip great hunks of flesh from prey animals.