Have you ever wondered why your puppy has misaligned and expressed lower teeth? Maybe you often relate this misalignment with some sort of abnormality, but that’s not always the case.
Dog breeds with underbites are usually small dogs and medium dogs, and this trait does not represent a serious health issue. Rather, it is a characteristic that dogs live with without any problem.
There are, however, some factors that can impact this condition in a bad way, like the food they are given, or an unadjusted way of life.
Dog Breeds With Underbites
Dogs with an underbite, or, medically known as canine malocclusion, is a condition of misalignment of the lower jaw with the upper jaw. This is a trait of smaller dog breeds, and it sometimes even contributes to their sassiness.
However, malocclusion can be a health problem when the puppy is not able to chew its food or has a painful jaw. This is not a rare condition for flat-faced, brachycephalic breeds, like pekingese and pugs.
Most of the time, you have nothing to worry about since the setup of your dog’s teeth is just natural and cannot be different. All you need to worry about is not giving them food that doesn’t suit your puppy and you will be fine.
In the following part of this article, we will see what breeds have underbite incisors, whether they need orthodontic treatment, and how serious this medical condition is. Stay tuned!
Small-Sized Dog Breeds With Underbites
1. Shih Tzu
This cute, furry canine is one of the oldest dogs in the world, considering its thousand-year-long history. It originates from Tibet, and it was popular in the Ming dynasty.
The Shih Tzu breed is popular for its affectionate and cheerful nature, which makes them excellent family dogs.
This purebred canine has malocclusion as a birth trait, with its lower teeth being emphasized regularly. Over time, once the puppy gets its adult teeth, the underbite can be even more pronounced, but don’t worry.
This phenomenon is common for Shih Tzu puppies, and it does not represent a severe medical condition. It is just part of their muzzle look, which gives them charm in their overall appearance.
Shih Tzu canines are adorable when it comes to behavior, and even though they belong to the small-breed club, their energy levels are high. With their big eyes and long, curly hair, they are true fashionista dogs whose grooming seems joyful.
However, their specific hair length is subject to dirt, so there are special shampoos for Shih Tzu puppies that will help you keep your canine clean at all times.
2. Pomeranian
Purebred Pom puppies have an interesting background, encompassing their sled-dog character and bold appearance. Even though this breed is miniature and toy-like, these cute canines are brave, and they won’t back down from larger breeds.
Pomeranians have a double coat, and considering their beautiful physique, these cute canines are favorable for crossbreeding. There are various pomeranian mixes that you can find all over the U.S.
This AKC-registered puppy requires frequent grooming, and the grooming techniques that owners can use are various. They are often used in dog shows, considering their cuteness and beauty.
However, when it comes to feeding, you should follow a well-organized feeding chart.
These small dog breeds with underbites generally need more attention during feeding because poorly-picked food can cause health problems as well as tartar and bad breath.
3. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
This beautiful English dog is a purebred puppy with a gentle and affectionate character. Cavalier king charles spaniel colors are one of the most recognizable traits of this puppy. They appear in brown, white, tri-color, and many other variants.
This is a true royal dog, perfect for family life. Even though it is a small breed, its energy levels are high, and the dog requires training.
Of course, this is not hard to maintain because frequency should go before intensity when it comes to Cavalier puppies.
Its lower jaw is expressed in a visible manner, and this comes with birth. You should be aware of the food this puppy consumes because bones or other incompatible foods can cause damage to this puppy.
4. Chihuahua
Chihuahua puppies are one of the smallest breeds in the world. Their baby teeth are, to some extent, subjected to this dog’s underbite, but it is not always as visible as it is with other breeds.
With the mouth closed, this phenomenon is almost impossible to detect.
Chihuahuas, as dog breeds with an underbite, are very sensitive dogs, especially when it comes to feeding. Their activity level is not that high, so their feeding chart must be perfected and adapted one-hundred percent. They are lap dogs and indoor dogs.
Even though they are not as energetic as larger breeds, their presence is still charming and entertaining. They come in various shapes and colors. Apple-head and deer-head chihuahuas are the most famous ones.
There are many chihuahua kennels in the U.S., but you should always seek the most reputable and best chihuahua breeders.
5. Pekingese
Alongside Shih Tzus and pugs, the Pekingese is another chinese dog breed. What is common with all three is the underbite issue that happens from birth.
Pekingese are also categorized as royal dogs. These canines are usually not capable of outdoor life, so family life indoors is the perfect choice. They always seek a careful and safe environment due to their miniature size.
Pekingese are affectionate, and are easily attached to humans. Their lower jaw, aside from their long hair, is usually the first thing you notice, even when their mouth is closed.
Pekingese can suffer from severe jaw pain considering the canine malocclusion they face, especially if during playtime, they use their jaw more than recommended.
Vet checkups in these situations are of utmost importance.
6. Lhasa Apso
The Lhasa Apso has one of the most unique and unusual names among dog breeds. This puppy is over a thousand years old, and it comes from the Himalayas. Its long, silky coat is the breed’s most recognizable trait.
These dogs are one-hundred percent watchdogs, even though their size is miniature.
They usually don’t have to be stimulated for training or any sort of physical activity because they are self-trained dogs that do not enjoy lying on the couch all the time.
However, their playfulness and cheerful spirit makes them perfect for companionship. The adaptability level of these puppies is extremely high despite the fact that the breed was growing in the mountains under severe, cold conditions.
These puppies are quite popular, and the list of Lhasa Apso breeders in the U.S. in 2022 is not that long.
The underbite phenomenon sometimes cannot be visible at first sight, considering their long hair that even covers their whole muzzle.
7. Maltese
Just like the Lhasa Apso, Maltese puppies have long and silky hair that covers over 95 percent of their body. However their coat is sensitive, and it requires only the safest dog shampoos for grooming.
This is a puppy that takes a big part in dog shows, and grooming is required on a daily basis. Maltese are affectionate, cute little canines that can only survive indoors. These are not dogs for outdoor life since the breed itself is toy-like.
These puppies are recommended for owners who love lap dogs. They fit into homes with children, too!
Medium-Sized Dog Breeds With Underbites
8. Pug
Here, we have another fellow puppy coming from China. These adorable canines with short hair and a curly tail have a short muzzle, which makes their underbite even more obvious.
However, this does not represent a serious issue, and it is more or less just their physical trait.
These puppies are quite lazy by nature, and they will perfectly fit into your home. They tend to sleep for more than 13 hours a day, so you might consider either purchasing or making the best dog bed for your pug.
Their laziness comes along with their big love for food, and they really have a funny way of expressing it. They can spend hours craving for food, and you will detect this through their puppy yelling since pugs make high-pitched barking noises.
This is just a buildup towards the overall show they make for their owner, which puts them on top of the list of the funniest dog breeds in the world.
9. Bulldog
The bulldog puppy is one of the most represented breeds with malocclusion. Their short and thick muzzle emphasizes this trait, and it gives them a funny look, considering their muscular physique.
Their strong little body crossed with their underbite makes a real paradox in their appearance, especially because they tend to seem scary, but once you look at their muzzle, all the scare goes away.
The Bulldog breed is a true companion of humans, and their maintenance is low. They have short hair, which makes them one of the least-shedding dogs.
They are, by nature, watchdogs, and they act protective towards their owner, but their aggressiveness level is low.
There are a few types of bulldogs, among which the two most popular are French Bulldogs and English Bulldogs.
10. French Bulldog
French Bulldogs are a smaller version of the Bulldog, and that fact makes them cute. In overall appearance, they do not differ from the standard Bulldog, except for their ears. They have long ears that resemble a bat.
These cute little canines are a medium-sized to small breed, and they also have a lighter type of malocclusion. They tend to get fat easily, so you need to pay attention to your French Bulldog feeding chart.
These canines are also companion dogs, and they are a little bit less protective than a Bulldog, but some have still kept their watchdog trait. They love families, and they won’t have any problem living indoors.
11. English Bulldog
This is one of the rare Bulldog breed standards that is not registered in the American Kennel Club registry. Still, this cute puppy is favorable among breeders and families, too. It is a lap dog that loves human company.
It has a wide chest and a strong look, even though it is a mini version of a Bulldog.
All you need to know about the English Bulldog is that they are low maintenance when it comes to grooming, and their behavior resembles the behavior of a child.
These small to medium-sized puppies have a thick muzzle, and they are categorized among brachycephalic breeds. This means that its muzzle is shorter than that of a regular dog, and sometimes they can face breathing issues.
When it comes to its teeth, its lower incisors are usually up front, and the upper teeth are indrawn. This type of malocclusion, also known as class 3 malocclusion, is easily visible in English Bulldogs, even with their mouth closed.
12. Boston Terrier
The Boston Terrier dog breed is quite popular in the U.S. It is categorized both as a medium and a small-sized dog.
Dog owners simply adore having this miniature doggie in the house, especially because it is not that hard to maintain, and its short hair makes life even easier.
These are extremely strong dogs, with gentlemen looks and a good posture. That makes them healthy, and their overall well-being is perfect. Boston Terrier colors are one of the most exquisite traits of this companion dog.
They can be found in a white coat, a black coat, a tuxedo coat, and so on.
Originally coming from the United States, this breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club by the end of the 19th century.
These dog breeds with underbites are like that from birth, and this does not represent a severe issue.
However, in order to keep it that way, you have to be careful when choosing the proper feeding chart for your Boston Terrier puppy.
13. Boxer
The Boxer breed belongs to medium-sized dogs, but some breeders also categorize this canine as a large dog. Even though large breeds have an overbite (or a scissor-bite character), that is usually not the case with the Boxer.
The question sometimes is how big do boxers grow, but their standard size varies between 20 and 24 inches.
14. Puggle
This cute Pug and Beagle successor is a designer dog with an underbite. It belongs to lesser known mix dog breeds since the crossbreed between a Pug and a Beagle is pretty rare.
Even though it is categorized as a medium-sized dog, this breed is pretty small, and it doesn’t grow beyond 15 inches in height.
Puggles are excessively smart dogs, which is mostly a trait of the Pug, but sometimes they can be stubborn. However, the breed is extremely playful and fun, so families won’t regret having one of these inside their home.
The underbite issue has been inherited by its aforementioned parent – the Pug.
Skeletal Malocclusion VS. Dental Malocclusion
When we talk about malocclusion, there are several things to know. First, occlusion is an act, or the way teeth from the upper jaw and the lower jaw come together.
Malocclusion is also known as a bad bite, and it can go two ways. The first is overbite, which refers to the upper jaw teeth coming over the lower teeth in a bite.
Underbite is the reverse situation, and it is found mostly among smaller and medium-sized dog breeds.
Malocclusion in dogs can be both skeletal and dental.
The first one refers to bone malocclusion – this is when one jaw is longer than the other and the bite is uneven. On the other hand, the latter represents the teeth being uneven, especially the incisors, even though the jaws are not misaligned.
FAQs
Is An Underbite Bad For A Dog?
Not necessarily. Most of the dogs that have this phenomenon are born this way. Underbite in dogs comes naturally, and the dog breed is adapted to this jaw setup.
All you need to do is take care of your canine’s feeding habits, and choose proper food that won’t harm its jaw.
Some dogs, due to their playfulness and high energy levels, simply don’t follow their genetic predispositions and, if not supervised, eat food that does not fit their proportions.
This usually refers to small breeds, like Pekingese, Maltese, and Pugs. Some breeds, like the Chihuahua, need special attention in this regard by choosing only the healthiest food for Chihuahua puppies.
In case you notice any irregularities in this regard, or your dog is revealing a painful face, immediately see the vet.
Which Breed Of Dog Has An Underbite?
There’s no specific dog breed with an underbite. However, there are some breeds categorized by size that tend to have malocclusion that is more with respect to other breeds. Those are small-sized and medium-sized dog breeds.
Most of the dogs with an underbite happen to have this phenomenon as a birth trait, and it is a completely natural setup of the jaw.
Pomeranians, Pekingese, Shih-Tzus, and Pugs are almost impossible to find without having an underbite. If you own one of these puppies, all you need to know is how to treat the underbite.
Conclusion
Dog breeds with underbites are mostly small and medium-sized dogs. Pooches with Chinese origin dominate in this regard if we take into consideration that Pekingese, Pugs, and Shih-Tzus all deal with an underbite.
This is not a severe issue, and it should be considered that way. Most puppies are born with it, and they do not have a hard time living with it.
Still, they need care and attention, especially during feeding time.
If, by any chance, you notice irregularities with this phenomenon, or your puppy develops an underbite over time, you should consult your vet about treatment.
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