An underbite is when the lower jaw juts out from underneath the upper jaw. In some dog breeds, this is fairly common and is often an identifying trait of a breed. However, it can create some problems for the dog over time. Here’s a list of dogs that are frequently born with an underbite, as well as some ideas about whether or not you should correct this.
- Bulldogs
- Pekingese
- Shih Tzu
- Pug
All Bulldogs
Bulldogs are famous for underbites, and it comes with the territory of the breed. It doesn’t matter if it’s an English bulldog, a French bulldog, or an American bulldog. They all have an underbite as a characteristic of their head and jaw structure. Their recessed nasal passages often push the upper jaw back, causing the lower jaw to jut forward a bit. As long as it doesn’t cause major chewing problems or create major dental issues in your bulldog, you don’t really have to correct it.
Pekingese
Many of the small Asian lap dogs suffer from an underbite, and the Pekingese is no exception. The narrow, upturned nose of the Pekingese shares a trait with the bulldog family in that the upper jaws follow the flattened noses. The Pekingese has a v-shaped lower jaw that doesn’t always meet the unusual shape of the upper jaw and nose area. Subsequently, you will see these little dogs with one or more teeth sticking out of the bottom.
Shih Tzu
Here is another little Asian lap dog that frequently has an underbite. However, the Shih Tzu should have the underbite corrected if possible. It interferes quite a bit with the little dog’s ability to bite and chew. Their little razor-like teeth can cause dental and oral problems too. The only upshot is that it is easier to brush the Shih Tzu’s exposed lower teeth and prevent tooth decay.
Pug
Pugs are often seen with an underbite too. For them, it’s a cute breed trait that doesn’t typically cause them much harm. They have more trouble breathing than they do biting and chewing. Most dogs that have these flattened facial features and smushed-in noses are the ones with an underbite. Pugs are bred to have these facial features, and thus they have underbites.