can onyone tell me how old you can tell if your dog is undershot or not?. i have a 10 week old dogue de bordeaux and he doe's not look undershot yet but the breeder told me it will come later.

what is undershot? sorry, i havnt a clue!

When I had one the breeder saw her at about 4 months and said that it would gradually come over the next few months so don't worry I'm sure nature will prevail ! Although some do have more of an undershot jaw than others. (She was checked again at 5 1/2 months and had progressed to the undershot position.)

Sorry, the question is too breed specific and I have no experience of Dogue de Bordeaux. Most breeds lower jaw moves forward as they grow. A Labrador's moves forward a fair amount and a Flatcoated Retriever moves even more.

Regatds, John

Sharon
Undershot jaw is where the bottom jaw protrudes further out(is longer) than the upper jaw.
When it is reversed it is known as an overshot jaw.

Hi Kia Mummy,

Should all dogs be undershot by the time theyve matured then, or does it depend on the breed? I have a 3 month old male bulldog, what should he be?

It depends on the breed. Most breeds are required to have a "scissorbite", where the top front teeth are just outside the bottom teeth (like the blades of a pair of scissors). With some breeds a "level" bite is acceptable too (where the top and bottom teeth meet end on). With the short-faced breeds (pugs, boxers, bulldogs etc) an undershot jaw is (I think) always required.

I can't think of a single breed where an overshot jaw is either required or acceptable. Anyone?
:)

This is not unusual - certainly I wouldn't be surprised if your ten week old puppy doesn't have an undershot yet. You should be able to see it at the six month mark though.

Are both mum and dad to your pup undershot,(correct bite.)
Sometimes it will come and sometimes it does not.
If youve noticed your pup is not undershot yet ,go back to your breeder with the pup let them confirm this to you the pup is not undershot yet and if i was you i would have the breeder sign a declaration to say if the bite is not correct at 6 months they will replace the puppy or if you want to keep puppy give you a good refund back on the price you paid.Did the breeder inform you when you bought the pup that its undershot was not there yet.The Dogue de Bordeaux breed must be undershot as in the standard.

In all fairness the breeder would not be to know. Was the pup sold as guarenteed show quality? If so I agree as if not undershot then a showing fault, otherwise providing there were no problems due to the jaw not being undershot then they still have a much loved pet. Can any breeder guarentee any puppy leaving at 8 weeks old will not have some confirmation fault when older? I know with staffs the correct bite is something that can never be guarenteed. Even the top breeders will run a puppy on to show only for the mouth to go undershot :-( and this can happen even if the pup comes from champion parents.

Yes it all depends on what "guest" purchased the pup for how big a concern it is or become to them.
I ask if mum and dad are undershot bite because it is hereditary factor.

Was your puppy 8 weeks old when you got it, at that age it is impossible to tell if the pup will have the correct bite, as in other breeds the mouth can change when the second teeth come in, with bordeaux as they grow the skull broadens and so the structure of the jaw changes, but there is no way that at such an early age can you tell what your pup will be like at 6 month's, I have a bordeaux that was picked at 8 weeks as a show prospect and I know the breeder was very knowledgable on the breed having exported dogue's that have gone on to be champions on the continent, she would not have sold me a puppy that she thought would not be correct, all breeders can do is put the best bitch to the best dog and the rest is up to nature, there are guarentees.Bordeaux are not noted for having great mouth, this is one of the things that good breeders are trying to improve, but when it comes to it you still love your puppy even though it is not perfect, the perfect dog is yet to be found.

you will find your puppy's mouth will be changing constantly,when our last litter of bordeaux's where eight week's there mouth's where all at different stages,to tell you the honest truth it's a gamble,and you can't really asess any pup's mouth until there at least 6 month's of age,but saying that a dog's mouth is still changing until they have stopped going.you normally find the bottom jaw is the last to stop growing,and with bordeaux's being a head breed it is difficult to tell what they are going to be like when they reach maturity,like i have said it's a gamble,and agree with staffie no breeder can guarantee you that a puppy you buy from them will definetly make it into the showring it's a chance you take,puppy's can only show potential there's no guarantee's. but if mother and father have a good mouth your chance's are you will end up with a pup with a good mouth.
i use'd to be fanatical with mouth's,and worried constantly ,but really what will be will be,as long as your puppy's healthy and happy does it really matter.we have many time's kept a puppy to show and it's mouth has gone(not bordeaux's)and there's nothing more frustrating ,than having a dog with fab construction and a bad mouth,it happen's to us all,and we have to tell our self it's just one of those thing's,and try to get it right the next time.