Puppy Teething Survival Guide: How to Get Through the Land Shark Months
Puppy Teething Survival Guide: How to Get Through the Land Shark Months
Your adorable new puppy has a secret identity: a tiny, furry piranha. Fingers, shoelaces, table legs, the TV remote, your favorite slippers and the corner of the couch have all been sampled. You find little drops of blood on chew toys and the occasional tiny tooth on the carpet. Welcome to teething, one of the most exhausting and temporary stages of puppyhood.
This puppy teething survival guide covers the teething timeline, signs your puppy is teething, the best and safest teething toys, frozen teething treats, how to stop biting and chewing on hands and furniture, puppy proofing, when teething needs a vet visit and how to keep your sanity through the bitey months. It is written for new puppy parents, especially those welcoming a spring puppy.
Spring is one of the most popular times to bring home a puppy, which means a lot of households are about to enter teething season. Take a deep breath. It does end, usually by about six to seven months, and there is a lot you can do to make it easier.
When do puppies start and stop teething?
Baby teeth arrive early. Puppies are born without teeth. Their sharp baby teeth, also called deciduous or milk teeth, start coming in at around three to four weeks of age. By about eight weeks, most puppies have all 28 baby teeth. These tiny teeth are needle sharp, which is why puppy nips can hurt so much.
Adult teeth come in from about three to four months. Around 12 to 16 weeks, baby teeth start falling out as adult teeth push through. This is when teething really ramps up. Puppies often chew more, drool more and may seem a little cranky or sore.
Most adult teeth are in by six to seven months. Adult dogs have 42 teeth. By about six to seven months, most puppies have their full set, and teething chewing starts to settle. Some puppies keep chewing a lot into adolescence, but the sore gum stage is over.
Every puppy is different. Large breeds may teethe a little differently from small breeds, and some puppies are simply chewier than others.
What are signs my puppy is teething?
Chewing everything. Teething puppies chew more and may target hard or cold objects.
Drooling and red gums. You may see red, swollen gums and extra drool.
Small spots of blood. Tiny spots of blood on toys are normal as baby teeth fall out.
Finding teeth. You may find tiny teeth on the floor, but most puppies swallow them, which is harmless.
What are the best teething toys for puppies?
Soft rubber toys. Puppy specific rubber toys are firm but flexible, perfect for sore gums.
Rope toys. Rope toys can be soothing, but supervise to prevent swallowing strings.
Textured toys. Toys with nubs and ridges massage gums.
Avoid hard items. Avoid antlers, hooves, hard bones and hard nylon toys, which can break teeth. A good rule: if you cannot dent it with your thumbnail, it is too hard for a puppy.
What frozen treats help teething puppies?
Frozen washcloth. Soak a washcloth in water, twist it into a rope and freeze it. Supervise to prevent chewing pieces off.
Frozen carrots. Large frozen carrot sticks can soothe gums. Supervise and choose sizes your puppy cannot swallow whole.
Frozen food toys. Fill a puppy rubber toy with soaked kibble and freeze it. Our guide on frozen dog treats for summer has more ideas.
Ice cubes. Small ice cubes can help some puppies. Watch for gulping.
How do I stop my puppy biting my hands?
Redirect to a toy. When your puppy bites hands, offer a toy instead and praise them for chewing it.
Pause play. If biting continues, calmly stop play and step away for a few seconds. Puppies learn that biting ends the fun.
Avoid rough play. Wrestling and hand games can encourage biting.
Never punish. Yelling or hitting can cause fear and make biting worse.
How do I stop my puppy chewing furniture?
Puppy proof. Remove tempting items and block access to furniture legs and cords. Our guide on dog proofing your home has a checklist.
Offer lots of toys. Keep chew toys in every room.
Use bitter sprays. Pet safe bitter sprays can discourage chewing on furniture.
Supervise. Use a crate, playpen or baby gates when you cannot watch your puppy. Our guide on crate training a new puppy explains how.
Why should I rotate toys?
New feels exciting. Swapping toys every few days keeps them interesting.
Variety helps. Offer different textures, like rubber, rope and soft toys.
Check for damage. Replace broken toys to prevent choking.
Keep favorites handy. Keep a favorite teething toy in your pocket for emergencies.
Does exercise help with teething?
Yes. Tired puppies chew less. Short play sessions and walks help burn energy.
Avoid overdoing it. Puppies need lots of naps. Overtired puppies often bite more.
Mental games. Training and puzzle toys tire the brain. Our guide on brain games for dogs has ideas.
Naps matter. Puppies need about 18 to 20 hours of sleep a day.
How do I protect kids from puppy teeth?
Teach kids to stand still. Running and squealing can make puppies chase and bite.
Give kids toys to offer. Kids can hand the puppy a toy instead of their hands.
Supervise always. Never leave puppies and young kids alone together.
Teach gentle play. Our guide on sharing dog care as a family has tips.
When should I start brushing my puppy's teeth?
Start early. Begin gently touching your puppy's mouth and teeth during teething.
Use puppy toothpaste. Never use human toothpaste.
Be gentle. Sore gums may be sensitive.
Build a habit. Our guide on dog dental care at home explains how.
When should I call the vet about teething?
Retained baby teeth. If a baby tooth is still there when the adult tooth comes in, your vet may need to remove it.
Broken teeth. Broken teeth can be painful and lead to infection.
Bad breath, swelling or not eating. These may signal infection.
Misaligned bite. Your vet can check that teeth are coming in properly.
How do I survive teething without losing my mind?
Remember it is temporary. Most teething ends by six to seven months.
Plan breaks. Use crate naps or puppy pens to give yourself breaks.
Ask for help. Share puppy duties with family members.
Laugh. Take photos of the chaos. One day you will miss those tiny teeth.
What is bite inhibition and why does it matter?
Learning a soft mouth. Bite inhibition is a dog's ability to control the force of their bite. Puppies learn it naturally from their mothers and littermates. When a puppy bites too hard during play, the other puppy yelps and stops playing. The biter learns to be gentler if they want the fun to continue. This is one of the most important lessons a puppy can learn, because a dog with good bite inhibition is much less likely to cause serious injury if they ever bite out of fear or pain.
You can continue the lesson at home. When your puppy mouths you gently, you can let play continue. When teeth press too hard, say a calm ouch and pause play for a few seconds. Then offer a toy and start again. Over time, your puppy learns that soft mouths keep the game going and hard bites end it.
Gradually ask for even softer mouths. As your puppy improves, you can begin pausing for any tooth contact on skin, so that eventually your dog learns to keep their teeth off people completely.
Puppy classes help. Well run puppy classes with supervised play give puppies a chance to practice bite inhibition with other puppies of a similar age. Ask your vet when your puppy can safely attend.
Why does my puppy go crazy and bite more in the evening?
The puppy witching hour. Many puppy owners notice a burst of wild energy, zoomies and extra biting in the evening. It is so common it has a nickname: the witching hour. It often happens when puppies are overtired, overstimulated or simply have built up energy from the day. Our guide on dog zoomies explains why these wild bursts happen.
Overtired puppies bite more. Like toddlers, puppies who miss naps often become cranky and bitey. If your puppy is going wild, they may need a nap more than they need more play. Gently guide them to their crate or pen with a chew and let them rest.
Plan the evening. Give a short play session and a sniffy walk in the late afternoon, followed by a frozen food toy or chew. Many puppies settle much better with a predictable evening routine.
Stay calm. Excited voices and fast movements can add fuel to the fire. Move slowly, speak softly and redirect to calm activities.
Which chews are unsafe for teething puppies?
Hard chews. Antlers, hooves, hard bones, hard nylon bones and ice that is too large and hard can crack or break puppy teeth. Broken teeth can be very painful and may need treatment.
Rawhide and small chews. Rawhide can swell and soften into chunks that cause choking or blockages. Very small chews can be swallowed whole. Choose chews sized for your puppy and always supervise.
Household items. Socks, shoes, cords, children's toys, stuffed toys with small parts and remote controls are popular puppy targets and can be dangerous. Our guide on my dog ate a sock explains what to do if your puppy swallows something.
Cooked bones. Never give cooked bones. They can splinter and cause serious injuries.
What training games help during teething?
Trade game. Teach your puppy to drop what they are holding in exchange for a treat. Offer a tasty treat near their nose, and when they let go of the toy, say drop and give the treat. Then give the toy back. Your puppy learns that giving things up pays off, which is very useful when they grab something they should not have.
Leave it. Start with a treat in your closed hand. When your puppy stops trying to get it, reward with a different treat. Over time, use the leave it cue on the floor, then on walks. This helps prevent your puppy from grabbing dangerous items.
Settle on a mat. Teach your puppy to lie on a mat while chewing a toy. Reward calm behavior. This gives you a go to activity when your puppy needs to wind down. Our guide on easy dog tricks to teach has step by step instructions for these and other early skills.
Find it. Hide a treat or toy and let your puppy sniff it out. Sniffing is calming, tiring and a great alternative to chewing on furniture.
What does a good teething day look like?
Morning. Potty break, breakfast in a puzzle feeder, a short play session with a rubber toy and a nap in the crate or pen with a chew.
Midday. Potty break, a short training session, a sniffy walk if your vet says your puppy is ready and another nap. Offer a frozen washcloth or carrot if your puppy seems sore.
Afternoon. Potty break, a short game of tug with a soft toy, a stuffed frozen food toy and a nap. Rotate toys so something new comes out each afternoon.
Evening. Potty break, dinner, a calm walk, quiet chewing on a mat, cuddle time and an early bedtime. Keep the evening calm to avoid the witching hour. Our guide on building a daily routine for your dog has more ideas.
What happens after teething ends?
Chewing may continue. Even after adult teeth are in, many dogs keep chewing into adolescence, from about six months to two years. This is often called the second chewing phase, as adult teeth settle into the jaw and young dogs explore the world.
Keep up the good habits. Continue to offer safe chews, rotate toys, supervise and puppy proof your home.
Watch for boredom chewing. Adolescent dogs have lots of energy. Increase exercise and mental stimulation as your puppy grows.
Celebrate the milestone. When your puppy has their full set of adult teeth, take a photo of that big grin. You made it through the land shark months.
Signs you have a teething puppy
The shoelace thief. Your puppy steals every shoelace in the house.
The ankle ambush. Your puppy attacks your ankles every time you walk.
The chair leg sculptor. Your chair legs now have artistic teeth marks.
The cuddle bite. Your puppy nibbles you lovingly during every cuddle.
Key facts about puppy teething
Teething peaks at three to six months. Most adult teeth are in by six to seven months.
Choose soft, puppy safe toys. Avoid very hard chews.
Redirect biting. Offer toys and pause play.
See your vet for retained or broken teeth. Early care helps.
- Peak teething is three to six months.
- If you cannot dent it, it is too hard.
- Frozen washcloths soothe gums.
- Redirect bites to toys.
- It ends by about seven months.
You will survive
Teething is a tough but temporary stage. Offer safe, soft toys and frozen treats, redirect biting, puppy proof your home and keep your puppy busy with play, training and naps. Watch for retained or broken teeth, and remember that most teething is over by six to seven months.
From all of us at Happy Yay, good luck with your little land shark.
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Frequently asked questions
When do puppies start teething?
Baby teeth come in at three to four weeks, and adult teeth start around 12 to 16 weeks.
When do puppies stop teething?
Most have all adult teeth by six to seven months.
What are signs of puppy teething?
Chewing, drooling, red gums and tiny spots of blood on toys.
What are the best teething toys?
Soft, flexible rubber toys made for puppies, rope toys and textured toys.
Are frozen treats good for teething puppies?
Yes. Frozen washcloths, carrots and stuffed toys can soothe gums.
How do I stop my puppy biting me?
Redirect to toys, pause play when teeth touch skin and avoid rough play.
Is it normal to find puppy teeth?
Yes, though most puppies swallow them, which is harmless.
Should puppy gums bleed?
Small spots of blood are normal. Heavy bleeding needs a vet check.
What are retained baby teeth?
Baby teeth that do not fall out. Your vet may need to remove them.
Can I give my puppy antlers or bones?
No. Hard chews can break puppy teeth.