Puppy Teething: How to Survive the Chewing Phase

Your shoes. The couch corner. Your favorite slippers. The table legs. Your fingers.

If you have a puppy between 3 and 7 months old, everything is fair game for those tiny, razor-sharp teeth. Welcome to the teething phase — one of the most challenging (and most temporary) parts of puppyhood.

The good news? This is completely normal, there are ways to manage it, and yes, it does end.

Understanding Puppy Teething

Just like human babies, puppies are born without teeth. Their first set — baby teeth (deciduous teeth) — starts coming in around 2-4 weeks of age. These tiny needles are incredibly sharp, which serves a purpose: they teach puppies bite inhibition through play with littermates.

The Teething Timeline

2-4 weeks: Baby teeth start emerging 5-6 weeks: All 28 baby teeth are in 12-16 weeks: Baby teeth start falling out, adult teeth begin emerging 6-7 months: All 42 adult teeth should be in place

The most intense teething typically occurs between 3-6 months, when baby teeth are being replaced by adult teeth.

Signs Your Puppy Is Teething

How do you know if your puppy's behavior is teething-related? Look for:

• Increased chewing on everything
• Red, swollen gums
• Drooling more than usual
• Finding baby teeth around the house (or in toys)
• Slight bleeding from gums (small amounts are normal)
• Loss of appetite or reluctance to eat hard food
• Irritability or fussiness
• Excessive pawing at mouth
• Mild fever (rare, but possible)

If your puppy has severe symptoms, stops eating entirely, or shows signs of illness, consult your veterinarian.

Why Puppies Chew Everything

Chewing serves multiple purposes during teething:

1. Pain relief — Pressure on sore gums feels good
2. Loosening baby teeth — Helps them fall out naturally
3. Exploration — Puppies learn about the world through their mouths
4. Natural instinct — Chewing is hardwired into dogs

Understanding this helps: your puppy isn't being "bad" — they're doing exactly what nature intended. Your job is to redirect that chewing to appropriate items.

Soothing Sore Gums

Frozen Treats and Toys

Cold provides natural numbing relief:

• Frozen washcloths — Wet a washcloth, twist it, and freeze. Perfect for gnawing.
• Frozen rubber toys — Kong toys filled with peanut butter (xylitol-free!) and frozen
• Frozen carrots — Natural, healthy, and soothing
• Ice cubes — Some puppies love them
• Frozen banana pieces — Sweet and cold

Safety note: Always supervise with frozen items, and remove anything that becomes a choking hazard.

Appropriate Chew Toys

Invest in a variety of textures:

• Rubber toys (Kong, Nylabone puppy line) — Durable, freezable
• Rope toys — Good for gnawing, also help clean teeth
• Teething rings — Designed specifically for puppy gums
• Soft toys — For gentler chewing moments

Rotate toys to keep them interesting. A toy left out loses appeal; one hidden and brought back is exciting.

What NOT to Give

• Ice that's too hard — Can damage developing teeth
• Rawhide — Choking hazard and digestive issues
• Cooked bones — Splinter dangerously
• Toys too small — Choking risk
• Your old shoes or clothes — Teaches them all shoes/clothes are fair game
• Sticks — Can splinter and cause internal damage

Protecting Your Belongings

Puppy-Proof Ruthlessly

If you don't want it chewed, it shouldn't be accessible:

• Pick up shoes, socks, children's toys
• Use cord protectors on electrical cables
• Apply bitter apple spray to furniture legs
• Block access to rooms you can't puppy-proof
• Keep laundry in closed hampers

Supervise Constantly

During active teething, your puppy shouldn't have unsupervised access to your home. Use:

• Baby gates — Limit access to one room
• Crates — Safe confinement when you can't watch
• Exercise pens — Larger contained area
• Leash tethering — Keep puppy near you

The Trade Game

When you catch your puppy chewing something inappropriate:

1. Don't chase — This becomes a game
2. Calmly approach
3. Offer a trade — "Give" + present a toy or treat
4. Praise when they take the appropriate item
5. Remove the forbidden item without drama

Never punish a puppy for chewing — they're doing what comes naturally. Redirect instead.

Managing Puppy Biting (Mouthing)

Those needle teeth on your hands and ankles? Also a teething behavior, combined with play behavior.

Teaching Bite Inhibition

Puppies need to learn that human skin is sensitive:

The "Ouch" Method:

1. When teeth touch skin, say "Ouch!" in a high-pitched voice
2. Stop playing immediately
3. Turn away or briefly leave
4. Resume play after 30 seconds
5. If it happens again, repeat

This mimics how littermates teach each other — play stops when it hurts.

The Redirect Method:

1. Before teeth touch skin, redirect to a toy
2. Keep toys in your pocket during play
3. Praise enthusiastically when they chew the toy

What NOT to Do:

• Don't hold their mouth closed — can cause fear
• Don't shake or scruff — damages trust
• Don't flick their nose — ineffective and unkind
• Don't yell — increases excitement, not learning

Managing Ankle Biting

Puppies often target moving feet:

• Redirect with a toy dragged on the ground
• Stand still — movement encourages biting
• Practice "sit" before moving again
• Use a long toy or rope to keep distance between teeth and feet

Feeding During Teething

Sore gums can affect appetite:

Make Eating Easier

• Soften kibble with warm water
• Try wet food temporarily
• Hand-feed — can strengthen your bond
• Use food puzzles — mental stimulation helps

Safe Chewing Foods

• Frozen carrots
• Frozen apple slices (no seeds)
• Frozen banana
• Ice cubes with treats frozen inside

Watch for Problems

If your puppy refuses food for more than 24 hours or loses significant weight, consult your vet.

Dental Check: Are Teeth Coming In Right?

Most puppies' teeth come in without issues, but watch for:

Retained Baby Teeth

Sometimes baby teeth don't fall out before adult teeth emerge. This causes:

• Crowding
• Misalignment
• Increased risk of decay
• Pain

If you see two teeth in one spot (double row), your vet may need to extract the baby tooth.

Signs of Dental Problems

• Excessive drooling
• Bleeding that doesn't stop
• Swollen face
• Refusal to eat
• Bad breath
• Visible crowding or misalignment

A vet check around 6 months is a good idea to ensure everything is developing normally.

Surviving the Teething Phase: A Summary

Do's:

• Provide lots of appropriate chew toys
• Use frozen items to soothe gums
• Rotate toys to maintain interest
• Supervise constantly
• Redirect chewing to appropriate items
• Practice patience — this phase ends

Don'ts:

• Punish chewing behavior
• Give dangerous items to chew
• Leave valuable items within reach
• Allow unsupervised access to your home
• Chase your puppy for stolen items

When Teething Ends

Around 6-7 months, most puppies have their full set of adult teeth. You'll notice:

• Less intense chewing
• Fewer bleeding gums
• All 42 adult teeth present
• Your belongings are safer (though supervision should continue)

The chewing behavior may persist beyond teething — dogs chew throughout their lives for pleasure and dental health. But the desperate, everything-is-a-target intensity fades.

Building Good Habits for Life

The training you do during teething sets patterns for adulthood:

• "Leave it" — Essential command
• "Give" or "Drop it" — Trading items safely
• Knowing what's theirs — Clear boundaries
• Appropriate chew time — Dental health for life

Use this challenging phase as an opportunity to build a well-mannered adult dog.

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

Those needle teeth that shredded your favorite socks? They'll be replaced by strong adult teeth. The puppy who couldn't be trusted alone? They'll mature into a reliable companion.

Teething is temporary. The relationship you're building during these challenging months? That's permanent.

Hang in there. Your patience will pay off.

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This article is for educational purposes and does not replace professional veterinary consultation. If you have concerns about your puppy's teeth or teething behavior, please consult your veterinarian.

Sources

• American Kennel Club. "Puppy Teething Timeline and Tips"
• VCA Animal Hospitals. "Teething in Puppies"
• ASPCA. "Mouthing, Nipping, and Biting in Puppies"
• American Veterinary Dental College. "Pet Dental Care"