Your puppy is chewing everything.
Your shoes. The furniture leg. Your hand. The corner of the rug. Anything they can get their mouth around.
And you’re wondering, is this normal? Is something wrong? Why won’t they stop?
Nothing is wrong. Your puppy is teething.
Puppy teething is one of the most natural, inevitable stages of early development. Baby teeth come in, adult teeth push them out, and in between, your puppy’s mouth is uncomfortable, itchy, and desperate for relief. Chewing is how they get it.
Understanding what’s happening, when it happens, and how to manage it makes this stage significantly easier, for your puppy and for your furniture.
What Is Puppy Teething?
Puppy teething is the process by which a puppy loses their baby teeth and grows their permanent adult teeth.
Puppies are born toothless. Their first set, 28 deciduous, or baby, teeth, begins erupting around three weeks of age. These are small, sharp, and temporary. They were never meant to last.
Starting at around three to four months of age, the adult teeth begin pushing up through the gum tissue, dislodging the baby teeth as they come. This process is uncomfortable. The gum tissue is under pressure. The mouth is inflamed. The puppy feels a persistent urge to bite and chew because chewing actually provides counter-pressure that temporarily relieves the discomfort.
By the time the process is complete, your dog will have 42 permanent adult teeth, far more than the original 28 baby teeth. The teething phase is temporary. The adult teeth are forever. How you manage this stage affects both your puppy’s experience and the habits they carry into adulthood.
Puppy Teething Timeline
Knowing what to expect, and when, takes a lot of the anxiety out of this stage.
Weeks 2-4: Baby teeth begin erupting. The first teeth to appear are the incisors, the small front teeth. The canines (the pointed “fang” teeth) follow, then the premolars. By around eight weeks, most puppies have their full set of 28 baby teeth.
Weeks 8-12: Full set of baby teeth present. This is typically when puppies arrive in their new homes. All baby teeth are in. The puppy is not yet teething in the adult sense, but their baby teeth are sharp, very sharp, and mouthing behaviour is already present.
Months 3-6: Adult teeth begin erupting. Active teething phase. This is the main event. The adult incisors come in first, followed by the adult canines and premolars, then the molars, which have no baby tooth predecessor and simply erupt fresh through the gum. Chewing behaviour intensifies significantly during this period. This is the phase that tests most owners.
By 6-7 months: All adult teeth should be in. A full set of 42 permanent teeth should be present. If any baby teeth remain alongside erupted adult teeth, retained deciduous teeth, a vet visit is needed, as these cause crowding and accelerate dental disease.
Every puppy moves through this timeline at their own pace. Small breeds sometimes complete it faster; large breeds may take a little longer.
Common Signs of Puppy Teething
Teething looks and sounds different in every puppy. But the signs are consistent enough that once you know them, you’ll recognise them immediately.
Common signs of puppy teething include:
- Excessive chewing, on everything, relentlessly, with apparent urgency. This is the defining sign.
- Drooling, more than usual. Gum inflammation increases saliva production.
- Mild gum irritation or bleeding, small spots of blood on chew toys or the gum line are normal as baby teeth loosen and adult teeth push through.
- Finding baby teeth, on the floor, in toys, or simply gone (swallowed, this is fine). You may never find them at all.
- Reduced appetite, a sore mouth can make eating temporarily less appealing, particularly with hard kibble.
- Irritability, a teething puppy is an uncomfortable puppy. Lower frustration tolerance and increased fussiness are normal.
- Whimpering or pawing at the mouth, if persistent or accompanied by significant swelling, warrants a vet check. Mild versions during active teething are normal.
These signs are expected. They’re not a reason to worry, they’re a reason to prepare.
Related Videos
Best Chew Sticks for Puppies
Chewing is not a problem to stop. It’s a need to redirect.
The right chew sticks for puppies serve a real purpose; they relieve gum pressure, provide mental stimulation, and give the puppy an appropriate outlet so they’re not destroying everything else in reach.
What to look for in chew sticks for puppies:
- Puppy-specific formulation. Adult dental chews are often too hard for developing puppy teeth. Look for products specifically designed for puppies, softer, appropriately sized, and digestible.
- Size-appropriate. A chew stick that’s too small is a choking hazard. Too large and a small puppy won’t engage with it. Match the size to your puppy’s breed and weight.
- Digestible ingredients. Chews that dissolve and break down safely are far preferable to hard, indigestible alternatives. If a large piece breaks off and is swallowed, it should pass safely.
- Vet or VOHC approval. Products with professional endorsement have been evaluated for safety and efficacy. This matters.
What to avoid: Real bones (can splinter and cause internal injury), antlers (too hard for puppy teeth), hard plastic chews (risk of tooth fracture), and anything small enough to swallow whole.
Good chew sticks for puppies make the teething phase dramatically more manageable, for the puppy and for you.
Puppy Teething Sticks and Safe Chewing Options
Beyond chew sticks, there’s a range of safe chewing options worth having in rotation.
Rubber teething toys, specifically designed for puppies, are among the most effective and durable options. They’re firm enough to provide counter-pressure but flexible enough not to damage developing teeth. Some can be frozen for additional soothing relief on inflamed gums.
Puppy teething sticks made from natural, digestible materials, rice-based, vegetable-based, or enzymatic dental formulas, are widely available and generally safe when size-appropriate and used with supervision.
Soft rope toys offer a different texture that many puppies find satisfying. They’re gentler on gum tissue and provide a chewing experience that hard items don’t.
Cold or frozen options, a damp cloth tied in a knot and frozen, or a frozen puppy-safe rubber toy, can temporarily numb inflamed gum tissue and provide immediate relief during peak discomfort.
The golden rule with all chewing: supervise. No chew toy is completely risk-free. A puppy that breaks off a large piece and swallows it unsupervised is a potential emergency. Be present, especially with new chews, until you know how your puppy interacts with them.
Rotate options to keep interest high. A puppy that has access to five different appropriate chew options is far less motivated to go looking for your shoes.
Tips to Help a Teething Puppy
Getting through the teething phase is about management, patience, and understanding.
Always have appropriate chews available. The impulse to chew doesn’t wait for a convenient moment. If there’s nothing appropriate within reach, the puppy will find something else. Keep chew toys accessible in every room your puppy spends time in.
Rotate chew toys regularly. Novelty maintains interest. A toy that’s been sitting in the same spot for a week becomes invisible. Rotate two or three options at a time, swapping them out every few days to keep the puppy engaged.
Redirect, don’t punish. When your puppy chews something inappropriate, calmly remove the item and immediately offer an appropriate chew. Punishment doesn’t teach a teething puppy not to chew; it only teaches them to be confused. Consistent redirection teaches them what is and isn’t acceptable.
Puppy-proof the environment. Remove or secure anything you don’t want chewed. Cables, shoes, children’s toys, furniture corners, during peak puppy teething, nothing is safe unless it’s out of reach or protected.
Use positive reinforcement. When your puppy chews their own toy, praise them. Make the appropriate choice, the rewarding one.
Be patient. This phase ends. Six to seven months is the typical finish line. A puppy that is consistently guided through teething with appropriate outlets and calm redirection comes out the other side with good chewing habits and a healthy mouth.
When to Consult a Veterinarian
Most teething is entirely normal and requires no veterinary intervention. But some situations do.
See a vet if your puppy has:
- Persistent, heavy bleeding from the gums, not just a small spot, but ongoing or significant bleeding
- Severe swelling around the mouth or jaw
- A baby tooth that hasn’t fallen out despite the adult tooth erupting alongside it, retained deciduous teeth need professional removal.
- A broken or cracked tooth, even a baby tooth, if the pulp is exposed, can become infected.
- Signs of significant pain, constant whimpering, refusal to eat for more than 24 hours, and inability to open the mouth normally
- Teeth that appear to be coming in at abnormal angles or positions
Retained baby teeth are the most common teething-related veterinary issue. When a baby tooth doesn’t fall out naturally, the adult tooth is forced into an abnormal position. The two teeth crowd each other, accumulate tartar rapidly, and create a misaligned bite. Early removal of retained teeth, often during desexing, prevents these problems.
When in doubt, ask your vet at your puppy’s regular vaccination appointments. A quick oral check at each visit catches teething issues before they become complications.
Conclusion
Puppy teething is normal. It’s temporary. And it’s completely manageable with the right preparation.
Understand the timeline. Recognise the signs. Provide safe, appropriate chew sticks and teething toys. Redirect consistently. And see a vet if anything seems out of the ordinary.
Every puppy goes through teething. The ones that get through it most comfortably and with the least household damage are those whose owners understood what was happening and were prepared for it.
You’re ready now.
