If your puppy has suddenly turned every shoe, table leg, and finger into a chew target, teething is very likely the culprit. It's a temporary but genuinely uncomfortable phase, and understanding the timeline helps you support your puppy through it while protecting your belongings.
The Teething Timeline
Puppies are typically born without visible teeth, with baby teeth emerging around 3-6 weeks. Baby teeth then begin falling out and being replaced by adult teeth starting around 3-4 months, with the full set of 42 adult teeth usually in place by 6-7 months. The most intense chewing urges tend to peak during the adult tooth eruption phase.
Signs Your Puppy Is Teething
Increased chewing, drooling, mild irritability, reduced interest in food (from sore gums), and occasionally small spots of blood on toys are all normal signs of teething. You might also find tiny baby teeth around the house — a normal, harmless part of the process.
Why Chewing Increases So Much
Chewing relieves gum discomfort during tooth eruption, similar to how human babies benefit from teething toys. This is a genuine physical need during this phase, not simply bad behavior, which is why redirection works far better than punishment.
Redirect, Don't Just Say No
Puppy-proofing your space and consistently redirecting chewing toward appropriate toys teaches your puppy what's okay to chew far more effectively than scolding alone. The goal is to make appropriate items more appealing and available than your furniture or shoes.
Cold Items Can Provide Real Relief
A clean, damp washcloth frozen for 20-30 minutes provides soothing, cold pressure on sore gums, similar to a teething ring for a human baby. Always supervise chewing sessions and remove items before they become a choking hazard as they soften.
Keep Rotating Toy Novelty
Puppies, like adult dogs, lose interest in the same toy sitting out constantly. Rotating a few different textures and toy types keeps engagement higher and reduces the temptation to seek out household items for variety instead.
Managing the "Land Shark" Phase
Mouthing hands and clothing during play is separate from but often overlaps with teething — redirecting bites toward an appropriate toy the moment mouthing starts, consistently, teaches bite inhibition over time. A firm "ouch" and immediately ending play for a moment also helps puppies learn that biting people stops the fun.
Give Sore Gums a Comfortable Place to Rest
Teething puppies often want extra rest between chewing bursts, and a soft, cozy spot supports that need well. Our Fluffy Donut Dog Bed gives your teething puppy a comfortable place to settle down between chew sessions.
When to Check With Your Vet
Excessive drooling with foul breath, visible swelling, retained baby teeth alongside adult teeth past 7-8 months, or a puppy who seems in significant pain beyond typical teething discomfort are all worth a vet visit to rule out a dental issue needing attention.
The Takeaway
Teething is a temporary, genuinely uncomfortable phase most puppies pass through by around 6-7 months. Consistent redirection, appropriate chew options, and a little patience get most owners and puppies through it without lasting damage to your belongings or your relationship.
Shop comfort essentials for your teething puppy in our full store.
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