Puppies first get their baby teeth when they are about five or six weeks old. At around 8 weeks their baby teeth will start falling out, to make room for their adult teeth, which start coming through at around 16 weeks – although this varies from breed to breed. Puppy teething lasts for a few months – by the time they are six to seven months old, they should have all their adult teeth – 42 in fact!

The most common puppy teething symptoms are drooling and chewing…lots of chewing! Puppies chew to provide relief to their painful gums as they lose their baby teeth. You may also notice spots of blood on your puppy’s toys – and find the odd puppy tooth or two in the house.

You can help your puppy through the teething process by providing things for them to chew on. There are things you can buy and things you can make: 

• Puppy safe natural chews such as Goat and Beef hide.
• Soft toys.
• Fake wood chews.
• Kongs.
• Toppls. 
• Plaited toys.
• Ice cube treats.
• And more... 

Look for toys made of a hard rubber material, such as Kongs and Toppls, which you can also fill with something tasty, e.g.cheese spread. Have a selection of natural puppy safe chew toys, and rotate them often. This will maintain their novelty and ensure that your puppy is interested in the chew toy you have provided rather than your TV remote or expensive shoes!

Cold chews can be very soothing and are something you can make at home to store in the freezer. Ideas include:

• Ice cubes
• Frozen beef/chicken broth
• Home-made chews – a frozen carrot or banana is a great tasty and soothing treat for your teething puppy.

Teething is a good time to start brushing your puppy’s teeth and get them into a good dental hygiene routine. It’s a good idea to brush your dog’s teeth every day to keep their teeth and mouth in a healthy condition. Be patient and take your time to make sure your puppy enjoys the experience and doesn’t become worried about their mouths being checked.

You can buy toothbrushes for dogs, or you could use a soft child’s brush. Make sure you use a toothpaste that is designed for dogs – not humans, which could give your dog an upset tummy.

You might want to use your finger to begin with – to get your puppy used to the feeling of having their teeth cleaned.

Keep in mind that chewing and biting may be something other than teething, such as mouthing. In the same way that children use their hands to explore their world, puppies use their mouths.  Make sure your puppy has plenty of appropriate things to chew on. Mouthing is quite common and normal in most young puppies and is rarely aggressive but they still need to learn to be gentle and not nip or bite. 

Excessive mouthing can be linked to pain or discomfort, a common link can be gut issues or tummy upset, so if the mouthing feels extreme contact your vet to get them checked out.