Between roughly three and six months of age, your puppy loses 28 baby teeth and grows in a full adult set. During that window, chewing is not misbehavior. It is how a puppy soothes sore gums, explores the world, and relieves pressure. Your job is not to stop the chewing but to point it at safe outlets while protecting your shoes, cables, and sanity. Here is a kind, practical plan for the teething months.
Know the Teething Timeline
Most puppies start teething around 12 weeks, and the phase typically wraps up by about six months. You may notice increased drooling, mildly swollen gums, small spots of blood on toys, and a sudden enthusiasm for chewing everything. Knowing what is normal helps you respond calmly instead of punishing a puppy who is simply uncomfortable.
| Age | What is happening | What your puppy needs |
|---|---|---|
| 8-12 weeks | Baby teeth fully in, mouthing everything | Soft toys, gentle redirection of nips |
| 12-16 weeks | Baby teeth start falling out | Chilled chew items, more supervision |
| 4-6 months | Adult teeth coming in, peak discomfort | Frozen soothers, puppy-proofing discipline |
| 6 months+ | Adult set complete | Chew habits reviewed, dental routine starts |
Soothe Sore Gums the Cold Way
Cold genuinely helps. Try these vet-friendly options, always under supervision:
- Wet a clean washcloth, wring it out, twist it, and freeze it for your puppy to gnaw.
- Chill a rubber chew toy in the refrigerator or freezer between sessions.
- Offer frozen carrot pieces or a frozen stuffed rubber toy as a longer, calmer chew.
- Keep sessions short, and take the item away if it starts breaking into pieces.
Redirect, Trade, and Reward the Right Choice
When your puppy chews something off-limits, skip the yelling. Calmly trade the object for an approved toy, then praise when they take it. Teaching a solid “drop it” and “leave it” cue turns every trade into training. Just as important, catch your puppy being good: the moment they settle down with their own toy, quietly praise them or hand over a small treat. Puppies repeat what pays.
Manage Nippy Play, Too
Teething and mouthing arrive together. If your puppy bites skin during play, end the game for a few seconds instead of yelping and escalating; attention is still attention. Offer a toy as the price of continued fun, and reward every calm choice. Family consistency matters here, so everyone should follow the same trade-and-redirect rules in every room.
Puppy-Proof and Manage the Environment
- Put shoes, remotes, and children’s toys out of reach; prevention beats correction.
- Cover or tuck away electrical cords, and use a taste deterrent spray on furniture legs if needed.
- Use baby gates to limit access when you cannot supervise.
- Rotate chew toys every few days so novelty stays high.
- Never use your hands or feet as playthings, or your puppy will learn skin is fair game.
Call your veterinarian if your puppy refuses food for more than a day, shows heavy bleeding or foul-smelling breath, or seems genuinely painful rather than just busy-mouthed. For most puppies, though, teething is simply a phase to manage, not a problem to fix. Pair soothing cold chews with consistent redirection and plenty of praise for good choices, and your puppy will finish the teething months with healthy teeth, good habits, and a house full of things that are all still in one piece.