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The Dabl Survival Guide For Puppy Teething
Although teething can make you and your puppy a bit crazy, these tips, tricks, toys, and treats can make the teething process much easier!
There are few things more adorable than a new puppy! From their curious puppy dog eyes as they explore their new world to ginormous paws they haven’t grown into yet, we can hardly stand the overwhelming cuteness! It’s safe to say that bringing home a new puppy is an extremely exciting time for new pet parents!
But within a few days of bringing home your new pet, you might be starting to wonder if you adopted a sweet puppy or a termite in disguise. Every time you look at him, your puppy is trying to chew on your furniture, the floor, or even you! And those mini piranha teeth can do a surprisingly large amount of damage!
Welcome to the puppy teething stage. Just like with newborn babies, teething can be a painful process for your puppy. Your puppy’s gums will be sore and achy, but chewing can help relieve the pain. As the pet owner, it’s your responsibility to redirect your puppy’s unwanted chewing to safe toys and treats to help provide him with some comfort while he’s teething. Our Dabl puppy teething survival guide will answer commonly asked questions about puppy teething and give you the tools to make sure you and your puppy make it to the other side of teething in one piece!
How long does teething last?
Puppies have 28 deciduous teeth, or baby teeth, that all come in and fall out within the first months of their lives. But well before your dog’s first birthday, he should have all 42 of his permanent adult teeth. Understanding the teething timeline may help you be better prepared to cope with it.
Generally, teething begins at 3-4 weeks when the first of your puppy’s milk teeth, or baby teeth, start to pop through his gums. Between 4 and 6 weeks, your puppy’s baby canines and premolars will appear, signaling the end of the nursing phase and allowing your puppy to start eating solid foods. By 8 weeks, your puppy will have all his baby teeth.
The teething process will briefly pause until your puppy’s baby teeth start to fall out between 12 and 16 weeks. That said, your puppy may still want to chew when he plays or as a source of comfort. Puppies also like to explore the world with their mouths, so you will still need to keep an eye on your pup’s chewing even if he’s not actively teething.
When your puppy is 4-5 months old, his baby teeth will begin falling out and his permanent teeth will start coming in, starting with his adult incisors. By the time your puppy is 6 months old, all of his baby teeth should have fallen out. The rest of your puppy’s adult teeth should come in by the time he reaches 8 months. So when it feels like your puppy will never stop teething, just remember the entire process will be over in a matter of months!
Don’t teach your puppy that biting is okay.
When your puppy was with his littermates, he and his siblings learned to play by nipping at each other. Since the puppies are just learning, they don’t always realize how hard they are chomping on each other or that they can’t bite everything, even if they’re gentle. Let us be clear that puppy biting is rarely out of malice. Usually, the puppy is just trying to play or trying to soothe his gums during teething.
In the dog world, if a puppy bites too hard, the older dog will yelp to tell the puppy that it hurts. The puppy understands the correction and won’t bite so hard next time. Therefore, if your puppy tries to nip you or someone else in your household, you should yelp or yell “ow” to teach your puppy not to bite you, nip you, or nibble on you.
Even if you find your puppy nibbling or chewing on you to be cute and painless, these early formative months are important for teaching your puppy good behavior and manners to take into adulthood. When he grows up, it won’t be so cute if you have an overly mouthy dog. Therefore, it’s important to teach your puppy good habits from the get-go. Whenever your puppy tries to nip, nibble, or chew on you, tell your puppy “ow” or “no” and redirect him to a toy or treat that he can bite or chew.
Freeze away the pain of teething.
It’s no secret that teething is a painful process. Your puppy’s gums likely feel sore and tender. That said, cold things will feel good on your puppy’s gums and can help numb the pain, at least for a little while. Many people will soak an old washcloth or T-shirt and then freeze it in the freezer, before giving it to their puppy to play with. You can also soak and freeze dog toys, such as rope toys or any rubber or hollow toys that can hold water. Alternatively, consider purchasing dog toys that are specifically made to be frozen and used for puppy teething.
Multipet Chilly Bone Dog Chew Toy
This durable and long-lasting teething toy is extremely useful for puppy teething, or can even be used as a treat for adult dogs to help them cool off during the hot summer days. This bone is designed to be frozen to provide cooling relief to aching gums. We recommend purchasing at least 2 of these dog bones so that your puppy can play with one bone while the other is freezing, so you can just switch out the toys when your puppy needs more relief.
$4 (On Sale!)
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Nylabone Chill & Chew Freezer Chicken Flavored Dog Chew Toy
This freezable Nylabone is infused with a tasty chicken flavor and is made from a soft material that is ideal for moderate chewers. While most people fill the toy with water, it can also be filled with chicken broth, peanut butter, or other freezable snacks to turn the toy into a long-lasting, tasty treat for your pup! The unique texture of the toy is designed to clean teeth by reducing plaque and tartar, helping to protect your pup’s dental health the second his new teeth start to emerge!
$11 (On Sale!)
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Nylabone Puppy Chew Freezer Lamb & Apple Flavored Puppy Chew Toy
Ideal for puppies up to 25 pounds, this freezable chew toy features soft bristles that help soothe gums and enforce healthy chewing habits. The toy should be frozen before playtime and will change color as it thaws, which is a cool effect. As an added bonus, the chew toy is infused with a lamb and apple flavor your puppy will love!
$9 (On Sale!)
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Petstages Cool Teething Stick Tough Dog Chew Toy
Freeze this Cool Teething Chew Stick to soothe your pup’s sore gums! This colorful, patterned toy makes a satisfying crunch and is perfect for keeping your puppy cool during the upcoming hot days! Plus, it’s designed to be mold resistant even with frequent freezing and washing.
$5 (On Sale!)
Buy Now!Keep your puppy busy.
It’s often said that a tired dog is a happy dog. But if you have ever owned a puppy, then you know a busy puppy is a happy puppy. If your puppy is busy playing with toys and treats that are meant for dogs like him, he can’t be chewing on your furniture, eating your child’s favorite toy, or wreaking havoc elsewhere in your home. Additionally, he will be distracted from the pain and discomfort of teething by doing something fun. There are many brands in the pet industry that make toys specifically for puppies, so you will have a wide variety of teething toys and treats to choose from for your fur baby! For now, check out some of our favorite puppy teething toys!
As a disclaimer, always supervise your puppy while he is playing with toys and treats. Even though the pet toys are made for dogs, no toy is safe for every single dog. Make sure to check toys periodically to ensure they aren’t falling apart or breaking into small pieces that could become choking hazards. We always recommend asking your veterinarian for suggestions for the best teething toys for your puppy.
Edible Puppy Teething Rings - Pack of 6
These edible puppy teething rings provide a safe outlet for all of your puppy’s teething urges. These chicken flavored treats are easy to digest and are gentle and safe for delicate teeth. The unique shape and pliable texture are also designed to gently massage your puppy’s sore gums.
$10 (On Sale!)
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Nylabone Teething Keys Puppy Chew Toy
This veterinary-recommended chew toy is designed specifically for teething puppies! The engaging, colorful keys are made from a soft, thermoplastic polymer that's safe for teething puppies without permanent teeth.
$7 - $13 (On Sale!)
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Kong Classic Dog Toy
Kongs might be one of the best dog toys ever introduced by the pet industry! Simply fill the toy with one of your pup’s favorite treats, such as peanut butter, and the Kong will keep him busy for hours! It’s a perfect tool to relieve teething pains and for crate training to prevent your pup from becoming bored in his crate.
$14 (On Sale!)
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Leaps & Bounds Puppy Occupy Toy - Medium
This intriguing toy is designed to entertain and keep the attention of high-energy and easily distractible puppies. This dog toy features a variety of textures and sliding rubber attachments that will amuse your puppy and feel good to chew on!
$13
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Pet Life Orange 'Moo-cifier' Plush Squeaking and Rubber Teething Newborn Puppy Dog Toy
This adorable plush cow is meant to be one of the first toys your newborn or young puppy ever plays with! The plush toy has a fun squeaker and an attached teething ring with embedded bumps that are perfect for soothing sore gums. And when your puppy gets tired, this plush toy is the perfect cuddle buddy during nap time.
$11
Buy Now!Get your puppy used to good dental hygiene.
At some point between the ages of two and four months, you should begin introducing your puppy to teeth brushing to begin a lifetime of good dental hygiene. Although dental problems are among the most common and costly health problems dogs face, you can avoid most of them by getting your puppy used to teeth brushing at a young age. Start by purchasing a dog-friendly toothbrush and toothpaste and slowly getting your puppy used to it. Initially, just let your puppy smell the toothbrush. Then, slowly let your puppy get used to having the toothbrush in his mouth and the brushing sensation. In addition to teeth brushing, you’ll also be teaching your puppy to be comfortable with allowing you to have your hand or fingers in his mouth. It’s important that you are able to look in your dog’s mouth or put your fingers inside, such as to remove a choking hazard or toxic piece of food, without your dog trying to bite your hand.
As a disclaimer, only use dog-friendly toothbrushes and pet toothpaste. Human toothpaste may be toxic to pets.
Arm & Hammer Fresh Spectrum 360 Puppy Dental Kit, 3 oz.
This puppy toothbrushing kit uses a gentle, pet-safe formula made from baking soda and coconut oil to clean your puppy’s teeth and freshen his breath. The kit includes the puppy paste, a 360 toothbrush for puppies, and a finger brush.
$17 (On Sale!)
Buy Now!Remember that it won’t last forever.
When your puppy’s teething is at its worst, take a deep breath and try to remember that it won’t last forever. When you get to the other end of the teething tunnel, you’ll have a wonderful, loving companion by your side and a lifetIme of love and happiness waiting for you. You just have to get through approximately 4-6 months of teething pains and chewing. Even then, your puppy won’t be an absolute terror that entire time. You CAN do this!
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