Guide: puppy teething timeline
Puppy Teething Timeline: When Baby Teeth Fall Out and How to Stop the Biting
The puppy teething timeline runs from about two weeks to six months. Baby teeth come in between 2 and 6 weeks, start falling out at around 12 weeks, and are replaced by 42 adult teeth by about six months. The sore-gum, chew-everything stage peaks between three and six months, so most of it happens in your home.
Puppy teething timeline by age
| Age | What is happening | What you will notice |
|---|---|---|
| 2 to 4 weeks | Baby teeth begin to come in | Nothing. The puppy is still with its mother. |
| 5 to 6 weeks | All 28 baby teeth are in | Needle-sharp teeth. Weaning is under way. |
| Around 12 weeks | Baby teeth start to loosen as adult teeth push up | More chewing and mouthing |
| Around 4 months | Incisors, the small front teeth, fall out first | Tiny teeth on the floor, or none at all because puppies often swallow them |
| 5 to 6 months | Canines fall out and the last adult teeth erupt | Peak chewing, then it eases |
| About 6 months | All 42 adult teeth are in | Teething is over |
Ages are from the American Kennel Club and VCA Animal Hospitals (AKC, VCA).
What is normal at each point in the puppy teething timeline
- Chewing on anything within reach
- Drooling more than usual
- Small spots of blood on chew toys
- Slightly red or swollen gums
- Eating more slowly, or turning down hard kibble for a day or two
The AKC notes that the process can be painful, which is why a normally easy puppy can become mouthy and restless for a few weeks. It passes.
When to call the vet
The main thing to watch for is a baby tooth that does not fall out when the adult tooth comes in beside it. Vets call these retained baby teeth. They crowd the mouth and trap food, and they need to be removed. Check your puppy’s mouth weekly from about four months, and look for two teeth sharing one spot, most often the canines.
Also call your vet if you see a broken tooth, a strong smell from the mouth, heavy bleeding, or a puppy that stops eating altogether. Ask for a tooth check at every puppy visit. See our puppy vaccine schedule for when those visits fall.
How to stop the biting during the puppy teething timeline
Nipping at hands and ankles is normal for a teething puppy, according to the AKC, and it is something you can train away. The method is the same at every age.
- Redirect, every time. Keep a chew toy within reach. The moment teeth touch skin, offer the toy instead.
- End the game. If the puppy keeps biting, stand up and turn away for a few seconds. Play stops when teeth come out.
- Reward calm. Praise and treat when the puppy chews the right thing or sits quietly.
- Do not punish. Tapping the nose or holding the mouth shut tends to make biting worse or make the puppy hand-shy.
- Protect nap time. An overtired puppy bites more. Young puppies need a lot of sleep.
Puppies start learning how hard is too hard from their mother and littermates before eight weeks old. That is one reason they should not leave the litter early, as our guide to puppy development stages explains.
Safe things to chew
- Rubber puppy toys sized for a small mouth
- A wet washcloth, twisted and frozen
- Soft toys you can supervise
Avoid anything harder than the tooth itself. A common rule from vets is that if you cannot dent it with a thumbnail, it is too hard for puppy teeth. Skip cooked bones, antlers and hard nylon for now, and take away any toy small enough to swallow.
Start tooth brushing now
Small breeds are prone to dental disease as adults, so teething is a good time to get a puppy used to having its mouth handled. Lift the lips, touch the teeth, and reward. Once the adult teeth are in, ask your vet about a brushing routine and a dog toothpaste.
Related guides
- New Puppy Supplies: The Checklist You Actually Need
- Puppy Biting: Why They Do It and How to Stop It
- Dog Dental Care: Brushing, Chews and Professional Cleanings
- Puppy Development Stages: Week by Week From Birth to 12 Weeks
- Puppy Proofing Your Home: A Room-by-Room Checklist
See all our puppy guides, or meet our Havapoo puppies for sale and Goldendoodle puppies for sale.
Sources
- American Kennel Club, How Long Does Puppy Teething Last?
- VCA Animal Hospitals, Teeth, Teething and Chewing in Puppies
- American Kennel Club, Puppy Teething and Nipping: A Survival Guide
- VCA Animal Hospitals, Why Does My Puppy Still Have Baby Teeth?
This article is general information and does not replace advice from your veterinarian.
Stuck on the biting?
Families who bring home one of our puppies can call or text us any time at (801) 414-6659.