Today I would like to introduce Josh from kyrapets.com to the blog. He is here today to talk to us about puppy teething. So, take it away, Josh!
When I see a puppy, my heart melts. What about you? As much as we would like to say how adorable it is, we cannot deny the fact that going through the teething stage with your own puppy could be tormenting! It will literally get its teeth into anything reachable.
Most of us are clueless when it comes to this matter with our furry friends. That is why I chose to share my personal experience with you guys so you can better prepare yourself.
In this article, you will find out how to deal with your teething puppy, when it starts and stops teething.
When will my puppy start teething?
Dogs explore the world mainly with their mouths and the teething stage has made it “worse” and frequent. Teething is the process by which teeth appear on the gums of puppies sequentially.
The process is sometimes painful for the young puppy. As an owner, if you are not prepared for this, it might end up causing a lot of damage to your house. Puppies begin teething once they start weaning.
Its first teeth
According to Dr. Kris Bannon, most puppies have their first teeth from around 2 to 10 weeks of age. =
They will show signs of teeth by biting on different objects. However, the teething process can differ from one breed to another. Also, larger dog breeds complete the whole teething process quicker.
It can actually get more complicated if your dog is a hybrid of two different parents. But from a rough estimate, it will depend on when the two parents started teething.
As a puppy, it has 28 milk teeth (deciduous teeth). The process is quite painful for the dog.
Your dog will often gnaw away at shoes or any other items within reach. This will help them relieve both the pressure and the pain in their mouth.
Shedding milk teeth
In most cases, puppies lose their teeth faster and more easily compared to when they first grew them. In about a month’s time, the teeth begin falling off. And in the third month, it will lose the first set of teeth with the incisors leading the way.
At the age of about 4 months, all its teeth will have fallen off. It is best to see the vet to get a clearer picture of how many milk teeth are left.
By the eighth month, your dog should have all its adult teeth, 42 of them in total. The best part is that this is typically the point where all the teething has stopped.
The unfortunate part is that if you’ve not been training your dog, it might still continue chewing on materials around your home. If you thought the damage she did with 28 teeth was extreme, wait until you see what she can do with her adult teeth.
How to handle a teething puppy properly?
Once your puppy starts teething, it will definitely chew on everything, including you!
In most cases, your dog will not be fully grown during the adult teeth eruption. Your dog will chew on things to ease the pain. So, you will need to find a way to protect your fingers and furniture from constant gnawing. The best way to do this is to buy a toy. There are specific toys that can actually help it feel relieved of the pain.
When you are outside with your puppy, make sure it walks on a dog leash. This will prevent it from being harmed chewing on dangerous stuff or hurting others.
You also need to deflect your pet from chewing on your furniture or hands by using dog toys as a substitute. Train it to only chew on toys. This will not only help reduce the bites on both your hands and furniture but also distract it from aching teeth.
More importantly, using a toy will teach your dog some good manners; as this habit will continue throughout its adulthood. So, whenever it feels playful, it would rather stick to toys than play with your home décor.
What should you do when your teething puppy bit you?
The minute your puppy puts its teeth on you, you should stop playing with it and walk away. If it follows you, it’s best that you put it in a cage. This is what I did with Kyra. Unfortunately, she chewed on whatever it was in the cage. Nevertheless, it was still better than her damaging the furniture.
You can also let out an ‘uh-uh’ sound when your puppy is about to bite you or on something, before moving it away. This is like a warning for it not to do anything silly. I do this often to warn Kyra not to do things that I don’t want her to – e.g. when she is about to pick up twigs during our walk.
Also, use this time to walk away for at least twenty minutes then return with a toy in your hand. In the end, it will learn that whenever it puts its teeth on you, you will stop the fun time. This will help you control her biting. You can now play around with her without having to worry about her constant biting.
Finally
I hope you now have a better understanding of the teething process and timelines of your puppy. One more thing, teething is a natural process and you shouldn’t get worried if it tends to be a bit dull sometimes. However, make sure it has check-ups with the vet to ensure everything is alright.
Start a Howl!