Puppy Teething Timeline: Stages and How to Soothe It
Puppies start losing baby teeth around 12 to 16 weeks and finish their adult set by about six months. Here's the full timeline and how to ease the sore-gum phase.
By Matt, founder · 15 May 2026 · Lived-experience guidance, not medical advice.
Puppies begin losing their baby teeth at around 12 to 16 weeks old and usually have all 42 adult teeth in place by six to seven months. The peak chewing and gnawing you notice is the body's way of working loose milk teeth and soothing sore gums, so the answer is rarely to stop the chewing but to give it somewhere useful to go.
The teething timeline, week by week
Knowing roughly where your puppy is helps you tell normal teething from a problem.
- Birth to 2 weeks: no teeth; pups feed by suckling
- 3 to 6 weeks: 28 baby (deciduous) teeth come through
- 12 to 16 weeks: baby teeth start falling out, incisors first
- 4 to 5 months: canines and premolars are replaced; gums most sore here
- 6 to 7 months: the full set of 42 adult teeth should be in
You often won't find the lost teeth; many are simply swallowed, which is harmless. Breed makes a small difference too: some toy breeds run a little later and are more prone to retained baby teeth, so it's worth keeping an eye on the canines in particular as they come through.
Signs your puppy is teething
It is more than just chewing. Look for:
- Red, swollen or slightly bleeding gums
- Drooling more than usual
- Tiny spots of blood on toys or bedding
- A dropped or half-eaten meal because chewing kibble hurts
- A baby tooth left on the floor or sofa
Mild, short-lived off-days around the four-to-five-month mark are common. Persistent refusal to eat, bad breath or a swollen face is not teething and is worth a vet check for the underlying concern.
How to soothe a teething puppy
The goal is to give cool, firm, safe things to gnaw on and redirect away from your hands and skirting boards.
- Chill, don't freeze: a damp flannel or a rubber toy from the fridge feels great on hot gums. Rock-hard frozen items can crack a developing tooth
- Match toy firmness to the pup: it should give slightly under a thumbnail, not be bone-hard
- Rotate toys so they stay novel and interesting
- Stuff and freeze a soft chew toy with a little wet food or dog-safe spread for longer relief
A good set of puppy teething toys is the core of this; the dogs category has the wider range if you need beds, mats and the rest of the new-puppy kit.
Chews and lick mats that help
Variety keeps a teething pup busy. Natural chews give a different texture to rubber, and a lick mat turns soothing into a calming ten-minute activity rather than a frantic gnaw. Both work alongside dedicated toys; browse natural dog chews and lick mats to mix things up. Always supervise, and bin any chew that has worn down to a swallowable size.
A simple soothing routine
Teething pups settle better with a predictable rhythm than with a toy box free-for-all. A routine that works for many owners: a chilled chew after meals when gums are sorest, a stuffed-and-frozen toy for crate or settle time, and a short, calm lick-mat session in the evening to wind down before bed. Rotating two or three items keeps each one interesting, and tidying the rest away means your pup isn't overwhelmed by choice. The calmer the chewing, the less it spills over into frantic nipping at you.
Protecting your home and your hands
Teething overlaps with the worst of the nipping and household destruction, so tackle them together. How to Stop a Puppy Biting and Nipping covers the bite-inhibition side, and How to Stop a Puppy Chewing Everything helps you puppy-proof so the chewing lands on toys, not table legs. For picking the right gnaw-tools, Best Teething Toys for Puppies: UK Buyer's Guide compares the main types.
What not to do
- Don't give cooked bones, hooves or very hard nylon to a teething pup; they can fracture teeth
- Don't let a pup chew shoes or old socks; they can't tell those from your good ones
- Don't ignore a retained baby tooth still wedged beside an adult one past about seven months; that's one to mention to your vet
For more on this whole stage, including settling and routines, see our New Puppy hub. With the right chews and a bit of patience, the sore-gum weeks pass quickly and you come out the other side with a healthy adult set.
Common questions
How long does puppy teething last?
The active phase runs from about 12 weeks to six or seven months, with the soreness peaking around four to five months. Most pups have settled by their half-birthday.
Is it normal for a teething puppy to bleed a little?
A few specks of blood on a toy or some pink-tinged drool is normal as teeth come loose. Steady bleeding, a swollen face or refusing all food is not, and warrants a vet visit.
Should I pull a loose puppy tooth out?
No. Let baby teeth come out on their own through normal chewing. Pulling can damage the gum or break the root, so leave any stubborn ones for your vet to check.
Can teething put a puppy off its food?
Yes, sore gums can make crunching kibble uncomfortable. Softening food with a little warm water for a few days often helps until the worst of the soreness passes.
Are frozen toys safe for teething puppies?
Chilled is ideal, but solidly frozen rubber or metal can be hard enough to crack a young tooth. A fridge-cold toy or damp frozen flannel gives the relief without the risk.
About the author
Matt — founder, Everypaw Supply Co
Matt started Everypaw Supply Co to make getting pets the good stuff simpler and fairer. Everything in these guides comes from real life with pets and a lot of trial and error — it's practical guidance, not veterinary advice. If a guide gets something wrong, tell him directly.