There are over 89 million dogs in the United States. Estimates suggest 44.6% of households in the U.S. have at least one dog.

If you’re new to dog ownership or are thinking about getting a puppy, you may have questions about what happens during the puppy teething process.

You’ll also want to know what steps you can take to help your puppy during teething while avoiding having your favorite shoes chewed.

We’re here to tell you what to expect as your puppy’s teeth come in.

Puppy Teething 101

Here are 5 things about teething you should know.

1. When Does It Start?

Puppies will ultimately have 28 baby teeth. The first teeth start emerging around 3-5 weeks of age and begin to shed around weeks 12-16.

The time when puppy teeth are shedding, and adult teeth are emerging is the most painful time for puppies. By the time the puppy is 6 months old, all the puppy teeth should be gone.

It is during weeks 12-16 you want to help your puppy get through the discomfort of teething and keep a close eye on your shoes.

2. What to Watch for During Teething

You’ll want to pay attention to your puppy’s mouth during teething to see if any problems are developing.

Face swelling, changes in eating habits, your puppy not sleeping through the night, or rubbing the face frequently are all possible signs that your puppy is experiencing mouth pain beyond normal teething pain.

It’s best to take your puppy to the veterinarian if you suspect there’s a problem during the teething process.

3. Helping Your Puppy Through Teething

A natural response to the discomfort of teething is for your puppy to chew on objects. This can be a problem if the object is something of yours which you’d rather not be destroyed.

To avoid this, you should never give your puppy anything to chew on that resembles something you don’t want the puppy to chew.

For example, giving a puppy an old shoe will teach them to chew shoes. This will be a problem when the puppy finds one of your new shoes.

The same goes for objects like stuffed animals or socks. Anything your puppy learns to chew on while teething will be the same things they chew on throughout their lives.

4. Getting the Right Chew Toy

Luckily for pet owners, there are many different types of chew toys designed for dogs to select from. Some are designed specifically for teething puppies and can help reduce the discomfort of teething.

A few toys can be filled with water and frozen which will give your puppy a cold object to chew on and help soothe their sore mouth.

5. Checking out the Bite

Your puppies upper and lower teeth should fit together properly when they close their mouth.

If the teeth don’t fit properly they could create problems and discomfort for your puppy.

This is because teeth that are not properly aligned could damage your puppy’s mouth as the dog chews. Issues with your puppy’s bite can be resolved by a veterinarian or veterinary dentist.

It’s a Dog’s Life

Now you know what to expect with puppy teething.

Check back often for more tips to help you and your dog. We also offer a full range of services including grooming and boarding your pet.

Feel free to contact us today and we’ll be happy to help you with all your pet grooming or boarding needs.