Puppy Teething Timeline: 3 Weeks to 7 Months

Puppy teething follows a predictable timeline, from tiny baby teeth at about 3 weeks to a full set of 42 adult teeth by 6 to 7 months. Knowing where your puppy is on that line helps you tell normal chewing from a problem. Find your puppy’s age in weeks below.

What is the puppy teething timeline?

Age	What is happening
3 weeks	First baby teeth come in
6 weeks	All 28 baby teeth are in
12 to 16 weeks	Baby teeth start falling out
4 to 6 months	Peak chewing
6 to 7 months	All 42 adult teeth are in

These ages come from VCA and Dogs Trust, and individual puppies vary. Heavy chewing often continues until around 18 months.

What are normal puppy teething signs?

• Chewing everything in reach
• Extra drool
• A tiny tooth on the floor, or none, because many get swallowed, which is fine
• Slight pink on a chew toy
• Not wanting hard kibble for a day or two

When should you call the vet about teething?

Call your vet if you see any of these:

• Two teeth in the same spot, which is a retained baby tooth
• More than slight bleeding, a broken tooth or a swollen face
• Your puppy refuses food for more than a day

Small and short-nosed breeds keep baby canines most often, including Chihuahuas, pugs, bulldogs, Boston terriers and boxers. Check weekly from 5 months. Also call your vet if your puppy swallows pieces of a toy or chew, chokes, vomits or has a swollen belly.

How do you do a 30-second mouth check?

1. Gently lift the lip at the side.
2. Look at the long canine teeth.
3. Praise and give a treat.

Do it daily so handling feels normal. Start brushing with dog toothpaste only, never human toothpaste, and use a soft puppy brush.

Does teething cause puppy biting?

Teething drives your puppy to chew objects, but biting people is mostly play. So chew toys help with sore gums, but they will not fix hand biting on their own. Cold can soothe sore gums: serve frozen food inside a rubber toy or on a lick mat, never as a hard frozen block.

Keep a basket of 3 or 4 toys in every room where you sit, so you are never more than an arm’s length from one, and swap them every 2 to 3 days so they stay interesting. During the peak chewing months of 4 to 6 months, this simple habit saves ankles, sleeves and furniture.

Test every chew before you hand it over. If it will not bend, do not give it. A safe chew should dent under your thumbnail, it must be too big to fit fully in your puppy’s mouth, and you should supervise every chew.

How long until the biting eases?

Most puppies ease off by 5 to 7 months, which matches the end of the teething timeline. Large breeds can mouth until 18 to 24 months. In the meantime, a calm routine matters more than any single toy. See the full guide for the Gentle Mouth Method and a 4-week plan.

If biting is sudden, or your puppy seems to be in pain, see your vet first. For fear, guarding or stiff, growly behavior, use the help box below.