The Puppy Teething Timeline
Updated July 27, 2026
Puppies teethe in two waves: 28 baby teeth are in by about 8 weeks, then from roughly 12 to 16 weeks they fall out as the adult teeth push through, finishing around 6 to 7 months with all 42 adult teeth. Chewing peaks at 4 to 5 months. Cold helps most: a frozen washcloth or stuffed frozen chew, offered before the evening frenzy, beats correcting every time.
Somewhere around 3 months, the puppy that mouthed everything starts genuinely chewing everything, and a tiny tooth shows up on the kitchen floor. Teething has started. Here's the timeline of what happens in the mouth month by month, what's normal (spoiler: almost all of it), and what actually helps, from the same age-banded playbook the Fetchwell app runs on.
The teething timeline
| Age | What's happening |
|---|---|
| 2–4 weeks | Baby teeth erupt The 28 deciduous teeth start coming in while the litter is still with the breeder. Nothing for you to do; most puppies come home with a full baby set. |
| 8–11 weeks | Full baby set, needle sharp All 28 baby teeth are in, and they're famously sharp. The nipping at this age is play and exploration, not teething pain yet. Start building the swap-for-a-chew habit now, before the real chewing starts. |
| 12–16 weeks | Baby teeth fall out, front first The incisors (the little front teeth) loosen and fall out first, and the adult ones push through. Chewing ramps up fast, sore gums drive it, and you may find a tiny tooth on the floor (most get swallowed harmlessly). |
| 4–5 months | Canines and premolars turn over The fangs and side teeth swap out. This is peak teething: expect the strongest chewing drive of the whole first year, drooling, and the occasional spot of blood on a toy. All normal. |
| 5–7 months | Molars finish the adult set The back molars come in last. By about 6 to 7 months most puppies have all 42 adult teeth and the frantic need to chew eases into a normal, lifelong enjoyment of chewing. |
The ranges are ranges for a reason: small breeds often run a little later and keep baby teeth longer, large breeds a little earlier. The order (incisors, then canines and premolars, then molars) is much more predictable than the exact week.
What to expect at each age
These are the same age-matched notes Fetchwell surfaces to owners day by day:
Where the chewing outlets go in a real day
Telling a teething puppy "no" all evening doesn't work; scheduling the chewing does. Here are the chewing outlets Fetchwell's engine places in a 13-week-old's day when the owner flags biting as their biggest struggle:
| Time | What to do |
|---|---|
| 10:00 AM | Bite-redirect session: swap hands for a chew tuned for biting |
| 5:45 PM | Frozen chew before the evening "witching hour" tuned for biting |
The pattern to steal even without the app: a morning swap-for-a-chew training rep, then a frozen chew placed before the evening witching hour, so sore gums always have a better option than your hands. From 16 weeks the engine also adds a standing mid-day chew session, because chewing stays strong into adolescence even as the teething pain fades. The free generator builds the whole day this way.
What's NOT normal
Teething explains a lot, but not everything. A puppy that stops eating, paws at its mouth, has a seriously swollen jaw, or still has a baby tooth firmly planted next to its erupted adult twin should see the vet rather than wait it out. And if the chewing comes with all-day frantic energy rather than an evening spike, look at sleep first: overtired and teething look similar, and they stack.
A day planned around the chewing
Fetchwell schedules the chew sessions, the bite-redirect training, and the pre-witching-hour frozen chew for your puppy's exact age, then retires them as teething passes.
Plan the teething weeks60-second quiz · see the plan before you sign up · 14 days free on yearly
Common questions
When do puppies start and stop teething?
Baby teeth are in by about 8 weeks. The swap to adult teeth starts around 12 to 16 weeks with the front incisors and finishes around 6 to 7 months, when all 42 adult teeth are in. The intense chewing phase tracks that window: it ramps up around 3 months, peaks at 4 to 5 months, and eases once the molars are through.
What helps a teething puppy?
Cold and chewing. A frozen washcloth (wet, wrung out, frozen), rubber chews you can stuff and freeze, and rotating a couple of textures so the mouth always has something better than your hands or the furniture. Offer the chew before the frantic chewing starts, not after. Fetchwell's schedule places one at 5:45 PM for exactly that reason.
My puppy is waking at night again during teething. Is that normal?
Yes. Night waking often makes a brief comeback while adult teeth come in, even in puppies who were sleeping through. It's normal and it passes. Keep the routine boring (quiet potty trip if needed, straight back to bed) and a safe chew in the crate can ease sore-gum restlessness.
Should I brush my puppy's teeth during teething?
Yes, gently: this is the easiest age to build the habit, even though the baby teeth themselves are temporary. Use a dog toothpaste (never human toothpaste), keep sessions short and positive, and don't force it on a day the gums look angry.
When should a vet look at my puppy's teeth?
At the regular vaccine visits, the vet checks the mouth anyway. Book a look sooner if a baby tooth is still firmly in place while the adult one is already through beside it (a retained tooth, common in small breeds), if the jaws seem to close oddly, or if your puppy stops eating or paws at its mouth.
Keep reading
- Puppy witching hour: why evenings get wild
- 12-week-old (3-month) puppy schedule
- Puppy sleep schedule by age: naps, bedtime, night crying
Or make it yours: the free schedule generator adapts this plan to your wake-up time and your puppy's biggest struggle, and prints on one page.
This guide is general, age-based care guidance, not veterinary advice. Every puppy is different; your vet may adjust timing, amounts, and recommendations for your dog.
Printed from fetchwell.app/guides/puppy-teething-timeline/ (free puppy guides and tools at fetchwell.app)