Puppy Teething Timeline :

What’s Happening Inside the Mouth

0–2 Weeks

No Teeth Present

• Puppies nurse

• No biting behavior

• Mouth used only for feeding

3–6 Weeks

Baby (Deciduous) Teeth Erupt

• 28 sharp puppy teeth appear

• Early mouthing begins

• Play biting with littermates start

8–12 Weeks

Exploration Through the Mouth

• Peak curiosity phase

• Increased chewing

• Social bite learning begins

• Human hands become “toys”

12–16 Weeks

Peak Teething Discomfort

• Baby teeth loosen and fall out

• Adult teeth begin erupting

• Gum irritation increases

• Biting intensity often spikes

• Sleeves, ankles, and hands targeted more

(This is the phase most owners panic.)

4–6 Months

Adult Teeth Replace Baby Teeth

• 42 adult teeth fully emerge

• Teething pain decreases

• Habit-based biting may remain

• Bite inhibition training becomes critical

Most puppy biting intensity peaks between 12–16 weeks and gradually improves as adult teeth finish erupting around 5–6 months.