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When Do Puppies Stop Chewing Everything? The Teething Timeline

The intense teething phase usually ends around six months,[2] but chewing does not switch off then. VCA says excessive chewing seems to ease around 18 months and carries on at some level for life,[1] so what matters is what your puppy chews in the meantime.

Liv
·6 min read
Teething typically ends by six months, when all 42 permanent teeth are in. Intense chewing eases around 18 months. Give rubber or fabric chews that bend, remove the tempting things, exercise her, and supervise.
How We Select Products: We compare manufacturer specifications and analyse hundreds of verified buyer reviews on Amazon. For puppy chews we set the criteria first from veterinary guidance (items that bend, no hard or edible chews without supervision) and only then look for products that meet them.
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The Timeline

VCA gives the ages: puppies start teething at about three weeks, all 28 baby teeth are in by about six weeks, the baby teeth begin to fall out at about 12 weeks as the permanent teeth come in, and by six months all 42 permanent teeth are in and the baby teeth are gone.[1] The ASPCA agrees that the teething phase typically ends by six months of age.[2] But VCA also says that intense chewing seems to ease at about 18 months and that some chewing continues for a dog's whole life.[1]

AgeWhat happens
About 3 weeksPuppies begin teething
About 6 weeksAll 28 baby teeth have come in
About 12 weeksBaby teeth begin to fall out; permanent teeth come in
About 6 monthsAll 42 permanent teeth are in; teething phase typically over
About 18 monthsExcessive chewing seems to ease

Source for the table: VCA, with the six-month point also given by the ASPCA.[1][2]

Why Puppies Chew

VCA says dogs explore the world with their mouths and that chewing seems to ease the discomfort of teething; it is especially strong in "mouthy" breeds such as retrievers.[1] The ASPCA lists relief from the pain of incoming teeth, investigating objects, boredom, and anxiety or frustration as reasons dogs chew.[2]

What to Give a Teething Puppy

VCA's simple test is "don't let your dog chew anything that won't bend". It lists rawhide, pigs' ears, bully sticks, bones, antlers, nylon objects, hard materials and tennis balls as items to avoid because of reports of intestinal blockages, punctures, throat obstruction and broken teeth.[1] The ASPCA is more permissive and lists bully sticks, pig ears and rawhide among natural chew options, while warning against cooked bones that can splinter and asking owners to supervise edible chews.[2] The two sources disagree here, so our products below are rubber and fabric rather than edible chews, and we suggest asking your vet about edible chews for your puppy.

KONG Puppy Teething Chew Toy (Small Puppies)
Best Rubber Chew

KONG Puppy Teething Chew Toy (Small Puppies)

A natural-rubber puppy toy you can stuff with treats; rubber bends, which fits VCA's rule of thumb to avoid anything that will not bend.

Pros

  • Natural rubber made for growing puppies, per the listing
  • Stuffable, so it doubles as a feeding toy

Cons

  • Sized for small puppies, so check the size for a bigger breed
  • Needs supervision like any chew
Price varies by size and seller; check current price on Amazon
Check current price on Amazon
KONG Puppy Goodie Bone
Best Chew Bone

KONG Puppy Goodie Bone

A rubber bone with a hollow for treats, for puppies that want something to carry as well as chew.

Pros

  • Natural rubber, per the listing
  • Can be filled with treats

Cons

  • Sized for small puppies
  • A treat-filled toy adds calories
Price varies by size and seller; check current price on Amazon
Check current price on Amazon

VCA also mentions freezable toys and frozen wet washcloths as ways to numb a teething puppy's gums.[1]

Pupstages Cool Teething Stick, 8.5 inch
Best Freezable Teether

Pupstages Cool Teething Stick, 8.5 inch

A stick you soak and freeze for sore gums; VCA mentions freezable toys and frozen washcloths as ways to comfort a teething puppy.

Pros

  • Soak and freeze for a cool chew, per the listing
  • 8.5 inches, easy to hold and carry

Cons

  • Listed for moderate chewers, small dogs and teething puppies, so not for power chewers
  • Supervise and replace it if it is damaged
Price varies by size and seller; check current price on Amazon
Check current price on Amazon

How to Cut Down on Destructive Chewing

Both sources agree on the basics. VCA says to remove tempting items such as shoes and clothes, give plenty of exercise and training, feed from puzzle toys instead of bowls, rotate chew toys to keep them fresh, and supervise constantly.[1] The ASPCA says to store valuables away, keep shoes and clothes in closed closets, put dirty laundry in a hamper, and rotate toys every couple of days.[2] When you catch the wrong thing in her mouth, the ASPCA suggests saying "uh-oh", removing it, giving an appropriate toy and praising her.[2] VCA says to yelp loudly and redirect if a puppy bites hands.[1]

What Not to Do

The ASPCA says not to punish after the fact because dogs cannot connect a punishment with something they did minutes or hours earlier, and lists duct tape around the mouth, muzzling, tying damaged items to the dog, and crating for longer than six hours as things to avoid.[2]

When to Call the Vet

VCA says retained baby teeth are common in small and short-nosed breeds and need removal to prevent malocclusion and periodontal disease, and lists teeth that traumatize the opposite jaw and unerupted or impacted teeth as other dental problems.[1] If your puppy has a tooth that is not coming out or seems to be in pain, ask your vet. Starting tooth brushing early is VCA's recommendation, and our dental chew guide covers adult dogs. For puppies that also pull, see our guide to stopping leash pulling.

Quick Comparison

ProductWhat It's For
KONG Puppy Teething Chew ToyA rubber chew you can stuff with treats
KONG Puppy Goodie BoneA rubber bone with a treat hollow
Pupstages Cool Teething StickA soak-and-freeze chew for sore gums

Our Take

Expect the worst of it until about six months, and some chewing until around 18. Give her flexible rubber or freezable chews, keep tempting items out of reach, exercise her, and ask your vet about baby teeth that do not fall out.

Frequently Asked Questions

VCA says the teething phase ends by about six months, when all 42 permanent teeth are in, and that excessive chewing seems to ease around 18 months but continues to some degree for life. The ASPCA also says the teething phase typically ends by six months.
VCA says baby teeth begin to fall out at about 12 weeks, as permanent teeth come in, and are all gone by about six months.
VCA's rule is not to let a dog chew anything that will not bend, and it lists rawhide, pigs' ears, bully sticks, bones, antlers, nylon objects, hard materials and tennis balls as items to avoid. The ASPCA lists some of those as natural chews with supervision, so ask your vet.
Remove tempting items, give plenty of exercise and training, use puzzle feeders, rotate toys, and supervise. When you catch her, remove the item and give an appropriate toy.
No. The ASPCA says dogs cannot connect a punishment to something they did minutes or hours ago.
The ASPCA says not to crate a dog for longer than six hours as a chewing fix.
About Liv
Co-founder & Lead Reviewer, PawPicks · Haarlem, Netherlands

I live in Haarlem with two dogs, Teddy and Bear, and a cat called Fountain. Seven years of that, and most of what I know I learned by getting it wrong first. I co-founded PawPicks so that you can check before you buy instead of after, and I say plainly when the evidence behind a popular remedy is thinner than the label suggests.

More about Liv →

References

  1. VCA Animal Hospitals. Teeth, Teething and Chewing in Puppies (February 28, 2024). VCA Animal Hospitals (read 2026-11-05)
  2. ASPCA. Destructive Chewing. ASPCA (no date shown on the page; read 2026-11-05)

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