Puppy teething is something that a lot of dog owner’s know very little about. Because of this, they can get very confused when their puppy suddenly develops an appetite for chewing just about anything and everything.

There are two main teething periods in puppies. The first one starts at around three to four weeks of age. This corresponds to the time when the baby teeth erupt. This is usually the easier and less troublesome period. The more difficult one occurs at around six to seven months of age. This is when the dog’s adult teeth make their appearance. First of all the canine teeth erupt, then the incisors and finally the pre-molars.

Increased chewing activity is definitely the first major sign that your puppy is teething. And this is where your problems can start because your puppy is not unlikely to develop a taste for household objects like shoes and furniture.

Some of the other signs of puppy teething are missing teeth and swollen gums. If your puppy starts to show that he is experiencing discomfort during the teething phase, you can get gels and powders from your vet to help with the problem.

Of course, you’ll have to ultimately accept that your puppy is going to chew – it’s perfectly natural for him to do so. When he’s teething he will feel discomfort and soreness in his mouth. Chewing puts pressure on the gums which will tend to reduce his feeling of discomfort.

To try to reduce the incidence of damage to your household effects due to your puppies chewing you should introduce chewing toys and get your puppy used to chewing on them. If you can establish a toy or toys as your puppy’s favorites there is less chance that he will cause mass destruction in your house.

If you play with your puppy it’s quite likely that he will start biting your hands. It’s very important when this happens that you give very clear signals if the biting becomes too hard. You must never hit your dog but you should give a very clear command of NO and break off from playing for a few minutes to let the puppy know that this behavior is unacceptable.

Cold objects are very good for relieving soreness when puppies are teething and they can help to alleviate any pain the animal is experiencing so it can be a good idea to freeze their rubber toys or a piece of rope etc. before you let your puppy play with them.

A little bit of thought and understanding can help your puppy to cope with what can be a painful time for him.

Rebecca Prince is author of “Canine-911! – How To Save Your Dog’s Life” which gives First Aid and Healthcare for your dog and is essential reading for all dog lovers