As your puppy teethes there are many toys you can give her that should help her, especially if she's in pain. The Modern Bark has excellent advice on how to help teething pups.
Kong toys are durable and can help her as will toys that you can stick in the fridge and then take out. Cold toys will help her gums feel better. Be patient with your pup while she's teething — it's not a fun experience, but she'll feel better when all of her baby teeth have fallen out!
Depending on your puppy’s breed, teething will begin somewhere between 12 and 14 weeks, and the small, sharp milk teeth will begin to be pushed out by the larger adult teeth.
With this developmental stage comes a new set of challenges.
How Long Do Puppies Teeth?
Puppies begin teething at around 3 months of age and should have all of their adult teeth by 8 months of age.You will also want to check for any misalignment of the teeth. Upper and lower teeth that do not properly align can cause a “wry bite.” A wry bite means that the jaw has been pulled out to one side due to one tooth getting hung up on its corresponding tooth on the upper or lower jaw.
Keep in mind, as the puppy begins to teeth, the jaw is growing rapidly; the gums are inflamed from cutting new teeth, and your puppy is, in general, feeling pretty miserable. This is not a good time to do any serious training outside of basic puppy manners.
To help ease his pain and yours, here are some tips and tools of the trade that we and other breeders have used with success to channel a puppy’s need to chew towards appropriate objects.
1) Teaching “Leave It!”
It’s a good idea to begin to teach your puppy “Leave It!” as soon as you bring him home. A good “Leave It” will prevent you from getting into a tug of war over an object that you value, leaving it in worse condition than when you first discovered it in puppy’s mouth.2) Trade Up
Whenever you find your puppy chewing on something inappropriate, correct him with a “no.” Then trade up by giving him a toy that you know he likes. Once he starts chewing on the correct toy, praise him.3) Grannick’s Bitter Apple Spray
Grannick’s Bitter Apple Spray has prevented my dogs from chewing on leads, furniture and themselves.4) The Chilly Bone Dog Chew Toy
MultiPet makes a very durable toy called the Chilly Bone. This toy lasted us through 3 generations of teething puppies, before it disappeared in the backyard. It may still be out there in reasonably good condition.
The Chilly Bone is covered with a tough canvas outer and filled with a non-toxic gel that will freeze quickly in the freezer. This toy numbs the sore gums and cools the tendency towards feverishness.
5) Soft Mouth Training for Your Puppy
Teaching a soft mouth can be done by lying on the floor with the puppy and playing a little tug. Remove the toy and gently play with the lower jaw. It’s okay to let him gently “mouth” your hand, but if he bites down hard make a sharp, high pitched “ouch.” Then clamp is mouth shut gently but firmly for 2-3 seconds. If he bites again, say “no” and clamp the mouth again for 2-3 seconds.
6) Rope Toys
Rope toys are some of the best teething toys as they are inexpensive, easy to clean, versatile and last a long time.7) Kong Chew Toys
The Kong Company makes a variety of tough toys that are great for all levels of chewers. The original Kong product line includes hard rubber toys in which treats may be hidden. Puppies will work these toys for hours trying to dig the treats out of them.8) Chilled Carrots Are Good For Puppies
A cold carrot soothes the gums, tastes great and is rich in Omega 6 fatty acids, Vitamins A and K and Potassium.9) Crate Training
I recommend crate training for protecting the household when you are asleep or away and also to aid in potty training. Dogs are den animals and love small dark spaces to call their own.
Remember that consistency is the key to all successful puppy training – the teething phase won’t last forever, but the good habits you instill in him or her now will last a lifetime!
