Dog teething can be a frustrating process for both you and your pet. Do your best to create a safe environment for your teething dog in order to make it through these troubling times. Here are four things to keep in mind to best minimize teething pain.
- Know the stages. Puppies lose their first set of teeth within a period of five months, starting at three months and continuing to eight. Puppy incisors fall out at three months, and adult teeth will rise until all 42 teeth are in place.
- Puppy-proof. Puppies, like toddlers, are curious. Use covers on outlets, install safety gates around dangerous areas, like the kitchen and trash can, and hide wires, which puppies will attempt to chew.
- Give your animal options. Rather than teething on something that could potentially harm your animal, find toys designed for dog biting. Rawhide chews, rope toys and nylabones are great alternatives to table corners and wires. Praise your dog for using his chew toy to encourage use.
- Tire him out. Schedule a routine exercise for you and your animal. The more energy your puppy spends on play, the less energy he has to find dangerous alternatives.