How long does the puppy teething stage last?

Most of the actual tooth loss and adult tooth emergence happens within this roughly 3 to 4 month window, though individual puppies and breeds vary somewhat in exact timing.

Even after all adult teeth are fully in, many puppies continue wanting to chew heavily through much of their first year, since it remains a natural behavior rather than purely a response to sore gums.

The most intense chewing and discomfort usually cluster in the middle of the window, roughly 4 to 5 months, when the largest adult teeth, the canines and molars, are actively emerging. Owners often notice this stretch feels harder than either the start or the tail end of the process.

By around 6 months, most puppies have their full set of 42 adult teeth and gum sensitivity has settled considerably, though the habit of reaching for something to chew whenever bored or under stimulated frequently continues well beyond that, since it has by then become a learned behavior alongside any remaining physical driver.

If heavy chewing, drooling, or apparent mouth discomfort continues unchanged well past 8 months, or if you notice a tooth that looks chipped, discolored, or clearly out of place, it is worth a dental check with your vet rather than assuming it is still ordinary teething. Most puppies pass through the whole stage without any complications at all, so this is worth knowing rather than expecting.