Teething in Labrador puppies is one of those phases that gets dramatically better as soon as it’s over — but in the middle of it, it can feel endless. A puppy with sore, itchy gums will chew everything in reach, bite more intensely, and generally be more difficult to manage than before. Knowing what’s happening biologically, what stage they’re at, and how to help makes a genuine difference.
The teething timeline in Lab puppies
| Age | What’s happening |
|---|---|
| 3–4 weeks | Baby teeth (deciduous) start erupting |
| 6–8 weeks | Full set of 28 baby teeth present — these are the needle-sharp ones |
| 12–16 weeks | Baby teeth start falling out as adult teeth push through — peak discomfort |
| 4–6 months | Adult incisors, canines, and premolars coming in — often most intense chewing phase |
| 5–7 months | Adult molars erupting — 42 adult teeth complete |
The most difficult teething period for most Lab owners is 4–6 months — the puppy is bigger and stronger than at 8 weeks, the gum discomfort is intense as the larger adult teeth push through, and they’re chewing with real force. This is also when the puppy is adolescent enough to be testing boundaries, which compounds the challenge.
Signs your puppy is teething
- Increased chewing — everything, not just designated chew toys
- Drooling more than usual
- Occasionally you’ll find a baby tooth — they often fall out during play or eating and get swallowed (harmless)
- Slight gum bleeding when chewing — normal during active teething
- Reduced appetite — sore gums make eating less comfortable, particularly with hard kibble
- More intense mouthing and biting
Best chews for Lab puppies by age
8–12 weeks: soft and soothing
Baby teeth are fragile — avoid anything hard at this age. What works well: frozen wet flannels (the cold soothes gum irritation), frozen carrots, rubber puppy teething rings, and soft rope toys. The freezing aspect genuinely helps — cold reduces inflammation and soothes sore tissue.
3–5 months: the transition to harder chews
As adult teeth start coming in, puppies need more substantial chewing. Bully sticks, pizzle chews, and natural dried chews are excellent at this stage — long-lasting, safe to digest, and genuinely satisfying. Frozen Kongs stuffed with wet food or mashed banana give both chewing satisfaction and cold relief.
5–7 months: the heavy chewing phase
The adult molars are coming in and the puppy is chewing with adult force. Nylon chew toys (Nylabones) in appropriate puppy sizes, large bully sticks, and deer antler alternatives (avoid actual hard antler at this age — they can crack adult teeth). This is also when a frozen Kong becomes one of the most useful tools for managing downtime — they occupy a puppy for 20–30 minutes and give the humans a break.
Chews to avoid
- Real bones: Cooked bones splinter and can perforate the gut. Raw bones are controversial — marrow bones specifically can crack adult teeth in Labs, who chew with significant force
- Hard antler: Can crack adult teeth — the “too hard” rule is simple: if you’d hurt yourself hitting it on your kneecap, it’s too hard for a dog’s teeth
- Rawhide: Can cause choking and digestive blockage if pieces are swallowed — many vets advise against it
- Any chew small enough to swallow whole
Managing the increased biting during teething
Teething intensifies puppy biting because the gums are uncomfortable and chewing relieves it. The training approach doesn’t change during teething — consistent bite inhibition work, redirect to appropriate chews, remove attention when biting escalates — but your expectations need to adjust. A puppy in peak teething discomfort at 4–5 months will bite more than they did at 10 weeks even with perfect training. It’s temporary. Stay consistent, provide relief, and it passes.
People also ask about Lab puppy teething
When does teething end in Labradors?
The active teething phase is essentially complete by 6–7 months when all 42 adult teeth are in. Most puppies improve noticeably from around 5–6 months as the majority of adult teeth are through. Some continued exploratory chewing beyond this is normal Lab behaviour, but the gum discomfort-driven intense chewing of peak teething should be resolved by 7 months.
Is it normal to find my puppy’s baby teeth?
Yes — occasionally you’ll find a small tooth on the floor or in their bedding. More often they’re swallowed during eating or play, which is harmless. If your puppy retains baby teeth alongside the incoming adult teeth (you can see both at the same time), mention it to your vet — retained baby teeth sometimes need extracting to prevent adult teeth growing in the wrong position.
My puppy seems in pain while teething — what can I help?
Cold is the most effective relief: frozen chews, frozen Kongs, frozen wet flannels. These can be offered as often as needed during the worst of the teething phase. Don’t give human pain medication — paracetamol and ibuprofen are toxic to dogs. If your puppy seems in significant distress, not eating, or you’re concerned about any aspect of their teething, a vet check is appropriate.
“, “rendered”: ”Teething in Labrador puppies is one of those phases that gets dramatically better as soon as it’s over — but in the middle of it, it can feel endless. A puppy with sore, itchy gums will chew everything in reach, bite more intensely, and generally be more difficult to manage than before. Knowing what’s happening biologically, what stage they’re at, and how to help makes a genuine difference.
The teething timeline in Lab puppies
| Age | What’s happening |
|---|---|
| 3–4 weeks | Baby teeth (deciduous) start erupting |
| 6–8 weeks | Full set of 28 baby teeth present — these are the needle-sharp ones |
| 12–16 weeks | Baby teeth start falling out as adult teeth push through — peak discomfort |
| 4–6 months | Adult incisors, canines, and premolars coming in — often most intense chewing phase |
| 5–7 months | Adult molars erupting — 42 adult teeth complete |
The most difficult teething period for most Lab owners is 4–6 months — the puppy is bigger and stronger than at 8 weeks, the gum discomfort is intense as the larger adult teeth push through, and they’re chewing with real force. This is also when the puppy is adolescent enough to be testing boundaries, which compounds the challenge.
Signs your puppy is teething
- Increased chewing — everything, not just designated chew toys
- Drooling more than usual
- Occasionally you’ll find a baby tooth — they often fall out during play or eating and get swallowed (harmless)
- Slight gum bleeding when chewing — normal during active teething
- Reduced appetite — sore gums make eating less comfortable, particularly with hard kibble
- More intense mouthing and biting
Best chews for Lab puppies by age
8–12 weeks: soft and soothing
Baby teeth are fragile — avoid anything hard at this age. What works well: frozen wet flannels (the cold soothes gum irritation), frozen carrots, rubber puppy teething rings, and soft rope toys. The freezing aspect genuinely helps — cold reduces inflammation and soothes sore tissue.
3–5 months: the transition to harder chews
As adult teeth start coming in, puppies need more substantial chewing. Bully sticks, pizzle chews, and natural dried chews are excellent at this stage — long-lasting, safe to digest, and genuinely satisfying. Frozen Kongs stuffed with wet food or mashed banana give both chewing satisfaction and cold relief.
5–7 months: the heavy chewing phase
The adult molars are coming in and the puppy is chewing with adult force. Nylon chew toys (Nylabones) in appropriate puppy sizes, large bully sticks, and deer antler alternatives (avoid actual hard antler at this age — they can crack adult teeth). This is also when a frozen Kong becomes one of the most useful tools for managing downtime — they occupy a puppy for 20–30 minutes and give the humans a break.
Chews to avoid
- Real bones: Cooked bones splinter and can perforate the gut. Raw bones are controversial — marrow bones specifically can crack adult teeth in Labs, who chew with significant force
- Hard antler: Can crack adult teeth — the “too hard” rule is simple: if you’d hurt yourself hitting it on your kneecap, it’s too hard for a dog’s teeth
- Rawhide: Can cause choking and digestive blockage if pieces are swallowed — many vets advise against it
- Any chew small enough to swallow whole
Managing the increased biting during teething
Teething intensifies puppy biting because the gums are uncomfortable and chewing relieves it. The training approach doesn’t change during teething — consistent bite inhibition work, redirect to appropriate chews, remove attention when biting escalates — but your expectations need to adjust. A puppy in peak teething discomfort at 4–5 months will bite more than they did at 10 weeks even with perfect training. It’s temporary. Stay consistent, provide relief, and it passes.
People also ask about Lab puppy teething
When does teething end in Labradors?
The active teething phase is essentially complete by 6–7 months when all 42 adult teeth are in. Most puppies improve noticeably from around 5–6 months as the majority of adult teeth are through. Some continued exploratory chewing beyond this is normal Lab behaviour, but the gum discomfort-driven intense chewing of peak teething should be resolved by 7 months.
Is it normal to find my puppy’s baby teeth?
Yes — occasionally you’ll find a small tooth on the floor or in their bedding. More often they’re swallowed during eating or play, which is harmless. If your puppy retains baby teeth alongside the incoming adult teeth (you can see both at the same time), mention it to your vet — retained baby teeth sometimes need extracting to prevent adult teeth growing in the wrong position.
My puppy seems in pain while teething — what can I help?
Cold is the most effective relief: frozen chews, frozen Kongs, frozen wet flannels. These can be offered as often as needed during the worst of the teething phase. Don’t give human pain medication — paracetamol and ibuprofen are toxic to dogs. If your puppy seems in significant distress, not eating, or you’re concerned about any aspect of their teething, a vet check is appropriate.
Teething drives most of the furniture chewing — our guide to stopping a Labrador chewing furniture shows what to do. Teething is a normal developmental stage — put it in context with our guide to normal Labrador puppy behaviour. Chew breaks can be built into the daily routine.