Hello wonderful puppy parent! Let me guess... your hands look like you've been playing with a briar patch, and the legs of your favourite coffee table suddenly have mysterious little teeth marks on them.
Welcome to the teething phase! I see you. I’ve been you.
When my puppy was going through this, I swear I thought I had accidentally adopted a tiny, adorable velociraptor. It can be so frustrating and overwhelming when you just want to cuddle, but they only want to chomp. But please, take a deep breath. You are not a bad trainer, and your puppy is not aggressive. They are just babies with sore gums!
Let’s get through this together with a few lifesavers:
1. Frozen Everything!
Cold is their best friend right now. Try soaking a clean washcloth in dog-safe bone broth, twisting it into a rope, and freezing it. It’s a cheap, soothing miracle for inflamed little gums.
2. The Right Toys
Ditch the flimsy stuff. Invest in some high-quality teething rings and rubber chew toys. (Pro tip: keeping a few different textures on hand is a game-changer!).
3. Bitter Apple Spray
This is your secret weapon for furniture. A quick spritz on the table legs, and suddenly chewing on wood is a lot less appealing!
4. The "Reverse Time-Out"
When the biting gets too much, don't yell. Just quietly get up and leave the room for 30 seconds. They will quickly learn that teeth on skin means the fun stops.
I am so endlessly grateful for this community and the support we offer each other during these wild phases of puppyhood. This phase will pass, I promise you. Before you know it, all the adult teeth will be in, and the cuddles will return. Hang in there, you're doing incredible!