It’s a stage most German Shepherd puppy owners always ask about – teething.
Common question people might have in regards to teething might include:
– When does it start
– What are the stages
– When does it stop
– And, what can be done to manage chewing and biting
We’ve put together some general information and tips on the above questions
You might consider this information for this period of your puppy’s growth.
You’d definitely want to ask your local vet about your puppy’s teeth at their regular check up to get professional advice that everything is going as it should be, and to understand the stages better.
(NOTE: this is a general information guide only, and is not professional advice, or a substitute for professional advice. A qualified vet or animal expert is the only person qualified to give you expert advice in regards to your pet/s)
German Shepherd Puppy Teething Guide: Stages, When It Stops & Managing Biting
German Shepherd Teething Age – When Do German Shepherds Start Teething?
Puppies usually start teething from around 6-8 weeks of age when their puppy teeth are fully grown in.
When Do German Shepherd Puppies Stop Teething?
Puppies stop teething at around 6 months of age when the last of their adult teeth are finished growing in, and all their puppy teeth have fallen out.
Some vets may also tell you that there can be a secondary, more minor stage of teething where the adult teeth are grown in, but they then settle into the jawline.
German Shepherd Teething Stages and Process – What Are The Stages Of Teething?
Let’s start by pointing out that German Shepherd adults have different types of teeth.
We are mainly talking about the canines, incisors, molars and premolars, and the big carnassial tooth.
Puppies are generally born without teeth, have all their puppy teeth (also called milk teeth grown in by anywhere between 3 to 4 weeks of age to 6-8 weeks of age.
Puppy canines and incisors (the big teeth at the front of the mouth) are usually fully in place by about 6 to 8 weeks old
They begin the teething process at this point, which is essentially the process of losing their puppy teeth and gaining a full set of adult teeth.
Permanent adult canines and incisors are in place by around 3 months old.
Permanent molars, premolars and the big carnassial tooth are usually in place by about 4-6 months of age – these grow in as puppies don’t have molars.
So, your GSD puppy will usually finish the first and main stage of teething by about 4-6 months.
Usually a puppy will either accidentally swallow their puppy teeth when they lose them, or they fall out on the ground.
Puppy teeth usually start falling out at around 4 to 5 months of age (where adult teeth start growing in)
Puppies go from 28 puppy teeth to 42 permanent adult teeth by the time teething is done by somewhere between 5 to 7 months of age.
German Shepherd Puppy Teething Timeline
German Shepherd Teething Symptoms
Some symptoms of teething might include:
Red, inflamed gums
Drooling
Bad breath
Excessive chewing
Slightly bleeding gums
Teeth falling out, or missing teeth
Slightly reduced appetite
Puppy whining or being more irritable from time to time, or seeming lower energy at times
German Shepherd Teething Toys & Objects To Manage Chewing & Biting
German Shepherds may experience a little bit of pain and discomfort during teething, particularly in the gums.
This, and the fact that they are still puppies, leads to the infamous German Shepherd puppy chewing, biting and mouthing stage.
During this stage you not only want to begin obedience training to minimise bitey behavior, but you also want to give your GSD items to chew on so they don’t chew on you or items within your house.
Some things you may try are:
– Exercise your puppy regularly – it relieves boredom which is a common cause of chewing
– Give your GSD puppy wet towels you’ve placed in the fridge or freezer (make sure they aren’t hard though – hard objects can damage teeth. Soft and damp/cold is what you’re aiming for)
They love chewing on these and you can rotate them over.
– Give them old socks and shoes to chew on
– Soft ropes are great
– Give them dog toys, or a nylabone
– Crate them for short periods when appropriate if the chewing is really bad
You can check out nylabones, ropes and other dog and puppy toys in this guide.
When Do German Shepherds Stop Biting & Chewing?
You should notice a puppy stop the biting and chewing stage significantly around the 6 month stage once teething is finished.
However, keep in mind that a German Shepherd reaches maturity at around 15 months to 2 years of age
So, you may notice some remnants of puppy behavior up until this stage.
It’s important to do some biting and chewing training with your dog to teach them that hard mouthing and biting it not acceptable.
Check out this German Shepherd puppy biting guide for more information.
German Shepherd Teeth Chart
Here is a good teeth chart of the German Shepherd, along with other helpful anatomy diagrams and pictures.
German Shepherd Teeth Diagram
This resource has a good diagram of the jaws, teeth and dentition of a full grown adult GSD.
When Should You See The Vet During Teething?
Some resources indicate that if your dog develops a fever, or if they are bleeding profusely during teething, you should consider seeing a vet.
German Shepherd Teething And Ears – Is There A Relation Between The Two?
Yes, there is.
Teething is part of the German Shepherd’s body maturing, growing and developing.
During teething, it’s not uncommon for a German Shepherd’s ears to go up and down several times, before settling in one position.
You can read more about German Shepherd Ears in the following guides:
German Shepherd Ears: 12 Commonly Asked Questions + Answers
My German Shepherd’s Ears Are Floppy: What Are My Options?
German Shepherd Ears Not Standing Up: 9 Reasons Why
More Information & Facts About The German Shepherd Dog Breed
Teething is just one aspect to consider when owning a German Shepherd.
If you want to learn more about German Shepherds in general as a breed, we’ve put together this guide with over 100 interesting pieces of information and facts about the German Shepherd Dog Breed.
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