labradoodle teeth and teething

Labradoodle Teeth and Teething

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Labradoodle teeth and teething can be interesting to learn about. But that knowledge can also save you a lot of stress and pain when your puppy is going through their teething stages. Like any other dog breed, Labradoodles will shed their baby teeth and in their place adult teeth will grow. Whilst they are teething, they’ll chew and bite more frequently, mostly in order to relieve the pain of teething! But, those little baby teeth can be sharp enough to tear at our clothing and even puncture skin when this is happening.

So, if you’re currently enduring a teething Labradoodle, it’s a good idea to learn how to manage your puppy in this period. Let’s take a closer look at Labradoodle teeth and teething to keep the relationship between you and your puppy as positive as possible!

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Labradoodle Teeth and Teething

A Labradoodle teething period can seem to go on forever when you’re in the middle of it. Those needles in your puppy’s mouth hurt after all! But, it’s not going to last forever. In fact, most owners don’t even realise when it stops. Here’s an idea of the timeframe you can expect for Labradoodle puppy teething stages:

Age:Teething Stage:
NewbornBarely any teeth to make nursing more comfortable.
3 – 4 weeksPuppy teeth start growing in. Transition to solid food often begins.
6 – 8 weeksFull set of puppy teeth. Puppy is fully weaned.
3 monthsPuppy starts to absorb roots of baby teeth.
4 monthsBaby teeth loosen and fall out. Adult teeth will begin growing in.
6 monthsAll baby teeth should be shed by this point.
8 monthsPuppy will have all of their adult teeth.
labradoodle teeth and teething

When Do Labradoodles Stop Teething?

When you’re living with a teething Labradoodle, it’s a relief to know that the pain and chewing will stop eventually. By 8 months old, Labradoodle puppies should have a full set of adult Labradoodle teeth. But, the exact time may differ slightly from one puppy to the next.

This might seem like a long time. Especially if you’re at the start of the teething period. But, more often than not, teething stops quite gradually. Most owners don’t realise that it has stopped at all until they remember back to those painful teething months much later! As long as you can cope through those early months, soon you’ll be looking back and wondering whether you were imagining things! And, towards the end of this guide, we’ve got some tips for making the teething months a little easier. For now, let’s take a closer look at the stages within this period.

Labradoodle Teeth and Teething Stages

When they are first born, Labradoodle puppies won’t have many teeth at all, if any. This is because they will be fully reliant on their mom’s milk for food. And, as you can imagine, feeding a puppy with lots of sharp little teeth would be quite unpleasant for her! But, over the next 8 months, your little Doodle puppies will go from having no teeth, to having baby teeth, to having a full adult set. Starting off by growing in their set of baby teeth.

3 – 4 Weeks Old

At 3 weeks, a Labradoodle puppy will start to get their baby teeth. These are also commonly called deciduous teeth, or milk teeth. Your puppy won’t get these all at once. Instead, they will grow in gradually, just like their adult teeth eventually will. This will be over the period of a couple of weeks.

And, these teeth will make feeding more uncomfortable for the mother dog. So, breeders may see her correcting her puppies more frequently, if they bite too hard. From 3 or 4 weeks of age, most breeders will start weaning their Labradoodle puppies onto solid puppy food.

6 – 8 Weeks Old

Somewhere around 6 to 8 weeks old, a Labradoodle puppy will have their full set of puppy teeth. At this point they will also be fully weaned onto a solid diet, and heading off to their new homes. As long as they haven’t left their breeder until at least 8 weeks, a Labradoodle puppy will have learnt a lot about bite inhibition from their mom and littermates. So, even though they have surprisingly strong jaw strength, their nips and bites during play will be much softer than possible.

3 Months Old

At three months old, your Labradoodle puppy will have been with you for about a month. At this point in their life, the teething process is about to begin. Once they reach around 3 months of age, they will start to absorb the roots of their baby teeth, which will cause them to loosen and set the stage for them to shed their teeth.

4 Months Old

From 3 to 4 months old, your Labradoodle puppy will start to lose their baby teeth as the roots have been fully absorbed. Their teeth won’t all fall out at once. It will be a gradual process. And, you might not even see it happening. A lot of owners don’t see the teeth that shed, as they are very small and many will even be swallowed by your puppy. Gradually, those lost baby teeth will be replaced as their adult teeth grow in.

At this stage, teething will most likely be at its worst. Your puppy will try to relieve the pain of growing in their adult teeth by chewing on anything and everything – from toys, to furniture, to you!

6 Months Old

By around 6 months old, your Labradoodle should have shed all of their baby teeth. They may not have all of their adult teeth yet, but a lot of them will have grown in, or will have started to grow in. Your puppy will still likely be chewing on everything they can as their teeth continue to grow in.

8 Months Old

By 8 months of age, your Labradoodle’s adult teeth should have fully grown in. At this age, your Doodle won’t still be needing to chew on things so much, particularly if you have handled the teething stage well and done all you can to avoid rewarding the behavior.

Signs of Labradoodle Teething

If you’ve lived with a teething puppy before, you might be wondering how anyone could miss the signs of a teething puppy. But, it might surprise you to learn just how many signs there are! And, how easy it can be to confuse a teething puppy with a naughty puppy that just won’t listen when you say no! Once you’ve recognized that your Labradoodle is teething, you can work to ease your puppy’s discomfort and prevent that painful chewing. Here are some of the most common signs of teething in puppies:

  • Excessive chewing on everything
  • Drooling
  • Swollen, red gums
  • Puppy teeth appearing around the house
  • Spots of blood on toys and bedding
  • Whining
  • Changes in appetite
  • Hesitation to eat

If you notice these signs in a 3 – 4 month Labradoodle, it’s likely their teething has started.

How Many Teeth Do Labradoodles Have?

The number of teeth that your Labradoodle has will depend on what stage of the teething process they are at. When they are puppies with a full set of milk teeth, Labradoodles will usually have around 28 teeth. Of course, as these shed and their adult teeth grow in, the number will vary massively. But, once they have a full set of adult teeth, your Labradoodle will have somewhere around 42 teeth in total.

Your dog has four types of teeth. At the very front of their mouth are the incisors. On either side of those are your Doodle’s canines. Behind your dog’s canines, on either side of their jaw, you will find the premolars. And, sitting behind them, right at the back of the jaw are your dog’s molars.

When Do Adult Labradoodle Teeth Grow In?

As we know, most Labradoodles will start to lose their baby teeth somewhere around 3 – 4 months old. Their adult teeth will usually start growing in at around 4 months old. And your Labradoodle will have a full set of adult teeth at around 8 months old. But, did you know that the types of teeth we identified above will usually start growing in at slightly different times?

The incisors tend to be the first of your puppy’s adult teeth, coming through at around 3 to 5 months. Canines will usually start to come through somewhere between 4 and 6 months of age. Similarly, premolars will be somewhere between 4 and 5 months of age. And, latest to come through is the molars, which will usually start to show between 5 and 7 months of age.

How to Cope With Labradoodle Teething

Labradoodle teething periods can last for 4 or 5 months in some cases. Which is a long time to deal with an irritable puppy that wants to chew on everything it sees – including you. It’s enough to drive most Doodle owners to exhaustion, to wondering if they’ll ever make it through the dreaded teething stage. Unfortunately, it’s something every Labradoodle puppy owner has to go through, but there are ways to minimise and discourage the painful biting phase.

You might have heard that yelping (like another puppy might when bitten) or growling at your puppy will help. And, in some cases it might. But, in other cases, these loud noises can just excite your Doodle further, leading them to think their biting is a fun game with you. The attention they get could cause them to come back and gnaw at you again when they want to play.

What to Do Instead

Instead of yelping or interacting when your teething Labradoodle bites, it’s best to ignore them altogether. Set up a puppy safe zone that you can leave your puppy in alone if they bite you. Make sure this has plenty of great toys for chewing on, so they can redirect their behavior elsewhere. And, to encourage better behavior, make sure to reward your Labradoodle whenever they are sitting or playing calmly by themselves. Place a little treat between their paws, and before long they’ll understand which behaviors get them treats and attention!

There are plenty of puppy toys available designed to help teething puppies. So, it may be worth investing in some for your Doodle. Additionally, you can use things you have at home. For instance, many owners report the success of a frozen carrot for their teething puppies! Not only does this provide something firm to chew on, but the coldness also soothes their gums.

Perhaps most importantly of all, make sure to give yourself plenty of breaks from your Labradoodle teeth and teething behavior. Being chewed on constantly is painful and stressful for any owner. So, it’s important to give yourself time to recover mentally. Taking breaks will be vital for your mental health and patience around a teething puppy. Wear tight clothing when you do interact with your Labradoodle, and enlist the help of other household members!

Should I Punish My Labradoodle for Biting?

Many owners mistake teething behaviors for aggressive biting. But, every Labradoodle puppy is likely to nip and chew when they are teething. It doesn’t mean your puppy is aggressive. Likewise, you should never punish your puppy for biting or chewing. Doing so can increase the number of unwanted behaviors you witness, and can build a level of wariness and distrust from your dog towards you.

Instead of punishing your Labradoodle when they bite during teething, ignore them completely and remove yourself from them, for instance by leaving their puppy zone, or placing them alone inside. This way, your puppy won’t be rewarded for biting, but also won’t lose any trust towards you. Focus instead on rewarding calm behavior and ignoring behaviors you don’t want.

When Should I Start Brushing My Labradoodle’s Teeth?

It’s a good idea to start brushing your Labradoodle’s teeth as soon as possible. By starting when your Labradoodle is a puppy, your dog will become familiar with the process. This will make it much easier to brush your dog’s teeth when they are older. Studies have shown that brushing your dog’s teeth is a great way to improve their dental health, especially when done daily or every other day.

When you first brush your Doodle’s teeth, build up the process gradually and make sure you give plenty of rewards. This way, your puppy will associate having their teeth brushed with great things! At first, you may only be touching the brush to their teeth, or even touching your dog’s mouth with your hands so they are used to having you there. Gradually, build up the steps to brushing a single tooth and allowing your Labradoodle to get used to the sensation. And, over time, build up to brushing all of your Doodle’s teeth. Make sure you are using a dog-safe toothpaste, not one designed for humans.

If you’ve tried to brush your Labradoodle’s teeth and are still struggling, or are worried you aren’t doing a great job, you can also consider dental chews. Studies have also shown that a dental chew each day can benefit our dogs’ dental health. And, if you’re really concerned, you can speak to your veterinarian, to see if there is anything else they would suggest.

Labradoodle Teeth and Teething – A Summary

Labradoodle teeth and teething are similar to many other breeds! So, it’s likely you’ll find a lot of other owners who have faced the same issues as you. Especially when it comes to having a puppy that has turned into a tiny shark. But, with patience, rewards, and plenty of breaks, you will get through the teething stage.

Are you currently dealing with a teething Labradoodle puppy? Or are you just keen to learn more about Labradoodle teeth? Let us know in the comments!

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