Is This Teething?

[Niques]

I have a labrador pup who's normally quite the chewer, but the past day or two he's gone into overdrive. I thought we'd been making a touch of progress re: chewing people but he's started at it more frequently and much harder. He normally has a half-hearted chew at wooden furniture if he's lying next to it, but he's now started actively gnawing on it. He's also, just yesterday, started occasionally making a small moan or whimper before he starts biting hard on something which is what has put the teething thought into my head.

However, he's only just 10 weeks old and I was under the impression that teething normally started happening at around 4 months?

Does this sound like teething? Are there any obvious indicators of teething to look out for?

And if it is, any helpful suggestions for making it easier on him? He has ice to chomp on, frozen vegetables and frozen drink bottles. Anything else I could use?

Ta

[Sandra777]

I have a labrador pup who's normally quite the chewer, but the past day or two he's gone into overdrive. I thought we'd been making a touch of progress re: chewing people but he's started at it more frequently and much harder. He normally has a half-hearted chew at wooden furniture if he's lying next to it, but he's now started actively gnawing on it. He's also, just yesterday, started occasionally making a small moan or whimper before he starts biting hard on something which is what has put the teething thought into my head.

However, he's only just 10 weeks old and I was under the impression that teething normally started happening at around 4 months?

Does this sound like teething? Are there any obvious indicators of teething to look out for?

And if it is, any helpful suggestions for making it easier on him? He has ice to chomp on, frozen vegetables and frozen drink bottles. Anything else I could use?

Ta

No, doesn't sound like teething even if he was old enough. Sounds to me like he's decided that whatever your doing to stop him chewing is not really much to worry about and the whole world is a chew toy so munch away. Or more accurately, whatever you are doing to direct him to what he is allowed to chew, because it's an awful lot easier to teach a dog what he may chew than it is to teach him all the things he may not chew :D

Be more attentive to his behaviour - stop him from chewing on forbidden things before he even starts (get to know his, "hmmm think I'll have a munch" look) and redirect him to one of his own toys. Ice frozen vege and frozen drink bottles dont actually sound all that appealing for a 10 week old puppy. Mine like soft toys (op shop) ,plastic squeaky things ($2 shop), ropes (bunnings) and other things like this that are soft and and be chewed on will a nice full bodied chewing action ETA they're Staffords so will chew up bricks and concrete if allowed to. Plastic flower pots or buckets (remove the handles) are always much loved - running around with a bucket on your head may be a Stafford thing though.

When he starts teething his baby teeth will fall out and be replaced by adult teeth - you will probably notice this happen unless he's a solely outside dog, and you should certainly be teaching him to let you look at his teeth as part of his daily grooming regime so you'll notice it when it happens.

Edited March 14, 2010 by Sandra777

[Niques]

Thanks, Sandra

He has soft toys, ropes, rubber toys, old palm fronds, etc. as well. And he enjoys munching on rocks But yes, we're definitely in need of more work in terms of his people chewing habit :D

It was really his whimpering before chewing that had me concerned and thinking teething - any idea why he'd be doing that?

[persephone]

whimpering can be excitement, too....

maybe provide him with some nice big meaty bones to chew as well!