Bringing home a teething Shih Tzu puppy is an adventure. Your adorable new family member will soon discover that chewing on everything (including your fingers, furniture, and shoelaces) feels amazing. As a breeder at Delasa Forever Shih Tzu with over 10 years of experience serving families across the USA and Canada, I've guided hundreds of owners through the teething phase. This guide will help you survive (and even enjoy) this stage while protecting your belongings and your puppy's health.
Shih Tzu Teething Timeline: What to Expect When
- 2-4 weeks: Baby (deciduous) teeth begin erupting – you likely won't see this if you bring your puppy home at 8 weeks
- 8-12 weeks: Full set of 28 razor-sharp baby teeth are in. This is when your puppy arrives home – they will chew EVERYTHING.
- 12-16 weeks: Baby teeth begin falling out; adult teeth start erupting. You may find tiny teeth on the floor (don't worry – it's normal).
- 16-24 weeks: Most adult teeth are in. Teething intensity decreases.
- 6-7 months: All 42 adult teeth should be present. If baby teeth remain, they'll need veterinary extraction.
Signs Your Shih Tzu is Teething
During teething, your Shih Tzu puppy may show these symptoms:
- 🦷 Excessive chewing on furniture, shoes, baseboards, your hands
- 🩸 Blood on toys – small amounts of blood are normal when baby teeth fall out
- 😫 Decreased appetite – tender gums make eating uncomfortable
- 🫗 Drooling more than usual
- 😤 Irritability or whining – teething hurts!
- 🦷 Missing teeth – you'll see gaps where baby teeth have fallen out
Safe Teething Relief for Shih Tzu Puppies
Here's what actually helps a teething Shih Tzu puppy:
✅ Safe Chew Toys for Teething Shih Tzus
- Frozen washcloth: Wet a clean washcloth, twist it, and freeze. The cold numbs gums and the texture feels great to chew.
- Chilled rubber teething toys: Kong puppy toys (freeze with peanut butter inside for extra appeal)
- Chilled carrot: Whole, cold carrot – edible and soothing. Supervise to prevent choking on large pieces.
- Nylabone puppy chews: Specifically designed for teething puppies (gentle on baby teeth)
- Pet-safe frozen treats: Freeze plain yogurt or pumpkin puree in ice cube trays
❌ What NOT to Give a Teething Shih Tzu
- Real bones or rawhide: Too hard – can crack baby teeth or cause intestinal blockages
- Ice cubes: Too hard, can crack teeth. Frozen washcloth is safer
- Old shoes or clothing: Teaches puppy that ALL fabric items (including your new shoes) are fair game
- Hard plastic toys: Can damage baby teeth
How to Protect Your Home During Teething
- Puppy-proof thoroughly: Move shoes, cords, and valuable items out of reach
- Use bitter apple spray: Apply to furniture legs and baseboards – the taste discourages chewing
- Provide plenty of acceptable chew toys: Rotate them to keep things interesting
- Supervise constantly: When you can't watch, use an exercise pen or crate
- Redirect, don't punish: When puppy chews something forbidden, calmly replace it with an appropriate toy
Teething and Biting: Teaching Bite Inhibition
Teething puppies explore the world with their mouths – including your hands. This is normal, but you need to teach bite inhibition:
- When puppy bites too hard, yelp loudly (like a littermate would) and stop playing immediately
- Turn away and ignore your puppy for 30-60 seconds
- Resume play when calm
- If biting continues, end play session and give a frozen teething toy instead
Never hit, hold a puppy's mouth shut, or use "alpha rolls" – these damage trust and can create fear aggression.
Feeding a Teething Shih Tzu Puppy
Teething makes eating painful. Help your puppy by:
- Soaking kibble in warm water for 10-15 minutes before serving (softens food)
- Feeding canned/wet food temporarily
- Offering small, frequent meals rather than two large ones
When to Worry: Retained Baby Teeth
By 6-7 months, all baby teeth should have fallen out. Retained baby teeth (adult tooth next to baby tooth) are common in Shih Tzus and cause:
- Food traps leading to rapid tartar buildup
- Misaligned adult teeth
- Increased risk of periodontal disease
Retained teeth need veterinary extraction, typically during spay/neuter surgery. This adds minimal time and cost but prevents lifelong dental problems. Check your puppy's mouth at 7 months – if baby teeth remain, schedule a vet appointment.
Teething and Shih Tzu Adult Dental Health
Good habits start now. While teething, you can:
- Get your puppy used to having their mouth handled (touch teeth, lift lips, reward with treats)
- Introduce the toothbrush without toothpaste first, letting them lick dog-safe toothpaste from the brush
- Start daily tooth brushing once adult teeth are fully in (around 7 months)
Find Your Perfect Shih Tzu Puppy
At Delasa Forever Shih Tzu, we start teething preparation early, giving puppies appropriate chew toys and handling their mouths daily. View our available Shih Tzu puppies for sale or contact Carolina for teething support after you bring your puppy home.
