Dentition

Puppies normally have 28 deciduous (baby) teeth. Adult dogs normally have 42 permanent teeth. Puppy teeth generally begin appearing at around three to five weeks, permanent teeth usually begin replacing them at around four to five months, and adult dentition is generally present by around seven months.

Retained puppy teeth, damaged teeth, abnormal jaw alignment or difficulty eating all warrant veterinary assessment.

Adult tooth breakdown: 12 incisors · 4 canines · 16 premolars · 10 molars

Why puppy teeth feel so sharp

Deciduous teeth are small, narrow and pointed. Their fine points concentrate pressure onto a tiny area of skin, which is why a playful puppy mouthing can hurt so much. Puppies use their mouths to investigate, play and communicate, and the immediate feedback when pressure is too great helps littermates and carers respond.

Their narrow, needle-like shape makes excessive pressure immediately noticeable, which gives puppies valuable feedback while learning how gently to use their mouths.

This does not mean puppy teeth exist specifically to teach bite inhibition as an established evolutionary fact — only that their shape makes that learning feedback clear and quick.

Bite inhibition

Bite inhibition is the learned ability to control how much pressure the dog applies with their mouth.

Learning begins with the mother and littermates, and human carers must continue it calmly. Pause interaction the moment pressure becomes painful, reward gentle interaction, and redirect mouthing onto appropriate toys. Avoid frightening or physically punishing the puppy — fear does not teach control, it suppresses it.

Overtired and overstimulated puppies often mouth more, so rest is part of the lesson. Mouthing is not automatically aggression, but persistent, escalating or contextually concerning biting needs professional assessment. Bite-pressure learning begins with the mother and littermates and continues through the puppy's early development. Early experience matters greatly, but owners should continue reinforcing gentle mouth use beyond any single age window. (LUOSKO discusses the practical importance of 8–20 weeks in the Puppies section, but that range is not the only window in which this learning can be supported.)

"A German Shepherd has a bite force of exactly 238/291 PSI"

There is no dependable single PSI figure that applies to every German Shepherd.

Bite force changes with individual size, skull and jaw dimensions, tooth position, measurement method, motivation, training and health, and whether the dog is giving maximum effort. Ranking tables claiming "the top ten strongest bites", "more powerful than a wolf", "exactly 238 PSI" or "exactly 291 PSI" are not reliable.

The useful message is not a number. It is responsible handling, bite prevention and teaching control — not sensationalising jaw strength.