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Fox Ridge Goldens

When your puppy turns into a tiny shark

Published 7 months ago • 1 min read

Reader,

There’s a reason puppy owners joke about living with a “land shark.” One minute your Golden is sweet and cuddly, the next they’re coming at you with teeth sharp enough to pierce through jeans.

It feels personal… but it’s not.
It’s just biology.

Teething is one of the messiest, most misunderstood phases of puppyhood.

And if you don’t know what’s normal, and what’s not, you’ll spend those months frustrated, covered in bite marks, and wondering if you adopted a Golden or a piranha.

Here’s the breakdown you need:

What’s normal:

  • Mouthing hands, clothes, and just about anything in reach
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  • Chewing constantly to relieve gum pressure
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  • “Bitey zoomies” when overtired or overstimulated
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What’s not normal:

  • Biting with real aggression behind it
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  • Guarding objects and refusing to drop them
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  • Snapping or growling when approached
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So what do you do? Redirect, don’t punish.

Swap your hand or sleeve for a safe chew.

Offer a frozen rope toy or washcloth to soothe sore gums.
And if the biting ramps up out of nowhere? Chances are, your puppy needs a nap, not a lecture.

Teething doesn’t last forever… but how you handle it sets the stage for your Golden’s manners for life.

At Fox Ridge, we lay the groundwork early by handling our puppies daily, starting gentle training, and guiding them through these natural phases.

By the time they come home, they’re already learning that soft mouths get rewarded.

Your job is just to keep building on it.

​Take a look at our nursery here​

Love, NOT nibbles,

Dindy & Ken
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Fox Ridge Goldens

Dindy & Ken

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