What You Need to Know About Puppy Teething Toys
Whether you’re helping your puppy through teething, teaching good behaviors, or just enjoying playtime, good quality, age- and size-appropriate toys are as important to dog development as training and exercise.
At around four months old, puppies start to teethe, as their baby teeth are replaced by adult teeth and molars. At this stage, chewing may seem like your puppy’s obsession, and they may chew on anything and everything. As any parent of a teething baby knows, teething is painful, so your puppy will need ways to reduce the discomfort of sore gums.
Teething toys soothe your puppy, while giving you an opportunity to teach them what they can and can’t chew on. For instance, don’t give your dog toys that resemble taboo items, like a squeaky shoe toy. Size is also an important consideration, as toys made for the small mouths of an 8-to-10-week-old puppy may cause a 6-to-9 month-old to choke.
Always read the manufacturer’s guidelines to make sure the toy is appropriate for your dog’s age and size, and that it’s been tested for safety.
No matter what toy you select for your puppy, it’s important to watch them when they play, and to check the toys occasionally to make sure your puppy hasn’t bitten off any chunks. Discard your puppy’s toy if it appears to be nearing its breaking point.
The shapes and textures of this Nylabone toy will satisfy your puppy’s need to chew, while keeping them entertained. Plus, the different textures on the keys are specifically designed to clean teeth and massage gums.
While many owners recommended this teething toy, some have warned that the small keys can be chewed off, which may lead to internal damage. Price: $6
If you want a teething toy that freshens breath and cleans teeth at the same time, this Nylabone dinosaur is the solution for you. This teething bone is designed for puppies up to 25 pounds, but it is not intended for aggressive chewers. The fun, T-Rex shaped puppy toy comes in an enticing chicken flavor.
Many users praised the durability of this toy, while some reported that dogs who don’t typically enjoy chew toys liked this one. However, others caution that this toy can be dangerous, as chunks of the toy may be torn off and digested. Price: $5
This two-pack toy is great for heavy-chewers. Both the classic wishbone and gum-massaging teething chew are bacon-flavored and will keep your chewing puppy busy for hours. These toys are durable so they will hold up to mouthy puppies. Price: $12.56
This non-toxic NWK puppy toy can be frozen to enable cooling relief over hours of chewing. The thick ring is made of 100-percent purified water, and reviewers noted that the durable ring was able to withstand even the most aggressive chewers. Price: $10
Made in the USA, this KONG puppy binkie is perfect for small breeds under 35 pounds, and may be filled with treats to better appeal to dogs. The binkie is available in small, medium, and large sizes, with color choices of blue or pink.
Though many users liked the soft, squishy texture that was appropriate for teething, others reported the toy being quickly destroyed within a day or two. Price: $8
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Puppies explore the world through their mouths, so they’ll chew anything they can sink their teeth into. By providing them with toys that indulge their teething instincts, you’re more likely to spare your shoes and socks from destruction.
During a puppy’s period of rapid development, from 2-months-old to 10-months-old, it’s important to give them appropriate toys, and both dog breed and personality can play a role in what toys might become your pup’s favorites. If your puppy bursts with energy and enjoys a challenge, they’ll love a toy that they can puzzle apart, or one that dispenses treats. While some pups like to snuggle up with a soft toy, others dogs may tear it to shreds.
Read on to discover some toys and treats to offer your puppy to help soothe painful gums and distract from the discomfort of teething.
Puppy Teething Tips: Watch Those Chompers!
Aside from providing your puppy with a safe and soothing chew toy while he’s teething, there are some other things you’ll want to do to help protect your pooch’s dental health. This means you’ll want to:
Handle your pup’s mouth frequently and from an early age. Start handling your puppy’s mouth as early as possible — this will make brushing your dog’s teeth much easier when he is older, plus it allows you to get a good look at how your pup’s teeth are coming along!
Look out for double teeth. If your pup’s milk teeth don’t fall out on time, your puppy may end up with a double set of teeth! Make sure to consult your vet if this happens, as vets may need to remove the milk teeth so that your pup’s adult teeth have room to grow. Double sets of teeth can also cause dental hygiene issues and mouth crowding, so definitely don’t ignore this issue!
Encourage your pup to chew suitable things. If your pup is chewing items you’d rather he didn’t (whether it’s their puppy bed or your suede shoes), there are a few strategies you can employ. You need to make the desired chew toy look more appealing than your antique rug. So, play with the toy, wave it around, have fun with it, and your pup may get curious. You can also put pet-safe peanut butter or treats on toys, while using an anti-chew dog spray on items you want your pup to stay away from.
Be Firm With Corrections. Even if you pup is going through teething discomfort, it’s important to stay consistent and correct him when he chews inappropriate items. Unfortunately, as pups teeth, they also tend to nip. This can be cute and playful at first, but you still need to teach your puppy that nipping is is inappropriate behavior. Most dogs grow out of nipping naturally as adults, but if your dog isn’t taught that nipping it bad behavior, he may learn to use it as a tool for dominance (which is not a road you want to go down, trust me)!
Hold Off On Tug-Of-War. Playing tug-of-war while your pup is teething can affect the growth of teeth, so hold off until your pup’s a bit older.
Remove Broken Toys Immediately. Dogs will eat anything (really, anything) they can swallow. Any item, whether toy or chew, that begins to splinter and break apart should be taken from your pup right away.
Are you a crafty canine parent? You may want to try to make your own homemade puppy teething toys! This will not only save you a few bucks, but it also means that you can customize the toys for your specific pet!
We provide instructions for making a ton of DIY dog toys here, but you can check out some relatively easy-to-make rope toys by watching the video below!
Best Puppy Chew Toys for Teething
Believe it or not, babies aren’t the only ones who teeth. Just like human babies, puppies have baby teeth that fall out, and when those permanent adult teeth emerge, your doggo will likely have an urge to gnaw. Chances are that you’d rather not sacrifice your favorite pair of shoes, so you’ll want to invest in some puppy teething toys that soothe their gums and keep their jaws amused. And as much fun as your pup might have pulling the stuffing from a plush toy, we’d recommend getting dog toys that are tough to destroy, both for your dog’s safety and for the sake of your wallet. The best puppy teething toys tend to be made with rubber or nylon that not even the toughest new teeth can chew through. Your dog will likely also enjoy toys that feature different textures and have secret compartments for hiding treats, as that will keep them amused much longer than a simple bone. Here are 12 puppy teething toys that will last all the way through your pup’s teething phase.
Made with soothing teething rubber, this chewing bone is impossible to destroy but soft on your puppys teeth and gums. The best part: You can hide treats inside the toys gripper holes to keep your pup amused for even longer.
As well as keeping your dog entertained for hours, this pacifier bone also works to clean your pups teeth and prevent tartar buildup as they chew.
This durable rubber ring toy is tough enough to handle even the most aggressive chewers, and its design makes it perfect for games of fetch and tug of war.
Made from durable, FDA-compliant nylon, this dental stick is easy on your dogs teeth but tough on doggie breath, thanks to its mint flavoring and sodium copper chlorophyll.
With its hollow center and tough rubber design, this is a treat dispenser, a puzzle, and a chew toy all in one.
This freezable pet teether wont just keep your puppy busy and his gums happy — it can also cool your pet down during heatwaves.
The cotton-blend fibers on this rope toy actually floss your doggos teeth as they chew and play (and it makes the perfect toy for tug of war).
Featuring flexible, textured rubber and a soft cotton rope, this little star toy can help alleviate teething pain and keep your pup endlessly engaged.
If your dog cant resist a fun squeaker, then theyll love this tough rubber bouncy ball, which is ideal for games of fetch and can withstand even the largest, fiercest dog teeth.
Made from a thermoplastic rubber material for extra durability, this S-shaped bone toy is great for both indoor and outdoor play, and your dog will love that its hollow center is perfect for hiding treats.
Textured, flexible, and amazingly durable, this squeaker toy was made for rough play. And since the ends are sealed, your pet will never be able to pull out that squeaker.
Designed by mechanical and polymer engineers, this ring toy can handle even the most destructive doggos. Goughnuts is so sure of this toys indestructibility, it will replace the toy if your pet can chew through the outer layer to expose the inner red layer.