Best Chew Toys for Teething Puppies (and What to Avoid)

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Teething puppies chew everything: hands, shoes, table legs. That is normal, and the fix is not to stop the chewing but to give it a safe target. The catch is that many popular chews are too hard for baby teeth. This page explains what a teething puppy needs from a chew toy, our three picks, what to avoid, and how to use chew toys to save your hands and furniture.

The short answer: choose a toy that bends. Veterinary dentists, as quoted by VCA, say not to let a dog chew anything that won’t bend, which rules out nylon, bones and antlers. For most teething puppies our pick is the KONG Puppy, the softest rubber in the KONG line. Size it to your puppy, supervise every chew session, and move up to an adult toy once the adult teeth are in.

Important: no chew toy is 100% safe, so supervise your puppy every time, as VCA advises. Take a toy away once pieces come off. If your puppy has a baby tooth that has not fallen out by the time the adult tooth is in, a bite that looks off, drooling or bleeding that seems more than slight, or you are unsure, see your vet.

Puppy teething timeline

VCA says puppies start teething at about three weeks, and by about six weeks all 28 baby teeth are in. At around 12 weeks the baby teeth start to fall out and the permanent teeth come in, and normally by six months all of the up to 42 adult teeth have erupted (VCA Animal Hospitals). The AKC gives a similar picture: baby teeth start falling out at about three to four months and should be gone by six months (AKC).

A little blood is normal. VCA says a small amount of bleeding when teeth fall out is common and usually shows only as mild red staining on a chew toy, and that most puppies swallow their baby teeth harmlessly (VCA Animal Hospitals). The AKC says to tell your vet about anything unusual, and about any baby teeth that do not fall out (AKC). VCA explains that retained baby teeth, most often the canines and more common in small and short-nosed breeds, can cause a poor bite and later dental problems, and need to be removed by a vet (VCA Animal Hospitals).

What makes a good teething toy

  • It bends. VCA says most veterinary dentists advise against letting puppies or adult dogs chew anything hard, because hard objects can break both baby and adult teeth. Their rule of thumb: “don’t let your dog chew anything that won’t bend” (VCA Animal Hospitals).
  • It is the right size. Toy makers list sizes by weight. As your puppy grows, move up a size; KONG says to graduate to a larger Puppy or a KONG Classic (KONG).
  • It holds up. The AKC says to check toys often and make sure your puppy cannot chew chunks off or pull out fiber or stuffing (AKC).
  • It can go in the freezer, or hold something frozen. The AKC lists rubber teething toys you can put in the freezer among good options for teething puppies (AKC).

Our picks

KONG Puppy Dog Toy, Medium

Best overall for teething puppies. The KONG Puppy has the classic hollow KONG shape in a rubber formula KONG says is designed for teething gums (KONG). KONG lists four sizes: XSmall up to 5 lbs, Small up to 20 lbs, Medium 15 to 35 lbs, and Large 30 to 65 lbs; our product page covers the Medium. It is hollow, so you can stuff it to make a chew last longer. KONG’s warning says it is for supervised use only, is not recommended for puppies over 9 months, and should be stopped if damaged (KONG).

In its puppy chew toy guide, Vetstreet says the KONG teething toy is made of softer rubber suited to baby teeth and tender gums for pups early in teething, under 24 weeks, and passes on a tip from owners: freeze a stuffed KONG so it lasts longer and soothes sore mouths (Vetstreet).

Best for: most puppies during teething, up to about 9 months. Skip if: your puppy is already older or chewing through it.

KONG Classic Dog Toy, Large

Best once adult teeth are in. When your puppy outgrows the KONG Puppy, KONG points you to the KONG Classic, the same stuffable shape in its standard rubber for average chewers (KONG; KONG). Our page covers the Large, which KONG lists for dogs 30 to 65 lbs. Vetstreet names the KONG Classic its overall best chew toy for puppies (Vetstreet). KONG’s warning again says supervised use only and to stop if damaged; power chewers should go up one or two sizes or try the KONG Extreme (KONG).

Best for: larger and older puppies moving into adult teeth. Skip if: your puppy is young and still has baby teeth; start with the Puppy version.

West Paw Zogoflex Bumi Tug Toy, Large

Best for tug play. Teething puppies often mouth hands during play, and a tug toy gives that energy a target. The West Paw Bumi is an S-shaped tug and fetch toy made of Zogoflex, a flexible material West Paw says stretches to twice the toy’s length (West Paw), so it passes the bend test. West Paw rates it for gentle chewers (West Paw), so use it for games with you, not as an unsupervised chew. Our page covers the Large.

Best for: tug and fetch games that redirect nipping. Skip if: you want a toy to leave with your puppy; use a KONG for that.

What to avoid

VCA warns that almost everything dogs chew has caused problems for some dogs, naming rawhide, pigs’ ears, bully sticks, bones, synthetic toys and tennis balls; some have caused blockages or punctures in the gut that needed surgery, and others have blocked the throat (VCA Animal Hospitals). That is why supervision matters even with a good toy. For teething puppies in particular, skip anything hard: VCA names nylon, bones and antlers as hard objects that can break teeth (VCA Animal Hospitals). The AKC adds that sticks can be hazardous (AKC).

This is why our toys for aggressive chewers, such as the nylon Benebone, are for adult dogs, not teething puppies.

How to use chew toys to stop nipping and chewing

  • Redirect, every time. The AKC suggests keeping toys within reach so you can offer one the moment your puppy nibbles fingers or toes, and stopping play if the nipping continues (AKC).
  • Do not reward biting. VCA says if your puppy chews on your hands, give a high-pitched yelp, pull your hand away and go play elsewhere, and do not let children keep playing after being nipped (VCA Animal Hospitals).
  • Rotate toys. VCA suggests having only a few toys out at once and rotating them to keep them interesting, and keeping clothes, shoes and children’s toys out of reach (VCA Animal Hospitals).
  • Burn off energy. Both sources suggest exercise and training sessions, and VCA suggests feeding from puzzle toys instead of a bowl (VCA Animal Hospitals; AKC).
  • Use the crate wisely. A stuffed KONG is a classic way to make crate time pleasant. See our guide to crate training a puppy.

VCA says excessive chewing tends to ease at around 18 months, though most dogs keep chewing to some degree all their lives. If chewing seems excessive or aggressive, ask your vet (VCA Animal Hospitals). The AKC says biting that seems aggressive rather than playful is a reason to talk to a vet or trainer (AKC).

Start dental care early

Teething is a good time to get your puppy used to having its mouth handled. VCA says getting a dog to accept brushing young sets you up to prevent many dental problems, and to use a toothbrush and toothpaste made for dogs (VCA Animal Hospitals). See how to brush a dog’s teeth for a step-by-step plan.

FAQ

When do puppies stop teething?

Usually by about six months, when the adult teeth are in (VCA Animal Hospitals; AKC). Chewing itself often continues well past that.

Are nylon bones or antlers OK for teething puppies?

Veterinary dentists quoted by VCA advise against hard chews such as nylon, bones and antlers for puppies and adult dogs, because they can break teeth (VCA Animal Hospitals).

Can I freeze a teething toy?

The AKC lists freezable rubber teething toys as a good option (AKC), and Vetstreet passes on owners’ tip of freezing a stuffed KONG (Vetstreet). Check the maker’s instructions for your toy.

Is it normal to find blood on my puppy’s toys?

A little, yes. VCA says mild red staining on a chew toy is common when baby teeth fall out (VCA Animal Hospitals). If you see more than that, or anything else unusual, talk to your vet (AKC).

For more on choosing toys for dogs and cats, see our dog and cat toys buying guide.

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