Biting, chewing, nipping—puppies love exploring the world with their mouths! With their sharp little teeth, they’ll chomp on anything they see at home. Unfortunately, that may mean your furniture is at risk of getting teeth marks all over it.
Most puppies are ravenous chewers for one reason: teething. During their teething stages, puppies are growing new adult teeth to replace their baby ones. This process is painful and intense, causing your puppy to try to relieve the pain by chewing everything in sight!
To help your puppy (and your household items), we recommend searching for a good teething toy for puppies. A teething toy soothes your fur-baby’s gums, which prevents them from sinking their pearly whites into your furniture, shoes, and other items in your home.
We’ve compiled a list of 6 puppy teething toys that’ll keep your furry friend happy!
1. Kong toys
We list Kong toys a lot as one of our favorite toys but hear us out. Kong toys are perfect for your teething puppy. Along with providing mental stimulation, these toys encourage good chewing habits.
All you do is place a yummy treat like peanut butter (make sure it doesn’t have xylitol or artificial sweeteners!) inside the toy and watch your furry friend try to get it out. This little game may not seem like much but it’s soothing for your fur-baby.
Most Kong toys are made with durable rubber, allowing your puppy to chew away to their heart’s delight! These toys are a great distraction whenever your little buddy gets urges to chew. You can also add frozen treats or refrigerate the toy with a treat inside before letting your puppy play with it.
2. Puppy teething rings
Teething rings are a popular toy for puppies in their teething stage. This chew toy is typically designed as a single ring or multiple rings connected together. Some teething rings are created as single toys but can be connected with other rings.
They’re made with rubber or other durable material so that your puppy can chew, nip, and twist as much as they want. One of the best qualities of teething rings is that they message your puppy’s gums as they chew on them.
This gives your furry friend the soothing sensation and comfort they want. Of course, rubber teething rings aren’t the only option you have. Other teething rings are made from rope or bone.
If your puppy doesn’t show interest, don’t give up! Encourage your puppy to bite and play with these toys by smearing peanut butter or another yummy treat on the outer part of the ring.
3. Chewy Stick
Does your puppy have big teeth and an insatiable appetite for chewing? Well, a chewy stick might just do the trick! This toy comes in a variety of sizes and materials. Many chewy sticks are made with rubber while others consist of bone or yummy flavors like beef.
Depending on your puppy’s age and size, make sure to offer them a stick toy that isn’t too small for their mouths. Also, we recommend playing games with your furry friend with their chewy stick toy. Your puppy will love chasing after its toy in a fun game of fetch!
4. Tug-of-war toys
You can never go wrong with a game of tug-of-war. Now, we mentioned in our previous blog post that tug-of-war can be played with rope toys. However, you can also use just about any toy like teething rings for the activity as long as it isn’t prone to tears and damage.
If you opt for a rope toy, it may be made with bungee material. This means it won’t cause burn rashes when you’re tugging on the toy. We’ve said this many times before and we’ll say it here: do not tug your puppy too hard.
We understand that it’s easy to get too carried away in the game. When tugging your furry friend too hard can place stress on their jaw and teeth, which is painful. It can also lead to problems with their jaw and teeth formation later in life. Play it easy and engage in tug-of-war in a large open area so that you and your fur-baby are safe.
5. Squeaky toys
The best teething toy for your puppy is a squeaky toy. Why? Well, squeaky toys make a high-pitched, squeaking sound that gets your puppy’s attention. It also activates their natural prey drive, which they inherited from their wolf ancestors.
Squeaky toys come in different sizes, shapes, and colors. Be sure to choose a squeaky toy that is big enough for your puppy to hold in their mouths. Anything smaller can be a potential choking hazard. We also recommend a toy that is made with durable rubber so that it lasts longer.
6. Chewy chains
Like teething rings, chewy chains are toys that help soothe your puppy’s gums. They can also be used for other activities such as fetch and tug-of-war. Chewy chains are typically made with tough rubber. This helps the toy remain durable and strong for your furry friend’s teeth!
These toys may have a smooth or bumpy texture. The texture you chose doesn’t matter; both are able to alleviate your puppy’s gums. Just give a chewy chain toy to your pup and they’ll be happy to gnaw on it without complaining!
Most teething toys give puppies the comfort they’re looking for. You can also use their toys during training, especially if your furry friend prefers toys over treats. While you play and train your puppy, pay close attention to the toys they like the most. These are the kind of toys you should be getting for your fur-baby.
Having their favorite teething toy makes it easier to train your puppy so that they don’t do unspeakable damage to your household items. Of course, don’t fret too much over your fur-baby’s teething phase.
As they grow older and mature, their adult teeth will settle and you won’t find teeth marks all over your home. Make sure your pup’s toys are big enough to fit in their mouths without becoming a choking hazard. We also recommend supervising your puppy any time they’re playing with their toys, just in case.
Finding the perfect teething toy for your puppy is harder than you may think, but it’s worth going through the hassle. As long as you’re able to ease their teething pains, you’ll be able to grow a close bond with your furry friend!