Dog Teething Chew Toys: The Best Safe Options for Teething Puppies

Puppy teething is one of the most challenging phases of early dog ownership — for both the puppy and the owner. Those tiny razor-sharp baby teeth start falling out around 12 weeks, and by 6 months your puppy will have a full set of 42 adult teeth. During this entire period, the urge to chew is overwhelming and completely natural. The right dog teething chew toys make this phase manageable, protect your belongings, and most importantly — keep your puppy safe and comfortable.

If you want a broader overview of puppy chewing in general, check out our complete puppy chew toys guide. This post focuses specifically on the teething phase — what's happening in your puppy's mouth, what helps most, and which chews are genuinely safe for teething puppies.

What Actually Happens During Puppy Teething

Understanding the teething process helps you choose the right chew at each stage:

• 3–4 weeks — baby teeth (deciduous teeth) begin emerging. 28 baby teeth total.
• 12–16 weeks — baby teeth start falling out. This is when teething discomfort peaks. Gums become red, swollen, and sensitive. The urge to chew anything and everything intensifies dramatically.
• 4–6 months — adult teeth push through. Puppies may chew more aggressively as larger adult teeth emerge through the gum tissue.
• 6–7 months — all 42 adult teeth fully in place. Teething is complete.

During peak teething (12–16 weeks), puppies are not misbehaving when they chew everything — they are in genuine discomfort seeking relief. The right chew toy is not just a distraction, it is genuine pain management.

What Makes a Teething Chew Safe?

Teething puppies have extra requirements compared to adult dogs because their gums are inflamed and sensitive, and their developing teeth are smaller and more fragile than adult teeth:

• Softness — must pass the thumbnail test. Press your thumbnail into the chew — if you cannot make an indentation, it is too hard for a teething puppy.
• Appropriate size — large enough not to be swallowed whole, small enough for the puppy to hold and maneuver comfortably
• Digestible — anything a teething puppy bites off must be safely digestible. Teething puppies tend to be less controlled chewers than adults.
• No sharp edges — inflamed gums are easily injured by rough or sharp surfaces
• Non-toxic — some puppies will eventually consume part or all of a natural chew. Everything must be safe to ingest.
• Cold-friendly — cold amplifies teething relief dramatically. The best teething chews can be frozen.

Best Dog Teething Chew Toys by Type

1. Frozen Natural Chews — Most Effective for Pain Relief

Cold is the single most effective tool for teething pain relief. The cold temperature numbs inflamed gum tissue, reduces swelling, and provides immediate comfort. The best approach is to freeze your puppy's natural chews before giving them:

• Frozen chicken feet — naturally soft, fully digestible, and the cold amplifies relief perfectly. Our manicured chicken feet are one of the best natural teething chews available. Freeze them for 2–3 hours before giving for maximum effect.
• Frozen wet cloth — twist a clean cloth, wet it, freeze it. Free, safe, and highly effective. Many puppies love the texture.
• Frozen carrots — natural, digestible, low calorie. A whole frozen carrot is appropriate for medium to large breed puppies.

2. Rubber Teething Toys — Best for Extended Sessions

Puppy-specific rubber toys are designed with softer formulations than adult versions, making them appropriate for teething gums and developing teeth. Key options:

• KONG Puppy — the pink or blue puppy Kong is made from a softer rubber specifically for puppy teeth. Can be stuffed with puppy-safe food and frozen for combined enrichment and teething relief.
• Nylabone Teething Rings — flexible, textured rings designed specifically for teething puppies. The texture provides gum stimulation alongside chewing satisfaction.
• Soft rubber rings and keys — the variety of shapes and textures keeps puppies engaged. Look for products specifically labelled for teething or puppies.

3. Natural Single-Ingredient Chews — Best Overall

Natural chews combine the aromatic appeal of real food with genuine chewing satisfaction — and the right ones are completely safe for teething puppies. They also provide nutritional value that rubber toys simply cannot match.

Best natural chews for teething puppies:

Chicken Feet — our most recommended teething chew for puppies 12 weeks and older. The cartilage and soft bone are gentle on inflamed gums, fully digestible, and rich in natural glucosamine that supports developing joints. Our manicured chicken feet are cleaned and prepared specifically for safe dog consumption.

Bully Bites — smaller pieces of bully stick perfectly sized for growing puppies. Fully digestible, high in protein, long-lasting. Our Maxi Bully Bites are soft enough for teething puppies while providing enough resistance to satisfy the chewing urge.

Fish Skin Chews — soft, flexible, highly palatable and rich in omega-3 fatty acids that support brain development in growing puppies. Our fish skin jerky pieces are gentle enough for teething gums and most puppies find the aroma irresistible.

Duck Necks — naturally soft and flexible, fully digestible, rich in protein and glucosamine. Appropriate for puppies 12 weeks and older of medium and larger breeds.

4. Edible Dental Chews — For Dual Benefit

Puppy-formulated dental chews provide teething relief alongside early dental hygiene habits. Choose formulations specifically designed for puppies — adult dental chews are often too hard and too large for teething puppies.

Teething Chews to Absolutely Avoid

Some products marketed for dogs are genuinely dangerous for teething puppies:

• Antlers — far too hard. One of the leading causes of tooth fractures in young dogs. Fail the thumbnail test badly.
• Hooves — similarly too hard, often splinter in unpredictable ways
• Rawhide — softens into a gummy, sticky mass that can be swallowed in large pieces causing blockages. Not appropriate for puppies.
• Cooked bones of any kind — splinter into dangerous shards. Never appropriate for any dog at any age.
• Hard nylon chews for adult dogs or power chewers — too hard for developing puppy teeth
• Toys with small detachable parts — squeakers, button eyes, ribbons — all choking hazards for unsupervised puppies
• Ice cubes alone — can be too hard and risk tooth fractures in small breed puppies. Use frozen cloth or frozen natural chews instead.

How to Use Teething Chews Strategically

The Freezer Is Your Best Friend

Keep a rotation of frozen chews available throughout the teething phase. Freeze multiple chicken feet or a stuffed Kong at once so you always have a cold chew ready when your puppy is struggling. The relief is almost immediate and usually calms a distressed teething puppy within minutes.

Timing — Give Chews Before the Chewing Starts

Rather than waiting until your puppy is already chewing something inappropriate, proactively offer a chew toy at times when they typically become destructive — after meals, after play sessions, during crate time, and in the late afternoon when energy and discomfort often peak.

Rotate to Maintain Interest

Puppies habituate quickly to the same chew. Rotating between rubber toys, frozen natural chews, and different types of natural chews keeps each option feeling novel and engaging. A bored puppy will always find something inappropriate to chew — variety prevents this.

Use Chews to Build Crate Positive Association

A teething puppy given a special frozen chew only when going into their crate quickly associates the crate with something wonderful. This is one of the most effective crate training strategies available and uses the teething phase to your training advantage.

When Does Teething Get Better?

Most puppies show significant improvement in destructive chewing behavior by 6–7 months when all adult teeth are established. However, some puppies — particularly working breeds and large breeds — may continue heavy chewing well into their first year as a behavioral pattern. If chewing continues intensely past 8–9 months without a teething explanation, it may be boredom or anxiety-driven rather than teething-related, and a different approach is needed.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dog Teething Chew Toys

At what age do puppies need teething toys?

The teething phase begins around 12 weeks when baby teeth start falling out and peaks between 12–16 weeks. This is when teething toys are most critically needed. However, providing appropriate chew toys from 8 weeks — when puppies typically come home — helps establish good chewing habits before the intense teething phase begins.

Do frozen chews really help puppy teething?

Yes — freezing is genuinely one of the most effective teething relief strategies available. Cold numbs inflamed gum tissue, reduces swelling, and provides immediate pain relief. Veterinarians and veterinary behaviorists consistently recommend frozen chews as a first-line teething management strategy. The relief is fast and obvious — most teething puppies calm significantly within a few minutes of receiving a frozen chew.

How long should a teething puppy chew at one time?

Sessions of 15–20 minutes are ideal for teething puppies. This provides meaningful relief and engagement without risking jaw fatigue or digestive upset from consuming too much of a natural chew at once. Supervise every session and remove the chew if the puppy shows signs of frustration, gagging, or distress.

Are puppy chew toys different from adult dog chew toys?

Yes — significantly so. Puppy teething chew toys must be softer, appropriately sized for smaller mouths, and safe to consume partially or fully. Adult dog chews are often too hard for developing puppy teeth and can cause tooth fractures in young dogs. Always check that any chew is specifically appropriate for puppies or passes the thumbnail test before giving it to a teething dog.

What is the best natural teething chew for puppies?

Frozen chicken feet are widely considered one of the best natural teething chews for puppies. They are naturally soft, fully digestible, rich in glucosamine for joint development, appropriately sized for most breeds, and the cold temperature when frozen provides direct teething pain relief. They are also highly palatable — even the most reluctant puppies typically love them.