Crunch. Munch flies. It was the sound of a puppy happily chewing whatever it could get its hands on. Ivan Petersel, professional dog trainer and founder of Dog Wizardy, says this is a normal part of puppy development. “However, chewing furniture is not necessarily part of the process,” he said. Instead, you can give them some of the best puppy teething toys.
Dr. Bradley Quest, a pet oral health expert and director of veterinary services at BSM Partners, says that just like human babies, puppies instinctively put things in their mouths, whether teething or not. Providing your pup with a variety of the best chew-friendly dog toys is one way to change his behavior and keep his shark teeth from gnawing on your fingers and furniture. We’ve tested dozens of chew toys and asked an expert for advice to help you find the best toys for teething puppies.
Best Overall: Kong Puppy Teething Sticks – See Chewy. These gentle teething sticks with ridged edges will help soothe your pup’s sore gums.
Best Flavor: Nylabone Teething Puppy Chew Bone – See Chewy Many pups who turn up their nose at chew toys can’t resist this chicken-flavored teether.
Best Snack Giveaway: West Paw Zogoflex Toppl – See Chewy. Soft yet durable, Toppl can be filled with food and snacks for long-lasting chewiness.
Best for small breeds: Kong Puppy Binkie – See Chewy. The soft rubber of this pacifier-shaped toy is perfect for the youngest pups.
Best for large breeds: Kong Puppy Tire – see Chewy. This puppy tire toy is designed for larger breeds and has room for soft treats for extra flavor.
Best for aggressive chewers: Nylabone Teething Puppy Chew X Bone – see Chewy. This durable X-shaped toy has ridges and grooves that make it easy for chewers to grip while chewing.
Best Plush Toy: Outward Hound Invincibles Mini Dog – Look, ChewyPuppies love soft, squeaky toys, and this one is durable enough to withstand some chewing.
Best Interactive Activity: Kong Puppy Dog Toy – See Chewy. Like the Kong Classic, this toy is great for chewing, feeding, and carrying.
Best Ring: SodaPup Diamond Ring – See Chewy. This toy ring has a diamond-shaped top for a unique chewing experience.
Best Ball: Hartz Dura Play Ball – See Chewy. This bacon-scented ball is soft but durable enough to withstand eager chewing.
Best to take with you: Kong Puppy Flyer – see Chewy. This soft disc toy glides through the air easily and is gentle enough for your puppy’s fragile teeth.
Best Bone: West Paw Zogoflex Hurley – See ChewyPuppies can sink their teeth into this soft, flexible bone without breaking it.
Best Multi-Pack: Outward Hound Orka Mini Teething Toys for Dogs – See Chewy. These three packs of chew toys add variety to your pup’s toy collection at an affordable price.
According to Quest, it can take about eight weeks for a puppy’s baby teeth to fully erupt. Subsequently, the eruption of permanent teeth takes approximately five to six months, and in some cases up to eight months. Teething is a long process that can cause gum pain, but this is usually relieved by chewing.
This rubber teething stick from Kong can satisfy puppies’ mouthing and chewing needs. It may also help relieve gum pain. According to Quest, soft rubber toys can relieve some of the gum pain caused by teething in puppies. “Physical stimulation of the gums around the new teeth will feel good to the puppy,” he says.
For puppies who are more interested in couch cushions than many of the best teething toys, non-edible flavored chew toys like Nylabone may be a good choice. The toy’s chicken flavor promotes proper chewing, and its textured surface helps prevent plaque and tartar buildup. Quest claims that toys with ridges and ridges scratch the surface of and between teeth, preventing plaque and tartar buildup.
When choosing a toy, it is always important to remember safety. This means avoiding toys that have parts that are easy for puppies to chew and swallow, as well as toys that are too hard for your puppy’s teeth. This toy checks all the boxes: soft, flexible and durable.
Play, which may involve chewing on objects or other puppies, begins at about three weeks, says Dr. Karen Sueda, a veterinary animal behaviorist at VCA West Los Angeles Animal Hospital. As puppies get older, they also exhibit more exploratory behavior and may benefit from toys that promote intellectual enrichment, such as puzzles, she said.
You can take advantage of your puppy’s curiosity by providing him with plenty of snack toys like Toppl. This treat toy has a hollow interior that can accommodate soft foods like peanut butter, as well as the best puppy food and best dog treats. It’s dishwasher safe, comes in two sizes, and you can mix them together as your dog grows and gets smarter!
Pros: Soft, elastic rubber, safe for puppies’ teeth; Available in two sizes; Food-stuffable and dishwasher safe.
Since every puppy is different, Quest says you can try a few different chew toys to see which ones stick. Just make sure you buy the right size toy. While large toys do not pose a choking hazard to small dogs, they can make play even more unpleasant.
The Kong Puppy Binkie is a rubber pacifier-shaped toy that is sized to fit small muzzles. According to Quest, soft rubber toys can help relieve gum pain. The toy also has a hole where you can put food and treats.
If you are buying toys for a large puppy, make sure they are not so small that they pose a choking hazard. “Chew toys should fit the size of your pup’s mouth so they can comfortably fit the widest part of the toy between the upper and lower molars,” says Quist.
The Kong Puppy Tires toy is larger at 4.5 inches in diameter. This tire-shaped toy is made of durable, stretchy rubber that resists destructive chewing. The inside of the splint can be filled with soft food to prolong your puppy’s attention span.
For puppies who are very good chewers, Quest recommends using toys that are fairly durable, but make sure they aren’t so hard that your nails won’t damage them. Nylabone X Bone comes in a variety of nuggets and grooves, and its beefy flavor comes from real juices infused into the toy’s flexible nylon material. The X shape makes it easy to grip and prevents frustration. Safe for puppies up to 15 pounds.
Remember that supervision is key when providing toys to any dog. “This is especially important when you first learn about your puppy’s chewing habits,” says Quest. Aggressive rodents can easily destroy regular puppy toys and swallow pieces.
Petersell says many puppies prefer soft, stuffed toys because they can easily insert their teeth into them and they are gentle on their teeth and gums. This toy may become more attractive to your puppy if you add a squeaker to it.
The Invincibles Minis Dog Squeaker is made from heavy-duty fabric with reinforced double stitching. The squeaker is durable and will continue to make sound even if it is pierced. Since there is no padding, there will be no mess even if you take it apart. Suitable for small and medium breeds.
Puzzle toys pose physical and mental challenges for puppies and can encourage nervous dogs to focus on play, Petersell said. A great way to introduce your dog to puzzles is to start with the easiest option: King Kong.
Petersel says the Kong is a good choice for teething puppies because it can be stuffed with food, making it durable. Whether you fill it with treats or not, this is one of the best teething toys for puppies because it is made of flexible rubber that helps reduce gum irritation associated with teething. It also comes in different sizes for different breeds.
While regular puppy play usually involves mouthing other puppies from the same litter, once your puppy is part of your family—and possibly alone—he may start chewing, says Sudha. – You or your things. You can transfer this behavior to a suitable chew toy, such as the SodaPup Diamond Ring.
This ring toy is made from a nylon and wood composite material and is ideal for puppies who chew excessively. Diamonds come in a variety of shapes to attract your pup’s attention and help keep his teeth clean when he chews on them.
While the balls aren’t necessarily the best choice for long-term chews, Quist says they’re suitable for interactive play between puppies and people. However, it is important to ensure that the ball is not large enough for your dog to swallow.
The Dura Play ball is available in three sizes to suit dogs of all sizes and ages. The ball’s latex material is very flexible but can withstand heavy chewing. What’s more, it has a delicious bacon scent and floats in water.
“When deciding which material is best for a particular puppy, the most important thing is to understand your puppy’s personality and chewing habits,” Quist says. If your dog eats easily and won’t damage the toy, something with a softer rubber, such as a puppy disc, is a good option.
Kong Puppy Rubber formula is suitable for dogs up to 9 months of age. The disc won’t hurt your pup’s teeth when he catches it, and it’s durable enough to play fetch outdoors.
Toys and objects made from very hard materials can pose a risk of tooth fracture, Quest says. Instead of giving your puppy things like antlers or real bones, look for toys made from softer materials, such as hurleys.
This bone-shaped toy is made of elastic and durable plastic that is more like rubber. The material of this toy is ideal for chewing and is highly elastic. It comes in three sizes, the smallest being 4.5 inches long.
“There is no one-size-fits-all product because every puppy has a unique chewing habit,” Quist said. Some puppies enjoy chewing on hard rubber toys, while others prefer textured toys.
This set of three textured toys from Outward Hound combines different textures such as fabric rope and rubber blocks. These toys also have ridges that help reduce tartar buildup. Each is just 4.75 inches long, perfect for a small puppy’s chin.
When shopping for the best teething and chewing toys for your puppy, consider your pup’s age, size, and chewing intensity, as well as the safety, durability, and materials of the toy, according to our experts.
We’ve tested dozens of dog and puppy toys, including many of our recommendations for the best teething toys for puppies. To narrow down our selection, we took into account recommendations from veterinarians and dog trainers, as well as the reputation of the brands we selected. We rely on our experience testing popular brands such as Kong, West Paw and Nylabone, as well as customer reviews of specific toys. These brands consistently receive high marks from our testers and online reviewers.
Sometimes chew toys just won’t cut. If your puppy is experiencing excessive pain and discomfort while teething, Quest recommends asking your veterinarian about teething gel.
Yes. The best puppy teething toys can help correct poor chewing behavior and relieve gum pain. Sudha says you should always supervise your puppy when giving him toys, especially when introducing him to new toys. “Check toys regularly for signs of wear and tear, and throw away toys that are broken, have sharp edges, or may have pieces that can be chewed and swallowed,” she says.
The ideal chew toy depends on the individual puppy. Some dogs may prefer toys of a certain texture, while others may prefer toys of a certain shape. However, Quest cautions against giving puppies edible dental chews. “The reason is that puppies tend to swallow edible objects rather than chew them,” he said.
Our experts do not recommend feeding puppies with teethers. Stick to products made for puppies. Quist said the teeth of human babies and puppies vary in size, shape and number, with puppies typically having much greater jaw strength. “Many puppies easily chew through human teething foods, creating an ingestion hazard,” he said.
Sign up for Insider Reviews’ weekly newsletter for more shopping tips and deals. You can purchase the logo and credit licenses for this article here. Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services that may be of interest to you. If you buy them, we may receive a small share of sales from our partners. We can receive products from manufacturers for testing free of charge. This does not influence our decision as to whether or not to recommend a product. We work independently from the advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Write to us: review@insider.com.
Post time: Sep-20-2023
