Puppy teething usually starts around 8 weeks and can continue until roughly 6 months old, and it’s genuinely uncomfortable for them — which is why puppies chew on everything in sight, including your shoes and furniture. The instinct to chew isn’t something you can train away; the better approach is giving your puppy safe, satisfying things to chew instead.
Match the Toy to the Teething Stage
Early teething (8-16 weeks): Very soft rubber toys are important here, since baby teeth and gums are sensitive. Look for toys explicitly labeled for young puppies rather than general chew toys. Later teething (5-7 months, as adult teeth come in): Puppies can typically handle slightly firmer rubber and textured nylon toys as their jaws strengthen.
Materials and Types
Soft rubber toys are the standard first teething toy — gentle on developing teeth, often designed to be filled with food for extra engagement. Freezable rubber toys add a soothing, numbing effect that many puppies find real relief in during the worst teething days; soak in water and freeze before giving. Textured nylon chews have grooves that help massage sore gums while encouraging more structured chewing habits, and they’re a reasonable step up for older puppies. Rope toys satisfy the tug-and-chew instinct, but require caution: puppies can shred loose fibers quickly, and swallowed rope strands can cause serious intestinal blockages. Never leave a puppy unsupervised with a rope toy.
Well-Known Options
The KONG Puppy line is one of the most widely recommended starting points — soft enough for young teeth, and the ability to stuff it with food adds mental engagement alongside the chewing relief. Nylabone’s puppy-specific chews use textured grooves for gum massage and a softer material than their adult products, making them appropriate for developing teeth. Playology’s scented rope toys are a popular choice for puppies who enjoy interactive tug play, though the supervision caveat above still applies.
A Safety Note
Always supervise a puppy with a new toy, at least until you know how they chew. Any toy — no matter how well reviewed — can become a choking hazard once it starts to break down, so inspect regularly and retire anything showing cracks or missing pieces.