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.
Keep Reading
Best Chew Toys for Aggressive Chewers (And How to Tell If a Toy Is Actually Safe)