Your puppy doesn't chew your shoes because it's naughty. It chews because teething makes its gums sore, and chewing helps relieve that discomfort.
Once you understand that, the solution becomes much simpler. Instead of trying to stop your puppy from chewing altogether, give it something safe and satisfying to chew before it turns to your furniture, trainers, or TV remote. Puppies don't spend time deciding what they should chew. They grab whatever is closest when the urge hits.
Of course, not every toy labelled "teething" will help. Some feel too hard for growing teeth. Others break apart after a few chewing sessions or come in the wrong size for your puppy. The best teething toys soothe sore gums, stand up to
determined chewers, and help your puppy develop better chewing habits from the beginning.
Today, we will talk about what happens during teething, what to look for in a quality teething toy, and five dog teething toys that can make this challenging stage much easier for both you and your puppy.
Why puppies chew everything between 3 and 7 months
Most puppies are born with no teeth. By three to four weeks, 28 baby teeth have come in. Between 12 and 16 weeks, those teeth start falling out as 42 adult teeth push through. The full exchange runs until around seven months, with the worst of it concentrated between four and six months for most breeds.
The gum tissue during this period is inflamed and tender. Chewing applies counter-pressure that brings temporary relief, similar to why a teething human baby wants to bite down on something firm. A four-month-old puppy chewing your couch is not acting out. It has found the closest available thing that helps.
Larger breeds tend to teethe later and more intensely than smaller ones. A Chihuahua and a Rottweiler puppy at five months are having different experiences, which matters when you are choosing a toy size. Both need the same counter-pressure. One needs considerably more surface area to chew.
What actually matters in a dog teething toy
The firmness test. Press your thumbnail firmly into the toy. If it gives slightly - if you can make a small indent - it is in the right range for a teething puppy. If it does not give at all, if it feels as rigid as a block of wood, it is likely too hard for baby teeth. Puppy teeth have thinner enamel and shallower roots than adult teeth. A toy that survives an adult dog for months can crack a puppy tooth in one session.
Texture over shape. A ridged or nubbed surface does more for sore gums than a smooth one. When a puppy chews across raised edges, it gets something closer to targeted pressure on the gum tissue. This is why good teething toys have patterns and textures pressed into them - it is not decoration. A smooth sphere and a textured one are not the same experience for a puppy in pain.
Size for the breed, not just the age. "Puppy" as a size category means almost nothing without breed context. A toy that works for a four-month-old Maltese is a choking hazard for a four-month-old German Shepherd. Go by breed weight guidelines. When you are between sizes, go larger. A toy your puppy cannot get its whole mouth around is safer than one it can swallow whole.
Durability with give. You want the toy to last more than one session without breaking into chunks. But you also do not want it to be indestructible in the sense of being completely rigid. Good rubber and nylon-rubber composite toys flex slightly under bite pressure, which is both safer for teeth and more satisfying for the puppy - it mimics the give of something real.
Freezing makes it more effective. Most rubber and nylon toys can go in the
freezer for one to two hours before use. Cold reduces inflammation in the gum tissue and numbs the surface slightly, which makes the toy noticeably more effective during the worst weeks. Do not freeze the toy submerged in water - ice expansion can damage the toy. Cold and dry is enough.
What not to give a teething puppy
Rawhide is a common first choice and a poor one for puppies. It softens when chewed and can be torn into large chunks that are swallowing hazards. A puppy in peak teething mode is chewing aggressively and does not moderate itself the way an adult dog might.
Real bones - cooked or raw - are similarly risky. Cooked bones can splinter. Raw bones are better, but still carry fracture risk for puppy teeth and bacterial contamination concerns. For teething specifically, purpose-made rubber and nylon toys are the more predictable choice.
Anything your puppy can break into pieces in under ten minutes is not a teething toy. It is a snack. Check new toys after the first session. If chunks are coming off, remove the toy.
Five Petopia dog chew toys for teething
1. Petopia Pineapple Tough Dog Chew Toy, Small, Orange/Green - $12.99
The small size makes this the right starting point for puppies under 25 pounds - think young Pugs, French Bulldogs, Shih Tzus, or any similarly sized mixed breed in the four-to-six-month range. The pineapple shape has ridged texture across the body that gives gums something to press against on multiple sides. It flexes rather than shatters under bite pressure, which is what you want for a mouth still carrying baby teeth.
With close to 200 reviews on Chewy and a 4.3-star average, it is the most road-tested Petopia option currently listed, which matters when you are buying something you plan to leave with a puppy unsupervised.
Available on Chewy - $12.99
2. Petopia Cupcakes Tough Dog Chew Toy, Medium, White/Yellow - $10.99
The most affordable option in the Petopia lineup, and the medium size works for puppies in the 25-to-50-pound range - a four-month-old Labrador Retriever, a young Border Collie, or a Golden Retriever who has entered the phase where they are destroying the living room systematically. The cupcake shape offers several distinct surfaces and angles to chew, which tends to hold a puppy's attention longer than a single-shape toy. At under eleven dollars, it is also an easy first buy to test whether your puppy takes to this type of toy before investing in the rest of a rotation.
Available on Chewy - $10.99
3. Petopia Turtle Shell Interactive Dog Chew Toy, Medium, Yellow - $13.99
The hexagonal pattern across the shell surface is the functional part. When a puppy chews across those raised edges, it distributes pressure along the gum rather than concentrating it in a single spot, which more closely approximates what actually brings relief. The interactive element comes from the shape rolling unpredictably when batted around - this keeps a bored teething puppy working to pick it back up and re-engage with it, rather than setting it down after two minutes because it stopped being interesting. Put this one in the freezer before you give it and it becomes considerably more effective.
Available on Chewy - $13.99
4. Petopia Stick Interactive Tough Chew Dog Toy, Large, Blue/Orange - $16.99
Puppies go for stick shapes for reasons that have nothing to do with any product design choice - it is just a shape they understand instinctively. This version is a nylon-rubber composite that flexes and gives under bite pressure rather than sitting completely rigid in the mouth. The nubs along the stick body work on gum tissue while the puppy chews along its length. The large size is worth considering even for medium-breed puppies during the peak teething phase, since a toy your puppy cannot swallow is always preferable to one it theoretically could.
Available on Chewy - $16.99
5. Petopia Lollipops Interactive Dog Chews Toy, Large, Blue/White - $15.99
A puppy who can pick up and reposition a toy is a puppy who stays engaged with it. The lollipop shape makes this one easy to carry, bat around, and come back to, which matters during a phase when you want your puppy to have a consistent alternative to whatever it would otherwise be chewing. The round head offers enough surface area for the puppy to find a comfortable chewing angle, and the handle gives something to grip and shake, which most puppies in the teething phase find satisfying. Works well as a third toy in rotation when you have one in use and one in the freezer.
Available on Chewy - $15.99
How to Build a Rotation
One toy is not enough during peak teething. A puppy who has exhausted one option will find another. Two or three toys in rotation - one in use, one in the freezer, one drying after being washed - covers the worst of it. When your puppy loses interest in a toy it has been chewing for a week, put it away for a few days and bring it back. The novelty restores some of the interest, and the gap gives you time to freeze it fresh.
Most puppies are through the worst of teething by six months. The adult teeth are in and settled by seven. The chewing instinct does not disappear - dogs chew for stimulation and stress relief their whole lives - but the urgency of teething fades. The toys you bought for this phase will continue to get use long after the gums have healed.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do puppies start teething?
Most puppies begin their teething phase between 12 and 16 weeks. That is when they lose their baby teeth and their adult teeth begin growing. Adult teeth take around three months to grow, and the whole process can run up to seven months for most breeds.
How long does puppy teething last?
The complete process can last between three and seven months. The most intense period is between four and six months, when majority of baby teeth fall off and adult teeth begin to grow.
Can you freeze dog teething toys?
Yes. For most rubber toys, the best option is to freeze them dry, not by submerging into water. Freeze them for one to two hours before you let your puppy have fun. Cold reduces gum inflammation and makes the toy more effective during the teething period.
How do I know if my puppy is teething?
Some of the common signs include increased chewing, more drooling, and small teeth around the house or in the bed. Some puppies even become irritable and eat slower because of sore mouth.
What toys are not safe for teething puppies?
The best test is your hand. Press your thumbnail into the toy. If it does not give slightly, that means the toy is too hard for your young puppy to chew. Avoid rawhide, as it is a swallowing hazard for aggressive chewers. The same applies for cooked bones.
Is it normal for a puppy to bleed when teething?
Minor bleeding when a baby tooth falls out is normal and usually resolves on its own. Persistent bleeding or very swollen, bright-red gums is worth a vet call.
Why does my puppy chew more at certain times of day?
Most puppies chew more when they are bored, overtired, or they haven’t received enough exercise. The peak chewing times tend to be late afternoon and early evening. The best option is a frozen teething toy, combined with proper exercise.
What size teething toy should I get?
Choose by breed weight, not by puppy age. A toy sized for a small breed is a choking hazard for a
large-breed puppy at the same age. When in doubt, go larger. The safe choice is a toy your puppy cannot get its whole mouth around.
