Short answer: When you pick teething puppy chew toys, give her one soft rubber chew and one cold option. In fact, Whole Dog Journal’s hands-on tester liked the Playology Puppy Teething Bone best.
For cold relief: the Pupstages Cool Teething Stick for small, light chewers. For a longer cold chew, stuff and freeze a KONG Puppy Teething Stick (out of stock on Amazon as of October 2026). Supervise every chew.
There are fresh grooves in the chair leg, right at puppy height. Meanwhile, the basket of toys sits untouched. Then she starts on your fingers.
Puppies explore with their mouths, and teething also brings sore gums and a strong urge to chew. So the right toys help steer her away from furniture legs, electrical cords and shoes, Whole Dog Journal notes. Otherwise, she keeps choosing the chair and the cords.
Teething is when baby teeth fall out and adult teeth push through, usually done by about 6 months. So you can set up a teething puppy chew toy station tonight.
We don’t sell teething toys. Amazon links are affiliate links. However, we do sell a printable puppy schedule kit, linked below.
✓ Built on guidance from Whole Dog Journal, PetMD, the Texas A&M vet school and the American Kennel Club.
What makes good teething puppy chew toys?
Whole Dog Journal’s reviewer, nutritionist Dr. Mary Cope, PhD, sets the bar. That is, a good teething toy is safe, durable and sized for her breed and age. She calls soft but resilient rubber, nylon or silicone ideal. Nubs keep a puppy interested, while a chilled toy helps soothe gum inflammation.
Still, some puppies prefer softer toys and others firmer ones, notes PetMD’s veterinary dentist author. So offer a few kinds. The AKC also lists edible puppy teething rings and flavored puppy chew toys.
A story from Michael Northcutt, our founder: I found the first tooth marks on a Tuesday morning, on the leg of my favorite kitchen chair.
She had a basket of chew toys, but she’d picked the chair. She was teething.
So I soaked a clean washcloth, twisted it into a rope, and put it in the freezer. The next afternoon, she went for the chair again, so I traded her for the cold cloth.
She dropped the chair and lay down with that frozen rope between her paws. I’d never seen her so focused.
After that, we set up a chew station with two or three chews at a time. We swapped the toys out every few days so they felt new.
Of course, I’m not saying a frozen washcloth fixes teething. Always stay close when she has a cloth or a chew, and take it away if it starts to tear.
Michael put a cold chew right where the trouble started. Also, each toy below has a test or vet guide behind it.
Which teething puppy chew toys passed a real test?
Dr. Cope tested six teething toys on her two young Collies for several months. Four picks come from that test.
Playology Puppy Teething Bone: the all-round pick
It was a total puppy favorite in Whole Dog Journal’s test. Scented soft rubber with nubs, and only minor wear after four months.
Good for: moderate to heavy chewers who like a scent.
Watch out for: check the nubs for wear.
Check today’s price on Amazon →
KONG Puppy Teething Stick: the stuff and freeze pick
Its ridges take wet food, pumpkin or yogurt. The tester also froze a wet treat in the grooves to make it last longer.
Good for: a longer, colder chew while you’re nearby.
Watch out for: hard to clean, and less loved without food inside.
Out of stock on Amazon when we checked in October 2026, so no link for now.
Pupstages Cool Teething Stick: the cold pick for small puppies
Whole Dog Journal tested it as Petstages, while Amazon now lists it as Pupstages. The review also named it the best freezable teething toy.
Good for: small breeds and light chewers.
Watch out for: too small for larger breed puppies.
Check today’s price on Amazon →
KONG Puppy: the frozen kibble pick
PetMD suggests freezing her regular kibble inside a Classic KONG or another puzzle toy. The cold helps soothe inflamed gums. KONG Puppy is a stuffable teething rubber toy, per its listing. Chew toys belong in any starter kit for a new puppy.
Good for: turning a meal into a cold, slow chew.
Watch out for: size it to her mouth.
Check today’s price on Amazon →
Benebone Tough Puppy Chew: only for power chewers
Dr. Cope thinks it’s the only toy in her test that would stand up to a power chewer. She also warns it can pose a risk for fractured teeth.
Good for: a power chewer, with you watching.
Watch out for: it is very hard. Dr. Teller advises skipping extremely hard chews that could break teeth.
Teething puppy chew toys side by side
| Toy | Type | Freezable? | Sizes we saw listed | Who tested or recommended it | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Playology Puppy Teething Bone | Scented soft rubber with nubs | Not mentioned | Medium, jumbo | Whole Dog Journal test | Minor wear after four months |
| KONG Puppy Teething Stick | Soft rubber with fillable ridges | Yes, with food in the grooves | Medium, large | Whole Dog Journal test | Hard to clean |
| Pupstages Cool Teething Stick | Soft stick with fabric tassels | Yes, wet then frozen | 8.5 in | Whole Dog Journal test | Too small for larger breeds |
| KONG Puppy | Stuffable rubber puzzle toy | Yes, with kibble inside | Extra small to large | PetMD suggests a Classic KONG; this is KONG’s puppy version | Size it to her mouth |
| Benebone Tough Puppy Chew | Very hard flavored chew | Not mentioned | Check the listing | Whole Dog Journal test | Risk of fractured teeth |
How do you keep teething puppy chew toys safe?
Texas A&M’s Dr. Lori Teller suggests trying to indent a nylon toy with your thumbnail. In other words, skip extremely hard ones that could break teeth.
“Puppies also chew to relieve the pain and irritation of teething.”
Dr. Lori Teller, clinical associate professor, Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Her other rules:
- Skip real bones, antlers and hooves. That’s because pieces can splinter and cause blockages or puncture wounds.
- Take it away when it shrinks. Remove a toy small enough to choke on, or one she bites big pieces off and swallows.
The AKC also says to always supervise chewing. Check toys so she can’t chew off chunks or pull out stuffing. If she shreds her bed too, our chew proof dog bed guide compares 6 beds for chewers. On days she needs a calmer job than chewing, a snuffle mat turns her kibble into a sniffing game.
Tip: Give one person the toy check each evening, since with three people in the house it’s easy to assume someone else looked.
Which teething puppy chew toys suit small vs large breeds?
Small, light chewers suit soft sticks like the Pupstages. Dr. Cope wished she had sized up a tug toy, since her puppies still use it as bigger dogs. Teller also notes larger dogs have swallowed or choked on small toys.
How do you soothe her with teething puppy chew toys?
PetMD lists soft puppy chew toys, rubber chew toys, and chilled or frozen chew toys as good options. Chewers need care with cooling mats too. Our dog cooling mat guide covers which types are safe for a puppy who chews.
- Keep two or three chews out. Then swap them every few days, like Michael did.
- Freeze one ahead. Stuff the KONG stick’s grooves with wet food, or instead freeze kibble inside a KONG.
- Trade for a toy. When she grabs the wrong thing, PetMD says to redirect her gently to a chew toy.
For crate time, our crate training a puppy guide covers the steps.
Can teething puppies have frozen carrots?
Yes. In fact, PetMD’s vet author lists frozen or chilled carrots, green beans and blueberries for sore gums. Hand them over while you watch.
How do you stop a teething puppy biting your hands?
If she nibbles your fingers during play, the AKC says to offer a toy instead. Keep toys within easy reach so the swap is quick.
If she keeps nipping, stop play. Yelling winds some puppies up, the AKC warns, so walk away quietly instead.
When does puppy teething start and stop?
Sources split a little on when baby teeth fall out.
| Age | What happens |
|---|---|
| About 3 weeks | Baby teeth begin to erupt |
| 6 to 8 weeks | All 28 baby teeth are in |
| 3½ to 5 months | Baby teeth begin falling out. The AKC says about 3 to 4 months. |
| Around 6 months | Most puppies have their 42 adult teeth |
Teething also overlaps potty training. Our how to potty train a puppy guide covers that side.
When should you call the vet about teething?
- Drooling or small spots of blood on toys. Both can happen with teething, the AKC says. Talk to your vet if anything seems unusual, since both could signal something more serious.
- Baby teeth still there around 6 months. In that case, AKC Chief Veterinarian Dr. Jerry Klein says to tell your vet. They may need removing.
Teething puppy chew toy FAQ
Are sticks okay for a teething puppy?
The AKC says sticks can be hazardous, although many puppies chew them. Swap the stick for a chew toy when you’re outside.
Are rope toys good for teething puppies?
Only with you there, Dr. Teller says. Remove a rope once it frays, so strings can’t get stuck in her gut.
Can teething puppies have rawhide?
Rawhide upsets some dogs’ stomachs, and chewed-off pieces can choke or block, per Texas A&M. Teller says rawhides approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council tend to be safer.
How we chose: In October 2026 we read Whole Dog Journal’s hands-on toy test and PetMD’s vet guide. We also read Texas A&M’s chew toy advice and two AKC guides. Page one of Google and the questions owners post in forums shaped the sections. We did not hands-on test these toys. Nobody at LoveMyPuppy is a veterinarian. We may earn a commission if you buy through our Amazon links. It doesn’t change our picks.
Sources
- Whole Dog Journal: Best Toys for Puppies, by Dr. Mary Cope, PhD
- PetMD: Everything You Need to Know About Puppy Teething, by Mallory Kanwal, DVM, DAVDC
- Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine: How to Chews the Best Dog Chew Toys, with Dr. Lori Teller
- American Kennel Club: Puppy Teething and Nipping, by Harriet Meyers, plus its puppy toy guide