The best puppy chew toys soothe sore gums and save your furniture at the same time. Teething puppies have to chew, so your real job is giving them the right things to chew instead of your shoes. As a certified professional dog trainer, I get this question from nearly every new puppy owner, usually while they are staring at a chewed table leg. This guide shares the safe, soothing chew toys I trust and how to use them.
We will cover why puppies chew, how to pick a toy that is safe for baby teeth, and my top picks for 2026. Every toy here is puppy-appropriate, meaning soft enough to protect new teeth but tough enough to actually last. Let us redirect those needle teeth onto the right targets and give your puppy some real relief.
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Last Updated: September 2026. This guide is regularly reviewed for accuracy by Sandie Calloway, CPDT-KA.
Important Safety Note
The information in this article is for educational purposes and reflects my experience as a certified dog trainer. Always supervise your puppy with any chew toy, pick a size too big to swallow, and remove a toy once it is chewed down or damaged. Avoid very hard chews that can crack a puppy’s delicate baby teeth, and check with your vet if you have concerns.
Key Takeaways: Best Puppy Chew Toys
- Chewing is a need, not a crime. Teething puppies must chew, so redirect them onto safe toys instead of punishing.
- Soft but tough is the sweet spot. Choose gentle rubber or soft nylon that protects baby teeth yet survives sharp puppy chewing.
- Cold soothes sore gums. A freezable teether or a chilled rubber toy brings extra relief during peak teething.
- Supervise and size up. Pick a toy too big to swallow and watch your puppy, replacing anything that gets chewed down.
Prefer to Listen? An Audio Overview
For a quick guide to choosing safe puppy chew toys, press play below.
Runtime: 1:13
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Narrator: Welcome to the Smarter Paws Academy audio overview. Sandie, teething puppies chew everything. How do owners survive it?
Sandie Calloway: You survive it by working with the instinct, not against it. A teething puppy has to chew, their gums hurt and their adult teeth are pushing in. So the answer is never no chewing, it is chew this instead. You keep the right toys everywhere and trade them for your slippers.
Narrator: What makes a toy right for a puppy specifically?
Sandie Calloway: Puppy teeth are delicate, so you want soft rubber or soft nylon, nothing rock-hard that could crack a baby tooth. But it still has to hold up to those sharp little teeth. It is a balance. Puppy-specific toys from the trusted brands are made for exactly that window.
Narrator: Any pro tip for the worst teething days?
Sandie Calloway: Cold. Pop a rubber toy or a wet, twisted washcloth in the freezer. The cold numbs those sore gums and it is a huge relief. My Frenchie Gus lived on frozen toys for two weeks, and it saved my furniture and his comfort.
Narrator: Redirect, choose puppy-safe, and use cold for relief.
Sandie Calloway: That is the whole plan. Give them the right outlet and teething gets so much easier.
Table of Contents
Why Do Puppies Chew So Much?
Puppies chew because they are teething and exploring the world with their mouths. Between roughly 3 and 6 months, a puppy’s sharp baby teeth fall out and 42 adult teeth push through, which is genuinely uncomfortable. Chewing relieves that gum pressure and is a completely normal, healthy need. Understanding this turns frustration into a simple plan: give them better things to chew.
Chewing is also how puppies investigate and self-soothe. A bored, anxious, or overtired puppy will chew more, so meeting their needs reduces the damage. This is the same principle behind managing puppy biting, which I cover in my humane plan to stop puppy biting. Redirecting the mouth onto appropriate outlets is the kind, effective approach.
The goal is never to stop chewing, only to aim it at the right targets. When you keep safe chew toys within reach and calmly trade them for forbidden items, your puppy learns what belongs in their mouth. Punishment teaches fear, while redirection teaches good habits. Set your puppy up to succeed and the shoes survive.
How Do You Choose a Safe Puppy Chew Toy?
Choose a chew toy that is soft enough for baby teeth but durable enough to survive sharp puppy chewing. Natural rubber, soft nylon, and specially formulated puppy materials hit that balance, while rock-hard chews can crack delicate baby teeth. A good rule is that if you cannot make a slight dent with your fingernail, it is too hard for a puppy. Protecting those baby teeth comes first.
Size and supervision keep chew time safe. Always pick a toy too large for your puppy to swallow, and watch how they chew during the first few sessions. Remove any toy that gets chewed into small pieces, since broken bits can be a choking or blockage risk. Stick with puppy-specific products until the full set of adult teeth is in.
Variety keeps a teething puppy engaged and your belongings safe. Puppies get bored with a single toy, so a small rotation of textures, from soft rubber to a freezable teether, holds their interest. Reintroducing a rested toy makes it feel new again. A few well-chosen toys beat a pile of forgotten ones.
What Are the Best Puppy Chew Toys for 2026?
My picks below cover every teething need, from stuffable soothers to gentle textured chews. I chose them for puppy-safe materials, durability, and how well they redirect determined little chewers. Each one gives your puppy a satisfying, safe outlet.
Best Overall: KONG Puppy
The KONG Puppy is my top all-around pick for teething puppies. Its soft, natural rubber is gentle on new teeth while still standing up to eager chewing, and you can stuff it with a little food and freeze it for extra relief. That combination of chew outlet and food puzzle keeps a puppy happily busy for ages. It is the first toy I put in every new puppy owner’s hands.
- Soft Puppy Rubber: The KONG Puppy is developed with a customized natural rubber for a growing puppy’s teeth; it is gentl…
- Puppy Toy for Playtime: This puppy chew toy also has a bounce that makes it ideal for games of fetch; doubles as a gentl…
- Make Playtime and Training Last Longer: Stuff this puppy toy with Easy Treat, Snacks, kibble or paste to entice platime,…
Best Budget Textured Chew: Nylabone Puppy Chew
The Nylabone Puppy line offers affordable, gum-soothing relief. The material is softer than adult Nylabones, so it is safe for baby teeth, and the textured nubs help massage sore gums as new teeth come in. It comes in puppy-friendly flavors that keep interest high. For a low-cost, dedicated teething chew, it is a reliable staple.
- Dog Dental Chew Toy With Massaging Textures – Ridges and nubs on this puppy teething toy soothe sore gums while helping …
- Teaches Healthy Chewing Habits- This Nylabone puppy chew is specially made in soft material for teething puppies with ge…
- Freezer-Friendly Teething Chew – Chill this freezable teething puppy toy for extra-soothing teething relief
Best Hold-and-Chew: Benebone Puppy Wishbone
The Benebone Puppy Wishbone is shaped for a puppy to grip and chew comfortably. It is flavored with real food ingredients and its wishbone shape lets a puppy hold it between their paws for a good gnaw. Choose the puppy-specific version, since standard Benebones are quite hard, and supervise closely. For a paws-on chew that keeps a puppy engaged, it is a great option.
- DURABLE, WITH A LITTLE GIVE – Benebones are for determined chewers. Our puppy line is durable and quite firm to the huma…
- REAL BACON! – We use only 100% REAL BACON for flavor. Trust us, puppies can tell the difference.
- EASY TO PICK UP AND CHEW – The Wishbone is curved for a paw-friendly grip so your pup can quickly grab it and get a good…
Best for Sore Gums: Freezable Rubber Teether
A freezable teething toy delivers cold relief exactly when your puppy needs it most. Chilling a textured rubber teether numbs sore gums and makes chewing extra soothing during peak teething. Keep one in the freezer and rotate it in on the rough days. Cold therapy is one of the simplest, most effective teething tricks I know.
- Comforting Sensory Material – Teething ring for dogs is specially designed for sensitive puppy gums (not intended for po…
- Unique Chewing Ends – Bone-shaped ends help reach pups’ back teeth
- Freeze To Soothe Gums – Chill this puppy toy for extra relief during the teething phase
Best Soft Comfort Chew: Puppy Rope Toy
A soft cotton rope toy gives a gentle chewing and tugging outlet. The woven texture feels good on sore gums, and you can wet and freeze it for added cold relief. Rope toys also work for supervised gentle tug, which is a great bonding game with a teething puppy. Always supervise and retire it if strands start coming loose.
- INTERACTIVE FUN: Designed for playing tug of war with dogs, this knotted rope dog toy is perfect for tossing, catching a…
- SAFE & NON-TOXIC: Made from premium North American Cotton-Poly yarns finished with sturdy knots, these Mammoth colorful …
- TOSS, TUG, FLOSS!: This dog chew toy is great for easy dog teeth cleaning, naturally supporting your pup’s oral health -…
How Do the Top Puppy Chews Compare?
The table below matches each toy to the teething job it does best. Use it to build a small rotation rather than relying on just one. A little variety keeps your puppy chewing the right things.
| Chew Toy | Type | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| KONG Puppy | Stuffable rubber | All-around chew + food puzzle |
| Nylabone Puppy | Soft textured nylon | Budget gum massage |
| Benebone Puppy Wishbone | Flavored, paw-hold shape | Engaged solo chewing |
| Freezable Teether | Cold rubber | Sore gum relief |
| Puppy Rope Toy | Soft cotton | Gentle chew and tug |
How Do You Stop a Puppy Chewing the Wrong Things?
You stop unwanted chewing by managing the environment and redirecting your puppy to a legal chew. Puppy-proof the space by moving shoes, cords, and valuables out of reach, so your puppy cannot practice the wrong choices. When you catch them eyeing furniture, calmly swap in a chew toy and praise them for taking it. Prevention plus redirection beats scolding every time.
Keep chew toys within arm’s reach in every room your puppy uses. A puppy will grab whatever is closest when the urge hits, so make the right choice the easy one. Rotating toys keeps them interesting enough to compete with your table leg. Convenience is quietly one of your best training tools.
Pair chewing management with the rest of your puppy routine for the best results. A tired, well-fed, mentally satisfied puppy chews far less destructively, which ties into the whole-puppy approach in my complete puppy training guide. Chewing is one piece of a bigger picture. Meet all the needs and the destructive chewing fades. A stuffed chew is also the best crate companion, so it slots right into my step-by-step crate training plan, and as your puppy grows, puzzle toys add brain work to the chewing.
Frequently Asked Questions About Puppy Chew Toys
When do puppies stop teething?
Most puppies finish teething by around 6 to 7 months, once all 42 adult teeth have come in. The most intense chewing usually happens between 3 and 6 months as adult teeth push through. Chewing continues at a lower level into adulthood as a normal behavior. Keep appropriate chew toys available well past the teething stage.
Are rawhide or hard bones safe for teething puppies?
No, very hard chews and rawhide are not recommended for teething puppies. Hard bones and antlers can crack delicate baby teeth, and rawhide poses choking and blockage risks. Stick with soft rubber, soft nylon, and puppy-specific chews instead. Always supervise and choose puppy-appropriate materials to protect those new teeth.
How many chew toys does a puppy need?
A small rotation of three to five different chew toys works well for most puppies. Variety in texture and type keeps your puppy interested and less likely to seek out your belongings. Swap the toys in and out so they feel fresh. A handful of well-chosen chews beats a big pile they ignore.
Can I freeze my puppy’s chew toys?
Yes, freezing safe rubber toys or a wet rope toy is a great way to soothe teething gums. The cold numbs the discomfort and makes chewing extra rewarding during the peak teething weeks. A stuffed, frozen KONG Puppy is a favorite for long-lasting relief. Always give frozen toys under supervision and let very hard-frozen items soften slightly for tiny puppies.
Why does my puppy chew more at night?
Puppies often chew more in the evening because they are overtired and struggling to settle. An overtired puppy can get wound up rather than sleepy, and chewing helps them wind down. Offer a calm chew and a quiet space to help them relax into sleep. A consistent bedtime routine reduces the evening chewing frenzy.
The Right Chew Toys Make Teething So Much Easier
Teething is a short, intense season, and the right chew toys carry you and your puppy through it. When you give those needle teeth safe, soothing outlets, your furniture survives and your puppy gets real relief. Redirection, not punishment, is what builds good chewing habits for life.
Grab a couple of puppy-safe chews, keep one in the freezer for the rough days, and stash toys in every room. Trade calmly whenever your puppy grabs the wrong thing, and praise the good choices. With the right toys and a little patience, you will both come through teething happy and shoe-intact.
