New puppy basics
What can I give a teething puppy to chew?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
Soft rubber teething toys, some designed to be chilled or frozen, along with a damp washcloth twisted and frozen, give a teething puppy relief without risking baby teeth. Avoid very hard bones, antlers and nylon chews made for adult dogs until all adult teeth are in.
Cold provides genuine relief
Chilling a rubber teething toy or a wet washcloth in the freezer for an hour numbs sore gums much like an ice pack would for a person, and many puppies gravitate toward these on their own once offered.
Save the hardest chews for later
Antlers, very hard nylon bones and similar adult strength chews can crack a baby tooth that is already loosening. Softer, puppy specific chews are worth the switch until the teething phase passes around 6 to 7 months.
A rotation that covers the whole stage
Keep two or three chilled options in the freezer at once, a rubber toy, a twisted damp washcloth, and a puppy specific teething ring, so a fresh one is always ready rather than waiting for one to refreeze between uses. Rotating them also keeps interest higher than offering the same single toy every day.
As your puppy moves from the front incisors to the canines and finally the back molars over the following months, you may notice a shift in which side of the mouth gets favored, and offering chews that let a puppy work both sides evenly, rather than only ever gnawing on one favorite spot, supports more even relief.
Avoid giving cooked bones at any point during teething, since they can splinter and are hard enough to damage teeth that are already more fragile than an adult dog's, regardless of how appealing they might look to a chewing puppy. Introduce any new chew type one at a time so you can spot quickly if a particular material does not agree with your puppy.
Key takeaways
- Chilled rubber toys or a frozen damp washcloth soothe sore teething gums effectively.
- Avoid very hard chews like antlers and adult nylon bones until teething finishes.
- Offering the right texture reduces a puppy's drive to chew on furniture and hands.