Exercise and play
What toys help most during the teething stage?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
Soft, flexible rubber teething rings, especially ones that can be chilled in the fridge, tend to help most during peak teething between roughly 3 and 6 months, since the gentle give of the material and the cooling effect both soothe sore gums better than very hard or very soft alternatives.
Why the right texture matters
A texture with some give absorbs the mild discomfort of a puppy gnawing on sore gums better than something rock hard, which can be uncomfortable to bite down on, or something too soft, which does not provide enough resistance to feel satisfying.
The value of chilling
A rubber teething toy chilled in the fridge for 20 to 30 minutes, not frozen solid, provides a mild numbing effect on inflamed gums that many puppies find noticeably soothing during the most uncomfortable weeks of teething.
Rotating a few different textures
Offering two or three different textured teething toys and rotating them keeps a puppy interested and lets it choose whichever texture feels best on a given day, since gum sensitivity can vary as different teeth come in.
Key takeaways
- Soft, flexible rubber with some give suits sore gums better than very hard or very soft materials.
- Chilling, not freezing, a teething toy adds a soothing effect for inflamed gums.
- Rotating a few different textures lets a puppy choose what feels best as different teeth erupt.