We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. The 11 Best Teething Toys for Puppies The right toy could save your shoes (or couch!) By Mary Jo DiLonardo Mary Jo DiLonardo Mary Jo DiLonardo is a writer and dog mom to Brodie, a border-collie mix who loves to learn. She is also bringing in new foster dogs in need of a home and has cared for over 75 dogs and puppies. In her 25+ years as a journalist, she has contributed to WebMD, CNN, and Treehugger, covering pets and animals, health and wellness, nature and sustainability, and all things environmental. Learn more about The Spruce Pets' Editorial Process Updated on 03/16/26 In This Article View All In This Article Top Picks Reviews What to Look For in Teething Toys for Puppies FAQ Why Trust The Spruce Pets Credit: The Spruce Pets When puppies are teething, they’ll chew anything in sight—including fingers and furniture legs. Great teething toys help soothe aching gums and the need to chew. “For puppies, as with humans, the teething process can be uncomfortable,” says veterinarian Barbara Hodges, DVM, program director of advocacy and outreach for the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Alliance. “Chewing can help alleviate this discomfort and is normal puppy behavior.” She advises storing valuable and dangerous items out of reach and offering safe dog toys and chews instead. “Dogs and puppies explore the world with their mouths even outside of the teething process,” she says. “Avoid teaching your puppy that hands are chew toys during this crucial phase and consult with your veterinarian for a personalized training plan if needed.” Nylabone's Puppy Power Rings Chew Toy is our favorite teething toy for puppies. It has different textures to massage sore gums and it can be chewed or tugged. Top Picks Best Overall: Nylabone Puppy Power Rings Chew Toy at Amazon $11 Jump to Review Best for Chewers: Benebone Puppy Dog Chew Toy at Amazon $15 Jump to Review Best Rubber: KONG Puppy Dog Toy at Amazon $11 Jump to Review Best Chew: N-Bone Puppy Teething Rings Chicken Flavor at Amazon $8 Jump to Review Best for Little Puppies: SALE Petstages Dental Dog Chew Toys at Amazon $16 $12 Jump to Review Best for Big Puppies: N-Bone Jumbo Puppy Teething Sticks at Amazon $10 Jump to Review Best Frozen: Petstages Cool Teething Stick at Amazon $5 Jump to Review Best Cloth: SALE Nylabone Freezer Puppy Chew Toy at Amazon $12 $10 Jump to Review Best Multipack: Nylabone Puppy Chew Teething Pacifier Kit at Amazon $10 Jump to Review Best Dishwasher-Safe: Yomp Teether Toy at Amazon $15 Jump to Review Best Overall Nylabone Puppy Power Rings Chew Toy Credit: Amazon $11 at Amazon View on Chewy $11 at Petco What We Like Various textures Can chew or tug Bacon flavor For serious chewers What We Don’t Like Must be hand-washed The colorful Nylabone Puppy Power Rings are an all-around good place to start for puppy teething. They are made of hard plastic so they can withstand even the most determined puppy teeth. Each ring has textured surfaces to help massage gums and give your puppy something to grip. The nubs may also help lessen plaque and tartar on those growing puppy teeth. The rings are bacon-flavored, which should encourage your dog to chew. And they can even be used to play a gentle game of tug. This toy is for dogs up to 25 pounds. It’s reasonably priced and very durable, and the puppies we’ve watched really seem to enjoy it. It’s not meant to be edible, so if more than tiny pieces come off, then replace the toy. The rings must be hand-washed and cannot be cleaned in the dishwasher. Materials: Plastic | Sizes/Dimensions: 2.5 x 4 x 3 inches | Colors: Multicolor Best for Chewers Benebone Puppy Dog Chew Toy Credit: Amazon $15 at Amazon View on Chewy $15 at Target What We Like Different shapes Bacon and wood flavors Easy for puppy paws to pick up and chew Very durable What We Don’t Like Some pups don’t love them When puppies are eyeing your shoes or the table leg, Benebone chew toys are much safer (and probably tastier) alternatives. Made of hard nylon, these chews are designed for strong chewers who want something to gnaw on. They are a little softer and have a little more give than regular Benebones, making them safer for teething pups. Puppy Benebones come in several shapes, including a popular stick and a wishbone. They’re designed to be easy for little paws to pick them up and chew on them and they have alluring flavors—like bacon or wood—for extra motivation. Benebones should be replaced when they start to wear down. Materials: Nylon | Sizes/Dimensions: 2 x 7 inches | Colors: Brown, tan Best Rubber KONG Puppy Dog Toy Credit: Amazon $11 at Amazon $8 at Chewy View on Petco What We Like Four sizes and two colors Soft rubber for chewing Can be stuffed and frozen Bounces Dishwasher safe What We Don’t Like Can get messy The classic Kong might be our very favorite must-have dog toy. You can fill it with something like peanut butter or yogurt, then freeze it and give your dog something fun to snack on. It’s soothing for anxiety, fights boredom, and is a great enrichment activity. The Puppy Kong is made of a little softer rubber for growing mouths and aching gums. The rubber also makes it bounce, which makes it fun for puppies to chase. You can find it in pink or blue and it comes in four sizes from extra-small (for pups up to 5 pounds) to large (for dogs up to 65 pounds). Kongs can be cleaned in the dishwasher or you can use a bottle brush to get all the crannies. Materials: Rubber | Sizes/Dimensions: 1.5 x 2.25 inches, 1.75 x 3 inches, 2.25 x 3.5 inches, 2.75 x 4.25 inches | Colors: Pink, blue Best Chew N-Bone Puppy Teething Rings Chicken Flavor Credit: Amazon $8 $8 at Amazon $8 at Chewy $11 $9 at Petco What We Like Four flavors Contains calcium and omega-3s What We Don’t Like Can cause upset stomach in some puppies These edible N-Bone Puppy Teething Rings are just so tempting to puppies. They grab the ring with a paw or two and then get caught up with chewing. The rings are made of edible and digestible ingredients including rice flour, vegetable glycerin, and gelatin and come in four flavors: chicken, pumpkin, peanut butter, and salmon. The rings are fortified with calcium and omega-3s. Some puppies can experience stomach upset if they eat the whole thing, so you might want to start small and only let them chew a little bit at a time. Note that they can be sticky and messy, but it just gives puppies something else to lick and chew. Materials: Rice flour, vegetable glycerin, gelatin | Sizes/Dimensions: 9.75 x 3.25 x 6.75 inches | Colors: Brown Best for Little Puppies Petstages Dental Dog Chew Toys Credit: Amazon $16 $12 at Amazon $16 at Chewy What We Like Set of three Helps clean teeth and soothe gums Different textures to massage gums What We Don’t Like Some puppies can tear it up Teeny tiny puppies need smaller-sized toys like the colorful playthings in the Petstages Dental Chew Pack. The collection has three different toys: a chew toy for toss and fetch, a rope tug to remove tartar, and a barbell toy that’s durable and has several different textures to massage sore gums. The toys are relatively small—only about 7 inches long—so they’re targeted specifically toward smaller puppies. They’re relatively tough and can withstand a lot of tossing and chewing, though some puppies may tear them up. As with all teething toys, keep an eye out for wear and tear and replace them if they start to chip or shred. We love the bright colors that make them easy to find in the yard or hidden under the furniture. Materials: Plastic, fabric | Sizes/Dimensions: 7 x 1.5 inches | Colors: Multicolor Best for Big Puppies N-Bone Jumbo Puppy Teething Sticks Credit: Amazon $10 at Amazon View on Chewy $12 $12 at Petco What We Like Added DHA for brain development Digestible Five flavors What We Don’t Like May break into small pieces Bigger puppies need more substantial chews when their teeth are coming in. The N-Bone Jumbo Puppy Teething Sticks are made of a digestible recipe that includes rice flour, vegetable glycerin, and gelatin. There’s added DHA for brain development and no corn, wheat, or soy. The sticks are nearly 9 inches long and come in five flavors: chicken, pumpkin, peanut butter, blueberry and barbecue, and salmon. They contain no rawhide and are targeted toward moderate chewers. Give one-half stick daily for puppies between 13 and 35 pounds and up to a full stick for dogs more than 35 pounds. These are meant only for large-breed puppies and not for smaller ones. Keep in mind that the sticks don't last long and may break into small pieces. Materials: Rice flour, vegetable glycerin, gelatin | Sizes/Dimensions: 8.46 x 6.5 x 2.48 inches | Colors: Brown Best Frozen Petstages Cool Teething Stick Credit: Amazon $5 at Amazon View on Chewy $5 at Target What We Like Gentle on gums Ribbons add texture and fun Mold-resistant What We Don’t Like Should only be used when frozen To use the brightly colored Petstages Cool Teething Stick, soak it in water and freeze. Once it’s cold, your pup can chew away and soothe achy gums. There are dangly ribbons on the end that add a little texture and offer something else to chew and tug. Once the toy has thawed, soak and refreeze again. It’s not meant to be used as a chew toy when it isn’t frozen. The fabric is soft on gums, even when frozen and crunchy. The filling inside is made of mold-resistant materials so it can be frozen over and over again safely. Materials: Polyester, synthetic fabric | Sizes/Dimensions: 6 x 1.5 inches | Colors: Multicolor Best Cloth Nylabone Freezer Puppy Chew Toy Credit: Amazon $12 $10 at Amazon $11 at Target $13 $10 at Walmart What We Like Freezable Various flavors including bacon and peanut butter Soft material plus plastic with nubs What We Don’t Like Only for very gentle chewers One popular and easy way to deal with puppy teething is by soaking a washcloth in water and then freezing it. When your puppy chews on the frozen cloth, the cold is soothing on sore gums as they chomp. The Nylabone Freezer Puppy Chew Toy comes in bacon and peanut butter flavors and includes the freezable cloth along with a soft plastic bone with textured bristles to massage irritated gums. Soak the entire toy in water, freeze it, and then give it to your puppy to play with. The toy is for smaller puppies up to 25 pounds. If pups chew on it long enough, the cloth part will start to shred a little, so keep an eye on it. The plastic part is relatively durable when used by average chewers. Materials: Plastic, fabric | Sizes/Dimensions: 10 x 4 x 1 inches | Colors: Multicolor Best Multipack Nylabone Puppy Chew Teething Pacifier Kit Credit: Amazon $10 $10 at Amazon $7 at Chewy $12 $10 at Walmart What We Like Three bones Two are chicken flavored, one is bacon flavored Use throughout teething process What We Don’t Like Some puppies chew too hard on the teething bone The Nylabone Puppy Triple Pack is sort of a step-by-step teething process where puppies can graduate to a different bone as their adult teeth come in. Young puppies start with the soft bone-shaped teething toy that has little nubs to massage achy gums and is for puppy teeth. Once their adult teeth start coming in, they can move up to the power chew that can withstand much more action. Both chew toys are chicken-flavored. Once your puppy is at least six months old and has all their adult teeth, you can offer the bacon-flavored healthy edibles chew. The treat has DHA, an omega-3 that supports a growing puppy’s brain development. Materials: Nylon | Sizes/Dimensions: 4.5 x 1 x 1.75 inches | Colors: Brown, white, and pink or blue Best Dishwasher-Safe Yomp Teether Toy Credit: Yomp $15 at Amazon View on Shopyomp.com View on Jaxgoods.com What We Like Comfortable shape to soothe gums Free of BPA and phthalates Can be used frozen What We Don't Like Only appropriate for pups between 15 and 60 pounds The Yomp ChillChew Teether Toy is a soft yet durable silicone teether that is BPA- and phthalate-free. It’s made for soft to medium chewers that are between 15 and 60 pounds. It has a great shape to soothe your puppy's gums, with soft nubs all around the sides for an added massage. Plus, it can also be used frozen. If your pup requires an incentive, this chew toy has built-in slots so you can insert treats. We also appreciate that it’s dishwasher safe so it’s easy to maintain and keep clean. Our tester dog enjoyed playing a bit of tug of war with the toy as well as licking the treats and gnawing on it independently. The sturdy material prevented her from removing any chunks or leaving any chew marks on the toy. Materials: Silicone | Sizes/Dimensions: 4.5 x 3.7 x 1.6 inches | Colors: Green Best Ring Kong Rubber Ring Credit: Amazon $10 at Amazon $10 at Chewy $10 $7 at Petco What We Like Very durable Three sizes Nubs to massage gums and clean teeth Great for play What We Don’t Like Some puppies just aren’t into it This simple Kong Rubber Ring is a soothing teething toy for puppies with inflamed gums and an unending need to chew. It’s durable, made with natural rubber, and has nubs throughout to massage gums and help keep teeth clean. The ring comes in three sizes: small/medium for dogs up to 35 pounds, medium/large for dogs from 30 to 65 pounds, and extra large for dogs over 65 pounds. It can be a straightforward chew toy or can be used for catch and chase as the rubber material and fun shape make it bounce erratically when tossed. There’s also an extremely durable version that’s for power chewers from 60 to 90 pounds. It’s made of tough black rubber. Materials: Rubber | Sizes/Dimensions: 3.5 x 3.5 x 1 inches, 4.25x 4.25 x 1.25 inches, 5 x 3.5 x 3.5 inches | Colors: Red Final Verdict Our favorite teething toy for puppies is the Nylabone Puppy Power Rings Chew Toy. It has all sorts of textures to help massage your pup’s sore gums and it can be chewed or tugged. Another great choice is the durable Benebone for Puppies. It comes in several shapes and flavors. What to Look For in Teething Toys for Puppies Types of Teething Relief When they’re teething, puppies don’t typically show signs of discomfort. “We don't recommend using any of the topic anesthetic agents that were developed for humans,” says Naomi Hoyer, DVM, a board-certified veterinary dentist and assistant professor of dentistry and oral surgery at Colorado State University. Instead, they recommend teethers and chews that aren’t too hard because puppy teeth and newly erupted permanent teeth can be easily fractured. “We recommend using the rule of thumb to test chews,” Hoyer says. “If you can't indent it with a thumbnail, the puppy shouldn't be chewing on it.” Addressing Problem Behaviors One of the best ways to deal with teething-related puppy behaviors like nipping and chewing on everything is by giving your puppy more appropriate things to chew. Trainers suggest trading items. If the puppy is gnawing on something like a chair or your pants leg, offer a toy instead so your puppy can learn which things are toys and OK to chew and which things are off limits. Keep puppies confined in a pen or crate when you can’t supervise them and be sure they have lots of safe toys to play with. Make sure they have plenty of physical exercise and mental stimulation. Sometimes puppies will just chew when they are bored. Clean and store toys when not in use. FAQ What is puppy teething? Just like human babies, puppies grow teeth as part of their development. “In the first weeks of life, puppies grow baby teeth (primary or deciduous teeth) which are sharply pointed,” said Barbara Hodges, DVM, program director of advocacy and outreach for the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Alliance. “Those teeth eventually fall out and are replaced with up to 42 permanent teeth.” When do puppies stop teething? Teething can seem like it lasts forever, but you typically only have to wait until your puppy is about 6 months old until it ends. “Their baby teeth will generally begin falling out when they are about 12 weeks old,” says Hodges. “By the time they are six months old, all their permanent teeth will typically have grown in.” When do puppies get their adult teeth? Puppies get their baby (deciduous) teeth when they’re 4–6 weeks old. “They then shed their deciduous teeth and erupt their permanent teeth between 3 to 7 months of age,” Hoyer says. “During the time when permanent teeth are erupting, dogs frequently display increased chewing behavior, and it's important to make sure that they have the right kinds of structures to use!” Why are puppy teeth so sharp? If you’ve felt puppy bath teeth on your hands or ankles, you know they can be razor sharp. “It is likely this sharpness helps puppies chew their food effectively while their jaws are still developing strength,” says Hodges.No one really knows why puppy teeth are so sharp, adds Hoyer. “At their young age they are primarily used for social interaction and learning eating behavior, so it's probably related to that!” Why Trust The Spruce Pets For this roundup, Mary Jo DiLonardo talked to puppy fosters, puppy owners, and rescue volunteers about what they look for when choosing teething toys for puppies and which are their favorites. She also has tested nearly all of these and sifted through loads of online reviews. For this article, she consulted Barbara Hodges, DVM, program director of advocacy and outreach for the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Alliance, and Naomi Hoyer, DVM, a board-certified veterinary dentist and assistant professor of dentistry and oral surgery at Colorado State University. DiLonardo has been writing about pets and animals for several decades. She has a rescue dog and has fostered more than 50 dogs and puppies. She is always trying different products to keep the dogs in her care entertained, healthy, and safe. Explore more: What to Buy Advertisement