When puppies are young and teething, they’ll chew through anything and everything to try and soothe their tender gums, which is why you’ll want to make sure you’ve got the best puppy chew toys to hand. These types of puppy toys will not only provide your pup pain relief but also offer plenty of fun for their growing minds and bodies.
As their teeth begin to cut through, you might find your pup naughtily ripping up furniture and carpets, and chomping on your clothes and shoes to try to relieve the discomfort they're feeling. Of course, teething isn’t the only reason that puppies start to chew. We’ve explored this in more detail in our FAQs section at the bottom of this article, but chewing can be down to a number of different factors, including boredom, anxiety and just general exploration.
Best puppy chew toys at a glance:
• Best overall: Nylabone - Puppy Starter Kit – View on Amazon UK
• Best puppy chew toy for treats: Kong Puppy Chew Treat Toy – View on Pets at Home
• Best puppy chew toy ball: PetLove Mighty Mutts Extra Tough Dog Toy – View on Amazon UK
Although annoying, chewing is something that most puppies go through in their development and training, but there is one thing you can do to save items around your home from being gnawed at and that’s providing your pup with plenty of chew toys. Made with durability and strength in mind, chew toys tend to last longer than average toys because they’re made to sustain the ripping from those ‘ferocious’ puppy teeth. Many are designed to massage gums so your pup will be soothed from the pain of growing teeth, so they’re great toys for helping with their overall dental health.
Not only that, but the best puppy chew toys also do a fantastic job of entertaining your pups, keeping them engaged with playtime, exercise and mental stimulation. We’ve searched the web to find a great selection of chew toys for puppies that will keep them busy for hours to stop them from chewing things around your home.
Best puppy chew toys
Best overall
AmazonGot a bone to pick? This Nylabone chicken-flavoured starter set is perfect for pups, made with each stage of teething in mind. First a soft, flexible bone, then a blue bone to clean their growing teeth and a tough white bone for when their adult teeth are fully grown - something for every stage!
Customer review: "My little pup loved the variety of the 3 different bones, particularly the blue one once teething started to become a problem. Great to have a few of them hand as distraction toys when puppy might try to chew items he’s not allowed. Haha."
Pros
- Three bones for three stages
- Great for dental hygiene
Cons
- Not long-lasting for every dog
Best puppy chew toy for treats
Pets at Homewww.petsathome.com
This all-natural rubber Kong Puppy Chew Treat Toy is gentle on your puppy's teeth but also helps to teach them their chewing behaviour, offering treats if you stuff it with puppy kibble or a dash of doggy peanut butter. Available in small, medium and large sizes, it also bounces to make playtime extra fun. It's perfect for puppies with baby teeth.
Customer review: "I got this recommended by another owner and I am glad they did it's a perfect toy to keep them stimulated you can put anything in it, dog-safe peanut butter, treats and much more."
Pros
- Merges playtime, teething and treats
- Can be filled with treats of your choice for mental stimulation
Cons
- Not all dogs are interested
Best puppy chew toy ball
©Rosie Floyd/Take a Break PetsPlaytime just got extra fun with this PetLove Mighty Mutts Extra Tough Dog Toy which is super strong and durable, withstanding any chompers. The ball has a hollow centre which means you can fill it with treats as well as being able to float for fun pool time. It's available in small, medium and large sizes so you can choose one that best suits your breed.
Our review: "Originally, I had this toy in mind for my senior Labrador, Barney, but my Cockapoo pup, Bella, absolutely loves it. She really enjoys chasing after it as it rolls around on the floor or bounces away from her after you've thrown it. Being a puppy, she does occasionally chew through toys but it's so far, so good with this one. You can see her little teeth marks where she's attempted to gnaw at it but it's just too tough for her to make any substantial damage."
Pros
- Super tough
- Hollow centre for stuffing with treats
Cons
- Some pups may prefer a softer toy
Best pacifier chew toy
AmazonAnother great teething choice for any pup, this Nylabone Teething Pacifier Toy is one of our top choices. It promotes positive chewing and helps clean teeth with its raised nodules. It also has a lick-proof bacon flavour to keep up that delicious taste. This teething set is suitable for puppies with no adult teeth.
Customer review: "I bought this for my King Charles cavalier puppy. He loves it. It's hard enough that it can't break apart into pieces. He is a solid chew. He's able to chew it and nibble. Nothing breaks off."
Pros
- Easy-to-clean toy
- Lick-proof flavour
Cons
- Not suitable for adult teeth or powerful chewers
Best puppy chew toy squeaker
The Rangewww.therange.co.uk
If your pup particularly loves soft-style toys, this extra cute Teether Deer by Little Rascals is a great option. It's perfect for gnawing with lots of different textures for their little mouth and teeth to explore, which is beneficial to their overall dental health. It also has a hidden squeaker to encourage your pup into a bit of interactive play.
Pros
- Lots of textures
- Hidden squeaker to encourage interactive play
Cons
- As it's more of a soft toy, this may be destroyed more easily if your pup is a strong chewer
Best teething rope chew toy
Pets at Homewww.petsathome.com
Coming in one of the three available colours, this Little Rascals Teething Rope Ring Toy for Puppies and Small Dogs is sure to satisfy any dog or puppy's chewing instinct. It offers a ring of rope to chew on as well as a soft polymer bone-style shape to gnaw on, With the small bristle projections, it will stop your pup from chewing on everything around your house.
Customer review: "My puppy just loves this! He likes to sit and just chew on the teether, he has fun with the rope and for his more playful moment, he loves us sliding it down the kitchen floor and chasing after it, can also play a tug game with it! The rope does wear out eventually but for £5 and very sharp puppy teeth, I think it's a great value! The teether is always useable even when the rope breaks anyway!"
Pros
- Satisfies the chewing instinct of teething puppies
- Helps to clean teeth, massage gums and prevent tartar build-up
Cons
- Only one ring is included for the price
Best puppy chew toy multipack
Pets at Homewww.petsathome.com
Can't decide which toy is best for your pup? Pick up this Little Rascals Three Piece Rubber Multipack, which includes three different shapes for your puppy to chew on. This playtime range is great for new gums and teething, and it provides hours of fun with different textures and shapes, making them the perfect boredom-breaker to keep them busy.
Pros
- Includes three different toys
- Different textures and shapes for their little mouth and teeth to discover
Cons
- No customer reviews
FAQs
What toys can I get my puppy to chew on?
Some chew toys are made with puppies in mind, so you should always double-check the label before you buy a chew toy for your puppies.
In terms of what you can buy for your pup, chew toys come in all shapes and sizes, including bones, pacifiers, balls, ropes and more.
Are chew toys good for puppies?
You will see dogs of all ages use chew toys, but they are particularly important for puppies, who need to learn to handle their chewing and biting as well as soothe their gums from painful teething growth.
Meaning, yes, chew toys are really good for puppies. Many puppy's chew toys will be made for smaller dogs in mind and you can get larger chew toys for when your puppy grows out of them.
Why do puppies chew?
As we mentioned earlier, puppies chew for a variety of reasons. By understanding why your puppy chews, you can make sure they have a healthy and fulfilling outlet to satisfy their needs, such as plenty of toys to keep them occupied.
Here are some of the most common reasons why your puppy might be chewing:
Teething
Puppies go through a teething phase as their baby and adult teeth start to cut through, just like a human baby does. You may find your pup is chewing to alleviate the discomfort and pain they’re feeling by their new teeth pushing through their gums.
Exploration
One of the ways that puppies explore the world around them is through their mouth, so your pup may be chewing simply because they’re curious. Their sense of touch and taste is closely linked so they often use chewing to learn about the texture, taste and scent of various objects. This type of chewing is more common during their early months and when you bring them home for the first time as they’re getting used to and discovering the environment around them.
Boredom and energy
It’s no secret that puppies are FULL of energy, and if they don’t have a proper way to burn some of their physical and mental energy off, they might resort to chewing your furniture and shoes as a way to relieve their boredom. Keeping them engaged with plenty of playtime, exercise and mental stimulation from interactive toys, for example, can help to reduce this behaviour.
Anxiety and stress
Chewing can also be a coping mechanism for pups who are feeling anxious or stressed. After all, there’s a lot to get used to in their first few months of life, like leaving their mothers and being put into a new home with new people and other sights and smells to discover. You shouldn’t be surprised to hear that separation anxiety, unfamiliar environments and any changes in routine can cause puppies to act out and chew when they’re feeling unsettled. Making sure you’ve got a safe space for your pup to retreat to and plenty of home comforts can help to soothe anxious pups.
Natural instinct
Of course, chewing is a natural instinct for dogs. Historically, wild dogs and wolves chewed on bones and other objects to keep their teeth clean and to access nutrients. That instinct has been passed down from their ancestors, so your pup thinks that they’re just doing what they’re supposed to do. It’s important that they’re still given the opportunity to chew, you just need to encourage and train them to do it on something appropriate, like one of the best puppy chew toys from our list.
Developing jaw strength
The act of gnawing and chewing can help a pup with cleaning their teeth and not to mention prevent dental issues later in life. Making sure they’ve got various textures and materials to chew on is great for your pup’s jaw development and overall dental hygiene.
Rosie Floyd is a Pets, Homes and Garden Product Writer for Take A Break Pets, specialising in all things dogs. She grew up always having at least one dog as part of the family and has experience in owning a variety of breeds, including Labradors, Cockapoos and Yorkshire Terriers.