Best teething toys for puppies, picked by a trainer
A CPDT-KA trainer's honest picks for what actually eases a teething puppy's sore gums, and why the material matters more than the shape.
I get asked for the best teething toys for puppies almost every week in puppy class, usually by someone whose hands look like they lost an argument with a landshark. Teething runs roughly from twelve weeks to six months, the stretch when a puppy's mouth is sore, their impulse control is still under construction, and every table leg, shoelace, and knuckle looks like relief. My own six-month-old Goldendoodle, Finch, went through two remote controls and one flip-flop during her own teething window, so most of what follows has been tested on a very willing, very determined subject.
Not every toy sold as a teething toy is actually safe for a mouth full of loose baby teeth and incoming adult ones. Below is what I look for, what I tell clients to skip, and where a dedicated bamboo teething ring earns a permanent spot in the rotation instead of getting kicked under the couch.
The short answer
For most teething puppies, a slightly flexible rubber or rope toy that passes the fingernail test, paired with a dedicated bamboo teething ring like the one built into the Nurtino puppy play gym, covers both the sore-gum stage and the destructive-chewing stage without risking a fractured tooth.
Why teething makes puppies so bitey
Puppies are born without teeth, grow in 28 baby teeth by about six weeks old, and start losing them around twelve weeks as 42 permanent teeth push through underneath, according to the American Kennel Club's guide to teething in puppies. That process runs through roughly six months of age, which is why a puppy who was gentle with your hands last week can turn into a landshark almost overnight.
Sore gums rarely show up alone. A puppy who is teething and overtired at the same time tends to get loudest during the evening witching hour, when a round of zoomies turns into mouthing on hands, cuffs, and table legs because chewing is the only outlet their body knows how to reach for. Giving that energy somewhere to go before the witching hour starts, not after it is already underway, solves more of this than any single toy will.
What actually makes a teething toy safe
The fingernail test
If you cannot leave a small dent in a toy with your fingernail, it is hard enough to crack a tooth. The AVMA's guidance on pet dental care specifically warns against bones, antlers, and hard nylon chews for this reason, since a slab fracture on a puppy's molar means a vet visit and, often, an extraction, not a scare you can just watch and wait on.
Size that actually fits the mouth in front of you
A toy built for a Labrador is not automatically safe for a ten-pound Frenchie puppy. Anything small enough to be swallowed whole, or with parts that can be chewed off in chunks (squeakers, plastic eyes, foam stuffing) belongs in the trash, not the toy bin. For puppies under 25 pounds, look for chews sized closer to a golf ball than a tennis ball, something that cannot lodge in the back of a small throat.
Texture that actually reaches the gum line
Nubs, ridges, and a bit of give in the material reach into the gum line in a way a smooth, hard surface cannot. The VCA Hospitals article on teething in puppies notes that appropriate chewing outlets relieve gum discomfort and measurably cut down on destructive chewing aimed at furniture and shoes, which tracks with what I see in almost every puppy client's living room.
| Toy type | Best for | Watch for | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rubber chew toys | General gum relief, ages 3-6 months | Anything too hard for the fingernail test | $8-$15 |
| Rope and tug toys | Jaw strength, bite inhibition games | Frayed strings that get swallowed | $6-$12 |
| Frozen washcloth | Acute gum soreness, quick sessions | Supervised use only, short bursts | Free |
| Bamboo teething ring | Daily rotation, small-breed puppies | Sold as part of a set | Check the current price |
Best teething toys for puppies, by type
Rubber chew toys
A firm-but-flexible rubber chew is the workhorse of most teething routines. Look for a solid single piece rather than a hollow one that can be chewed through, and skip anything with paint or a coating, since a puppy chewing for hours a day will wear through a finish faster than the packaging suggests.
Rope and tug toys, and how they double as bite inhibition practice
Rope toys are also one of the easiest ways to practice bite inhibition. Let your puppy tug, and the moment their teeth land on skin instead of rope, stop the game for a few seconds before restarting. The ASPCA's guidance on mouthing and nipping in dogs frames this kind of pause-and-redirect, rather than a scolding, as the fastest way to teach a puppy to soften their mouth.
Frozen options, the free fix that actually works
A clean washcloth, wet, twisted, and frozen for a few hours, does a real job on sore gums for the cost of nothing. Offer it in short supervised sessions only, since wet fabric turns to mush fast, and mush is a swallowing hazard.
Bamboo chew toys, and why we skipped plastic
Most teething toys on shelves are molded plastic or PVC, and puppies notice that faint plastic smell right out of the packaging more than we do. A natural bamboo teething ring skips that entirely, which is one reason it is the material we built into our own gym instead of the rubber-and-plastic combination most competitors use. It also holds a slight, natural texture that seems to keep a puppy's interest longer than a smooth rubber ring does. That said, this is our own observation from testing rather than a finding from a published study.
Why we built a teething ring into a full play gym instead of selling one more loose toy
A single chew toy has a way of ending up under the couch exactly when your puppy needs it most, usually the moment before a nine-o'clock meltdown. That is the gap the Nurtino puppy play gym was built to close: seven toys hung on a bamboo frame that stays in one spot, so a sore-mouthed puppy always has somewhere to go without you digging through a bin.
The 7 skill-building toys, each with a job
- Teething ring, ridged bamboo made for sore incoming molars.
- Rope tug, builds jaw strength and doubles as a bite-inhibition game.
- Crinkle duck, sound enrichment for a puppy's developing hearing.
- Snuffle ball, nose-work that tires out a puppy's brain, not just their teeth.
- Braided fleece, low-stakes self-play for solo settling time.
- Star chew, textured relief for anxious or overtired chewing spells.
- Knotted rope ball, coordination practice as a puppy learns to carry and toss.
Bamboo versus a typical PVC play gym
Set a bamboo frame next to a molded PVC one and the difference shows up fast: no plastic sheen, no chemical smell, and a natural grain that holds up to daily gnawing without the toys wobbling loose the way lightweight plastic hooks tend to over a few months of a teething puppy's full attention.
What this actually looks like with a real puppy
This is closer to what a teething session actually looks like than any studio shot: a puppy flopped on a rug, working through one toy at a time instead of scattering seven of them across the room. Finch settles into this exact pose most evenings, usually right before the witching hour would otherwise start.
A teething timeline, and which toy fits each stage
Early on, around 12 to 16 weeks, softer rubber and the bamboo ring do most of the work as baby teeth loosen. By 16 to 20 weeks, chewing intensity peaks as adult teeth push through, and this is when rope, snuffle, and rotation matter most. By 24 weeks, most puppies have settled into their adult bite, and chewing becomes more about habit and enrichment than pain relief.
The gym itself, and the free 30-day plan that comes with it
The full gym runs around $54.99 on sale from an MSRP of $79.99, though prices move, so check the current price on the product page. It ships with all seven toys plus a free 30-day personalized training plan delivered by email, built for puppies 0 to 6 months and small breeds up to about 25 pounds.
How to rotate teething toys without losing your sanity
Keep three or four toys out at a time instead of the whole bin, and swap one in and one out every few days so nothing gets boring enough to abandon for the couch cushion. Freeze rope toys ahead of a known sore stretch, retire anything with a chunk missing immediately, and leave one toy, usually the teething ring, always on the gym as the default your puppy can find without you.
Structured, positive chew and play sessions do more than tire out a puppy's jaw. The AVSAB's position statement on puppy socialization notes that consistent, positive experiences shape a young dog's behavior more reliably than repetition alone, which is exactly why a rotation beats a single toy left out all week.
If the witching hour and a mouth full of loose teeth have taken over your evenings, a sorted rotation beats buying one more toy. The Nurtino bamboo puppy play gym ships with all seven toys built in, teething ring included, so there is always something safe on hand for a sore-mouthed puppy at nine at night.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best material for a teething puppy's chew toy?
Look for something with slight give, natural bamboo, firm rubber, or knotted rope, that passes the fingernail test: if you can dent it with a nail, it will not fracture a tooth. Avoid antlers, real bones, and hard nylon chews, which are firm enough to crack molars during the exact months a puppy's adult teeth are coming in. Slight flex in the texture, more than hardness, is what relieves sore gums.
How long does puppy teething last?
Most puppies start losing baby teeth around twelve weeks old and finish growing in all 42 adult teeth by roughly six months, according to the American Kennel Club. The most intense chewing usually clusters in the middle of that window, around three to five months, when several teeth are shifting at once. A few puppies show mild gum sensitivity into month seven, which is still within normal range.
Are frozen washcloths safe for teething puppies?
Yes, with supervision. Wet a clean washcloth, twist it, and freeze it for a few hours, then offer it for a short chewing session while you watch. The cold numbs sore gums the way an ice pack would for a person. Stop the session once the cloth starts to shred, and never leave a puppy alone with a frozen or wet fabric toy, since soggy fabric is a swallowing risk.
Can teething toys stop a puppy from biting hands?
They help, but the toy alone is not the whole fix. Offer a chew toy the moment your puppy starts mouthing you, then pause play for a few seconds any time teeth land on skin instead of the toy. Consistent redirection teaches bite inhibition, more than the toy by itself. Most puppies show a real drop in hand-biting within a few weeks of steady redirection.
Is bamboo safe for teething puppies to chew?
Yes, when the bamboo is solid, sanded smooth, and sized so it cannot be chewed into swallowable splinters, which is how teething rings built for puppies are shaped. It has enough give to pass the fingernail test and none of the off-gassing smell that comes with molded PVC. As with any chew, supervise the first few sessions and retire it once it shows deep gouging or cracks.
Sources & references
- American Kennel Club: Teething in Puppies: A Guide (timeline of baby-to-adult teeth and the typical age range for teething).
- AVMA: Dental Care for Pets (guidance on avoiding chew toys hard enough to fracture teeth).
- VCA Hospitals: Teething in Puppies (how appropriate chewing outlets relieve gum discomfort and reduce destructive chewing).
- ASPCA: Mouthing, Nipping, and Biting in Dogs (pause-and-redirect method for teaching bite inhibition).
- AVSAB: Position Statement on Puppy Socialization (structured positive experiences shaping calmer behavior in young dogs).
Key takeaways
- Teething runs from about twelve weeks to six months; the fingernail test, can you dent it with a nail, is the fastest way to check if a chew toy is safe.
- Texture with slight give, like bamboo or firm rubber, relieves sore gums better than hard antlers, bones, or nylon.
- Rope and tug toys double as bite-inhibition practice when you pause the moment teeth land on skin.
- Rotating three to four toys, with one always in reach, keeps a teething puppy from raiding furniture during the evening witching hour.
- A dedicated teething ring built into a play gym, rather than a loose toy, tends to actually get used consistently.
This guide is educational and reflects general training and product-safety practices. It does not replace veterinary care. If your puppy has bleeding gums, will not eat, or seems to be in ongoing pain, check in with your veterinarian.