Puppies love toys, but, just like children, you need to make sure you have the right toys for their age and size. Teething puppies can be indiscriminate about what they chew, so it’s important to make sure they have their own toys, and that your shoes and belongings are kept safely put away.
Top teething toys
- A Kong or another hard rubber toy, especially one that’s fillable. These are durable and you can fill them with water and freeze them to help cool those sore teething gums.
- Hard nylon toys are practically indestructible, but make sure you have the right size for your puppy. Large breed dogs can easily swallow small toys.
- Thick, high-quality rope toys are another great choice. You can also dip them in water and freeze them. However, make sure the toy you choose is well made and that your puppy can’t pull off any little fibres that he/she could swallow and get stuck in the intestines. Don’t be tempted into playing tug-of-war until your puppy is full-grown, because it could damage his/her new teeth.
What to avoid and watch out for
- Avoid any toys with small or sharp metal parts, such as pins, springs, or batteries.
- Avoid long strips or fibres, such as strings, thin ribbon or pantyhose.
- Avoid cooked real bones of any kind, they can damage your puppy’s digestive tract as well as teeth.
- Avoid sheets of plastic film (e.g. shopping bags) that can cause choking.
- Avoid chewies made of large pieces or knots of rawhide, they often cause intestinal obstructions.
- Avoid thin, squeaky-type, rubber pet toys.
- Avoid soft toys with foam stuffing.
Make sure you check your puppy’s toys regularly to make sure nothing has been bitten off or is coming loose.
Where to get them
- You can find a wide range of dog toys at vets and veterinary outlets. Locate your nearest outlet here.
- Teething puppies can be indiscriminate about what they chew, so it’s important to make sure they have their own toys, and that your shoes and belongings are kept safely put away.