13 Puppy Teething Toys for Dogs with Aching Gums and Lots of Energy

Sure, puppies are each their own individual snowflake with distinct personalities and needs—and yet…no matter the breed, I’ve yet to meet a puppy that hasn’t wanted to chew off my hand from the jump. When I brought my dog Oakley home as an eight-week-old rescue pup, her razor-sharp teeth were constantly looking for something to gnaw on. Fortunately, the rescue organization we adopted her from pointed us in the direction of a KONG teething toy so that straight  out of the gate we could give her something to ease her little mouth and keep her engaged. In that first year, I found interactive toys like the KONG, edible toys like Nylabones and toys you can stick in the freezer the most effective as she teethed. In fact, Dr. Brett Levitzke, DVM, Chief Medical Officer, VERG and Veterinary Advisor to Get Joy, explains why when puppies teeth, just how painful it can be: “Their deciduous teeth, aka baby teeth, begin to erupt around three weeks of age, and they have their full set of baby teeth by eight  weeks of age. At around three or four months of age their permanent teeth begin moving within their jaw in preparation to push the baby teeth out, and it is this pressure and subsequent eruption that causes discomfort, leading to their teething.” With this mind, I hand-selected 13 of the best puppy teething toys you can order straight to your door, because puppy teeth wait for no one!

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Dr. Brett Levitzke is a seasoned veterinarian with an expertise in emergency medicine. He obtained his BS in Microbiology from Cornell University before earning his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Georgia. In 2005, he founded the Veterinary Emergency and Referral Group (VERG), establishing Brooklyn's first 24/7 emergency and specialty hospital. He regularly appears on national and local broadcast, including the TODAY Show. Dr. Levitzke's professional interests include a focus on the nutritional impact on longevity and the prevention of emergency visits. In his advisory role to Get Joy, Dr. Levitzke collaborates closely with the company to develop strategies that intertwine preventative holistic dog wellness into daily routines. 

There are a bajillion pet products to choose from online, so here’s how I narrowed it down to the 13 puppy teething toys included in this list. I took into consideration Dr. Levitzke’s expertise, sourcing products manufactured by companies that take canine health and safety seriously (like KONG and Petstages). Chew toys are inherently choking hazards because dogs do the thing they're meant to do: chew. So, while no toy is truly indestructible, I selected toys where reviewers specifically noted their durability and honesty regarding their dog’s size and aggression. I also included a variety of teething toys with different sensory experiences—including rubber interactive baubles, freezer options, soft and squeaky toys. Finally, I included chew toys from my own experience of bringing a nippy, energetic puppy home. 

Based on my interview with Dr. Levitzke, my own experience with a puppy and reading hundreds of customer reviews, here are, I think, the most important things to consider while shopping for puppy teething toys:

• Materials: As has been mentioned, no dog toy is truly indestructible. So if ingested by fluke, it’s imperative to know what your dog toys are made of. Better yet, provide your pup with the best, non-toxic materials.
• Durability: How well do the materials in your dog chews hold up? When puppies go to town on these toys, chomp-chomp-chomping away, what’s the likelihood that the toy can stand up to some wear and tear?
• Versatility: Does the toy do more than one thing? Can it be a cold freezer salve as well as an interactive game? Does the toy float or bounce? All things to consider when thinking about the use of a dog toy.
• Age/Size Appropriate: Is the toy the right size for your dog? Is your dog the right age for a toy? If your dog’s chew pattern is so aggressive that it makes using soft puppy toys dangerous, consider larger toys with greater durability.
• Variety: Are you always going back to the same type of toy? While it’s great to know what your dog engages with, it’s wise to include an assortment of toys so that your puppy has experience with more than one toy.