The Honest Guide to Safe Chews for Teething Puppies

Bringing home a puppy means signing up for a few months of tiny needle teeth aimed at your fingers, your furniture and anything left on the floor. If your puppy is chewing everything in sight, they aren't being naughty. They're teething, and they need somewhere to put all that gnawing. The honest answer to the chaos is not to stop the chewing but to give them safe, satisfying things to chew instead.

Here's what I tell every new puppy owner who comes through the salon, straight and without the fluff.

Why puppies chew so much (roughly 3 to 9 months)

Puppies are born toothless, get their milk teeth, then lose them as adult teeth push through. That teething process peaks from around three to nine months, and it genuinely hurts. Chewing eases the ache in sore gums, which is why your puppy suddenly wants to bite down on everything.

There's more to it than pain relief, though. Chewing is how puppies explore the world, wind down and self-soothe. The PDSA's guidance on chewing is clear that it's a normal, healthy behaviour, so the goal is to channel it, not punish it.

The best chews for a teething puppy

Cold and soft is the winning combination for aching gums. My go-to suggestions:

• Frozen chews and toys: pop a suitable rubber toy or a damp, clean flannel in the freezer. The cold numbs sore gums beautifully.
• A frozen, food-stuffed rubber toy: long-lasting, absorbing and soothing all at once.
• Puppy-specific chew toys: soft enough to be kind to developing teeth, and sized so they can't be swallowed.
• Lick mats: rhythmic licking calms a fractious puppy and buys you a quiet ten minutes.

Groomer's tip: A chew should be soft enough to leave a dent when you press it with your fingernail. Anything harder than that risks cracking those precious new adult teeth.

Redirect gently, don't tell them off

When you catch your puppy chewing the wrong thing, stay calm. Quietly take the forbidden item, swap in an approved chew, then praise the moment they take it. That swap and reward is how they learn what's theirs to chew.

• Keep approved chews in every room your puppy uses.
• Puppy-proof low shelves, cables, shoes and skirting boards.
• Use a baby gate or playpen when you can't watch closely.
• Rotate the toys so they stay novel and interesting.

Punishing a puppy after the event doesn't work. They won't connect the telling-off to the chewing, and it can make a nervous puppy more anxious, which often means more chewing, not less.

What to avoid completely

Some chews do more harm than good. I'd steer well clear of:

• Cooked bones: they splinter and can cause serious internal damage or blockages.
• Anything rock-hard: antlers, hooves and hard nylon bones can fracture teeth.
• Rawhide: it can swell and cause blockages, and quality varies wildly.
• Anything small enough to swallow whole, which is a choking and gut-blockage risk.

Always supervise a new chew until you know how your puppy handles it, and take away any piece small enough to gulp.

Grooming during the puppy months

Teething is also the perfect time to get your puppy used to being handled. Gentle, positive early grooms mean paws, ears and coat aren't a fight later on. Our puppy grooming in York is built around exactly that, taking things slowly so your puppy learns grooming is nothing to worry about.

Frequently asked questions

How long does puppy teething last? Teething peaks from around three to nine months as the adult teeth come through, and settles by roughly a year. Chewing eases off as the discomfort fades, provided your puppy has good outlets.

Are frozen chews safe for puppies? Yes, a frozen food-stuffed rubber toy or a frozen damp flannel is safe and soothing for sore gums. Avoid anything so frozen-solid it becomes tooth-crackingly hard, and always supervise.

Can I give my teething puppy a bone? Skip cooked bones entirely, as they splinter, and be cautious with very hard chews that can crack developing teeth. Softer, puppy-appropriate chews are the safer choice.

Why is my puppy chewing more even with toys? A burst of extra chewing often lines up with a new tooth pushing through, or with a puppy who needs more exercise and mental stimulation. Offer cold chews and check they're getting enough activity for their age.

Fluffs is a professional dog grooming salon in Wigginton, York, offering one-to-one grooming for dogs of every breed and coat type across Haxby, Strensall, Huntington, New Earswick and the surrounding villages. Getting your puppy comfortable with handling early makes every future groom easier. Book a first puppy groom.