Best Teething Toys for Puppies: UK Buyer's Guide

The best teething toys for puppies are ones that are soft enough for sore young gums, tough enough not to break into bits, and the right size so they can't be swallowed. A small selection — something freezable for the worst days, something soft to gnaw, and a safe chew — covers most puppies. Here's how to choose well and use them safely.

Teething is genuinely uncomfortable, and a puppy who's chewing the skirting board isn't being naughty — they're trying to relieve sore gums. Give them the right outlet and life gets much easier for both of you.

Why puppies chew when teething

Puppies have baby teeth from a few weeks old and lose them as adult teeth come through, roughly between three and six months. During that window the gums are sore and itchy, and chewing brings relief. The pressure feels good and helps loosen the milk teeth. It peaks around four to five months and settles once the adult set is in. Knowing the timeline helps you ride it out — our Puppy Teething Timeline: Stages and How to Soothe It maps it out.

The types of teething toy that work

Variety helps because puppies, like babies, have preferences and the relief comes from different textures.

• Freezable toys. Cold numbs sore gums beautifully. Look for toys designed to be chilled — a frozen damp flannel works in a pinch, but purpose-made freezable toys hold the cold longer and are safe to chew.
• Soft rubber chews. Gentle, pliable rubber gives without being so hard it hurts new teeth. The mainstay of teething relief.
• Textured and nubbed toys. Ridges and nubs massage the gums and reach awkward back teeth.
• Soft plush comforters. Not for heavy chewing, but great for gentle mouthing and comfort — a snuggle comfort toy helps an unsettled, teething puppy calm down.

Browse our puppy teething toys range to mix a few textures, and the wider dog toys selection for variety as they grow.

Safety: the bit that really matters

Puppies will test everything with their mouths, so safety comes first.

• Size up, never down. A toy must be too big to swallow or lodge at the back of the throat. When in doubt, go bigger.
• Avoid anything that hard. If you can't dent it with a thumbnail and it could crack a tooth, it's too hard for a teething puppy — skip very hard nylon and antlers at this age.
• Check for breakable bits. Squeakers, plastic eyes and thin seams can come loose and be swallowed. Inspect toys regularly and bin anything chewed through.
• Supervise. Especially with anything new, edible or plush. No toy is a substitute for an eye on a busy puppy.

A treat-dispensing puzzle ball doubles as gentle gum work and mental stimulation, while a squeaky plush dog toy or squishy squeaky dog toy suits softer mouthing — just supervise and retire them once worn.

Natural chews for teething puppies

Alongside toys, appropriate natural chews give long-lasting relief and satisfy the urge to gnaw. Choose softer, age-appropriate options from our natural dog chews range — avoid the hardest chews and anything that splinters until the adult teeth are settled. Always pick a size your puppy can't swallow whole, and supervise every chew session. If your puppy seems in real discomfort, is drooling excessively, goes off their food, or you spot a retained baby tooth sitting alongside an adult one, it's worth getting your vet to take a look.

Redirecting the biting (not just the chewing)

Teething toys solve the chewing, but many puppies also bite hands and ankles — a separate behaviour that needs training, not just a toy. The trick is to redirect onto an appropriate toy the instant teeth touch skin, every single time. Our guides How to Stop a Puppy Biting and Nipping and How to Stop a Puppy Chewing Everything walk through it, with more across our New Puppy hub and the full dogs range.

Get a few safe textures, keep one in the freezer, supervise, and redirect consistently — and you'll get through teething with your furniture and your sanity intact.