Puppies start losing baby teeth around 3–4 months old, and the process brings sore, inflamed gums that make chewing on something — anything — feel genuinely relieving. Without the right outlet, that instinct gets redirected to furniture, shoes, and baseboards. The right teething toy addresses the actual physical need: cold or textured surfaces to soothe inflamed gums, a material soft enough not to damage still-forming adult teeth, and a size that actually fits a puppy’s smaller mouth rather than a scaled-down adult toy. A quick safety note before the picks: always supervise a teething puppy with any chew toy, keep water available, and avoid anything hard enough to chip a tooth or that could splinter into swallowable pieces.
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1. Nylabone Puppy Teething Chew Toy Freezer Bone — Best Overall
Best for: Most teething puppies, especially during the peak discomfort stage.
Price: Roughly $6–$10
Why it stands out: The bone includes a soothing cloth section that can be soaked and frozen, and cold is one of the most effective ways to numb inflamed gums during active teething. The rest of the toy is a softer, flexible material specifically designed for puppy mouths rather than a scaled-down adult chew, so it won’t be too hard on teeth that are still coming in. It’s an easy first teething toy to introduce since it doesn’t require any prep beyond freezing.
Key specs:
- Freezable cloth section for cold relief
- Softer, puppy-specific material (not adult-strength nylon)
- Sizes for small to medium puppies
- Lightly textured surface for gum stimulation
Consider instead if: your puppy is already a determined, strong chewer — the softer material here is built for comfort, not heavy-duty durability; the KONG Puppy below holds up better to more aggressive chewing.
2. KONG Puppy — Best for Treat-Dispensing and All-Around Use
Best for: Puppies who respond well to a toy that rewards chewing with a treat, not just relief.
Price: Roughly $8–$14, depending on size
Why it stands out: KONG’s puppy-specific rubber is softer than their standard or Extreme lines, formulated for teeth that are still developing, while keeping the same hollow, stuffable design as the classic KONG. Filling it with a small amount of puppy food or a lick-safe treat paste (frozen, if you want the added cold-relief benefit) gives your puppy a reason to keep chewing in the right place rather than wandering off to your furniture. It doubles as a training and crate-time tool well beyond the teething phase.
Key specs:
- Softer natural rubber formulated for puppy teeth
- Hollow, stuffable design
- Sizes for small to large-breed puppies
- Dishwasher safe; freezes well when stuffed
Consider instead if: your puppy is very small or young — the N-Bone sticks below are a gentler, dissolvable option for the earliest teething stage.
3. Benebone Puppy Chew (Bacon, X-Small) — Best for Small Breed Puppies
Best for: Small and toy breed puppies who need a chew genuinely sized for a smaller mouth.
Price: Roughly $14–$20 for a 2-pack
Why it stands out: A lot of “puppy” chews are really just softer versions of adult-sized toys, which can still be awkward for a small breed puppy to get a grip on. The X-Small Benebone is proportioned specifically for that smaller jaw, with a curved wishbone shape that’s easy to hold down with a paw while chewing. The real bacon flavor baked into the material (not just a coating) tends to hold a puppy’s interest longer than unflavored nylon alternatives.
Key specs:
- True X-Small sizing for small and toy breeds
- Real bacon flavor infused into the material
- Curved shape designed for easy paw-holding
- Made in the USA
Consider instead if: your puppy is a medium or large breed — this is specifically proportioned for small mouths and won’t offer enough material for a bigger puppy to work with.
4. Nylabone Puppy Power Rings — Best Multi-Texture Chew
Best for: Puppies who lose interest in a single-texture toy quickly.
Price: Roughly $9–$12
Why it stands out: Three interlinking rings each have a different texture and design, giving a puppy several distinct chewing sensations in one toy rather than the uniform surface of most chews. Varied texture does double duty — it helps massage sore gums in different ways and tends to hold a puppy’s attention longer than a single smooth or single-ridged surface. It’s made from nylon rather than rubber, so it holds up well without needing to be replaced every few weeks.
Key specs:
- Three interlinked rings, each with a distinct texture
- Bacon-flavored nylon material
- Helps reduce plaque and tartar buildup while chewing
- Best suited to puppies and small dogs up to about 25 lbs
Consider instead if: your puppy finds nylon too hard on sore gums early in teething — some puppies do better starting with a softer rubber option like the Nylabone Freezer Bone above before moving to firmer nylon.
5. N-Bone Puppy Teething Sticks — Best Edible, Dissolvable Option
Best for: Very young puppies in the earliest, most tender stage of teething.
Price: Roughly $4–$6 per bag
Why it stands out: Unlike the rubber and nylon toys above, this is a soft, dissolvable stick designed to be chewed and eaten rather than gnawed on indefinitely — which removes the concern some owners have about a young puppy chipping a tooth on a firmer material during the most sensitive part of teething. It’s flavored (commonly peanut butter) and softens as your puppy works on it, so there’s less resistance for sore gums than a rigid chew. Because it’s consumed, it’s meant to be a supplement to your regular chew toy rotation, not a replacement for it.
Key specs:
- Soft, dissolvable texture, softens further as chewed
- Peanut butter flavor
- Formulated specifically for young, teething puppies
- Sold in multi-stick bags
Consider instead if: you want a reusable toy rather than a consumable treat — everything else on this list is a toy your puppy keeps coming back to, not something that gets eaten and replaced.
What to Look for in a Teething Toy for Puppies
- Match the material to how hard your puppy chews. Very young or gentle chewers do better starting with softer rubber or dissolvable options; firmer nylon is better introduced once teeth are more established.
- Cold helps more than most other features. A toy that can be frozen (wet cloth, water-filled, or a stuffed rubber toy) provides genuine numbing relief for inflamed gums, not just something to gnaw on.
- Size it to your puppy’s current mouth, not their adult size. A toy that’s too large is hard to get a grip on; one that’s too small can become a choking risk — check the manufacturer’s weight or breed-size guidance rather than guessing.
- Always supervise teething toys, especially anything edible or dissolvable. Even puppy-safe chews should be watched the first several times to make sure your puppy isn’t breaking off and swallowing large pieces.
If your puppy has moved past teething but you’re now dealing with a determined adult chewer, see our Best Indestructible Toys for Large, Powerful Chewers (2026) guide, or check out the full Best Dog Toys (2026): The Complete Buying Guide for every stage and situation.
Note on pricing: Prices reflect approximate ranges at time of writing and may vary. Check the current listing for exact pricing.