# Puppy Teething Toys (2026): Soft Enough for Baby Teeth, Sized to Grow > When puppy teething ends, what the ASPCA suggests for sore gums, the thumbnail test for soft chews, and four teething, tug and fetch toys sized for small puppies. - Source: https://petprooflab.com/play-training/puppy-teething-toys - Publisher: PetProofLab (https://petprooflab.com) - Published: 2026-09-28 - Category: play-training - Tags: puppy teething, teething toys, puppy chew toys, puppy chewing, rope toys, frozen dog toys, new puppy - Method: picks chosen from Amazon listings and brand specs; not hands-on tested; current Amazon prices are on the page; content checked 2026-09-28. - Quick answer: Give a teething puppy something soft: KONG's pink or blue Puppy rubber, made for puppies under 9 months, or the Nylabone Puppy Chew Teething Ring (sold by Amazon.com), which Nylabone makes in a soft material for puppies with baby teeth. The ASPCA says the heavy chewing phase usually ends by six months and that some owners use toys that can be frozen or frozen wet washcloths. Skip antlers, bones and hard nylon: veterinary dentists want a chew you can dent with your thumbnail. Supervise every chew, and size toys so they cannot fit whole in the puppy's mouth. ## Key takeaways - The ASPCA says the intense teething phase usually ends by six months; Nylabone says puppies finish moving to adult teeth at six to eight months. - Soft first: KONG's Puppy rubber is for puppies under 9 months, and KONG suggests the red Classic or black Extreme once the adult canines are fully in. - Cold helps, per the ASPCA: some owners use freezable dog toys or frozen wet washcloths to numb sore gums. VCA lists large ice cubes among chews hard enough to chip teeth. - The thumbnail test applies to puppies too: Cornell says veterinary dentists want a chew you can dent with a fingernail. - Size up: VCA says a toy should never fit entirely in the dog's mouth, and Chuckit tells owners to choose a size larger to prevent swallowing. ## Products (chosen from listings, not tested) 1. **Nylabone Puppy Chew Teething Ring Bone, X-Small** (details: https://petprooflab.com/play-training/puppy-teething-toys#product-B0052L9Q1Q) — The small, soft teething chew to hand a toy or small-breed puppy in its first weeks home. - Pros: Made in a soft material for teething puppies with gentle chewing styles, per the listing; Ridges and nubs; the listing says you can chill it in the freezer; For puppies up to 15 lb; made in New Jersey; sold by Amazon.com - Cons: Nylabone says it is not for powerful chewers or puppies with any adult teeth 2. **Pupstages Cool Teething Stick, 8.5 in** (details: https://petprooflab.com/play-training/puppy-teething-toys#product-B0009YJ3QE) — The freezable fabric chew for a teething puppy you are sitting with. - Pros: Soak it in water and freeze it for a cool chew on sore gums, per the listing; Soft, stuffed polyester shell with fringe; Sold by Amazon.com - Cons: Fabric and fringe can be torn off; the listing says not to leave it with an unsupervised puppy 3. **Mammoth Flossy Chews Rope Tug, Mini 10 in** (details: https://petprooflab.com/play-training/puppy-teething-toys#product-B0017JAOJK) — A small tug rope for play with you, put away when the game ends. - Pros: Knotted cotton-poly rope for dogs under 15 lb, per the listing; Built for tug games as well as chewing; Sold by Amazon.com - Cons: Mammoth suggests a larger toy for heavier dogs or strong chewers; VCA says to retire a rope once it frays 4. **Chuckit! Ultra Ball, Small 2 in, 2-Pack** (details: https://petprooflab.com/play-training/puppy-teething-toys#product-B00280MUVC) — For fetch, not for chewing: the game that tires a puppy out before it looks for the table legs. - Pros: Rubber fetch ball with a thick core that floats, per the listing; Small size for dogs of 0 to 20 lb; Sold by Amazon.com - Cons: Chuckit says it is not intended for chewing, and to choose a size larger to prevent swallowing A teething puppy needs something soft to chew, cold if it helps, and big enough that it cannot be swallowed. Start with KONG's pink or blue Puppy rubber, or the **Nylabone Puppy Chew Teething Ring**, which Nylabone makes in a soft material for puppies with baby teeth. Add a freezable toy such as the **Pupstages Cool Teething Stick** for sore days, and skip anything too hard to dent with your thumbnail. The ASPCA says this intense chewing phase usually ends by six months. **How we chose:** we did not test these toys; we read the makers' age and size guidance and what the ASPCA, Cornell and VCA say about chews, and gave cards only to toys sold by Amazon.com or the brand's own store on September 28, 2026. ## Four puppy toys at a glance | Toy | What it is for | Puppy size (per listing) | Sold by | Amazon price | |---|---|---|---|---| | [Nylabone Puppy Chew Teething Ring, X-Small](https://petprooflab.com/play-training/puppy-teething-toys#product-B0052L9Q1Q) | Soft chew, freezer-friendly | Up to 15 lb | Amazon.com | see the current Amazon price on the page | | [Pupstages Cool Teething Stick](https://petprooflab.com/play-training/puppy-teething-toys#product-B0009YJ3QE) | Soak-and-freeze fabric chew | Not stated | Amazon.com | see the current Amazon price on the page | | [Mammoth Flossy Chews Rope Tug, Mini](https://petprooflab.com/play-training/puppy-teething-toys#product-B0017JAOJK) | Tug with you | Under 15 lb | Amazon.com | see the current Amazon price on the page | | [Chuckit! Ultra Ball, Small](https://petprooflab.com/play-training/puppy-teething-toys#product-B00280MUVC) | Fetch only, not a chew | 0 to 20 lb | Amazon.com | see the current Amazon price on the page | KONG's Puppy toys are the other obvious pick, and we say more about them below; every KONG listing we found on Amazon was sold by a third-party seller, so KONG has no card here. ## When teething starts, and when it ends The ASPCA's page on [destructive chewing](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues/destructive-chewing) puts it simply: "Much like human infants, puppies go through a stage when they lose their baby teeth and experience pain as their adult teeth come in. This intensified chewing phase usually ends by six months of age." Toy makers give similar timelines. Nylabone's [use guidelines](https://www.nylabone.com/products/guidelines-for-use) say that "on average, puppies fully transition to adult teeth from six to eight months of age, depending on breed and size." KONG's [FAQ](https://www.kongcompany.com/faq/) makes its softest rubber for puppies under 9 months. Chewing does not stop when the adult teeth are in. The ASPCA's [position on dog chews](https://www.aspca.org/about-us/aspca-policy-and-position-statements/position-statement-dog-chewstreats) says "virtually all puppies chew objects as they explore the world with their mouths and while they are teething, presumably to relieve discomfort in their gums," and that adult dogs chew too, when bored or restless. Teething is simply the months when it is most intense and most likely to land on your shoes. ## What to give a teething puppy **Something cold.** The ASPCA says "some recommend giving puppies ice cubes, special dog toys that can be frozen or frozen wet washcloths to chew, which might help numb teething pain." Of those three, the freezable toy is the easy one. The Nylabone Puppy Chew listing calls its ring freezer-friendly, and the Pupstages Cool Teething Stick is made to be soaked in water and frozen. A frozen stuffed KONG works too: KONG says freezing one "for a few hours makes it last longer." Go easy on the ice cubes. VCA's [chew toy guide](https://vcahospitals.com/resources/lifestyle-dog/supplies/how-to-choose-the-best-chew-toy-for-your-dog) lists "large ice cubes" with bones, cow hooves and pig ears as toys "too hard" that "can chip and even fracture your dog's teeth." A small chip of ice or a frozen washcloth is gentler than a big cube. **Something soft.** Cornell's Riney Canine Health Center [says](https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/riney-canine-health-center/canine-health-information/risks-fractured-tooth) that "most veterinary dentists go by the 'thumbnail test' for chewing items," meaning "you should be able to make a dent in the item with your fingernail." VCA agrees, and adds that long toys "should have a little give, so that you can bend them between your hands." Baby teeth are small and sharp, and the jaw behind them is still growing, which is why KONG and Nylabone both make softer puppy lines. **Something the right size.** VCA says a toy "should never be so small as to easily fit entirely in your dog's mouth, as this makes it more likely to be a choking danger." KONG sizes its puppy toys by weight, and Nylabone says non-edible chews "should be large enough to encourage chewing from the side rather than top and bottom." **Lots of them, in rotation.** The ASPCA suggests you "introduce something new or rotate your dog's chew toys every couple of days so that he doesn't get bored with the same old toys." ## KONG Puppy and Nylabone Puppy Chew KONG's FAQ is the clearest maker guidance we found. Its Puppy toys come in "baby pink and baby blue" and are "a great choice for Puppies that are under 9 months old." KONG makes that rubber softer because "a puppy's teeth can be very sensitive and in order to avoid puppy teeth falling out prematurely we made this rubber softer." Once "a puppy has its canines fully grown in," KONG suggests the red Classic for average chewers or the black Extreme for power chewers. Our [KONG vs Nylabone comparison](https://petprooflab.com/play-training/kong-vs-nylabone) covers the adult lines and size charts. Nylabone's Puppy Chew line is its answer. The X-Small teething ring on this page is "specially made in soft material for teething puppies with gentle chewing styles," per the listing, for puppies up to 15 lb, and "not intended for powerful puppies or puppies with adult teeth." Nylabone's guidelines add a warning worth reading twice: "some young puppies are powerful chewers even with their puppy teeth." Watch the first few sessions. If your puppy is tearing pieces off, take it away. Nylabone also sells puppy starter kits that step up to "the tougher material for puppies with adult teeth." For a strong chewer after teething, go back to the thumbnail test before you buy the tougher option; our [safe chew toy guide](https://petprooflab.com/play-training/safe-chew-toys-for-aggressive-chewers) explains why Tufts and VCA put hard nylon on their avoid lists. ## Rope, fabric and fetch toys Not every puppy toy is a chew. Rope and fabric toys are fine for play with you, and are worth putting away afterward. The **Mammoth Flossy Chews Mini** is a 10 in knotted rope for dogs under 15 lb, per the listing, and Mammoth sells longer ropes for bigger puppies, such as the [Medium 20 in](https://petprooflab.com/play-training/puppy-teething-toys) for 30 to 50 lb. The risk with rope is the strands. VCA's rule: "If stuffing is showing, rope is frayed or rubber is broken, it's time to retire that toy to prevent broken bits from being swallowed." The same goes for the Pupstages stick's fabric and fringe; its listing says, "Do not leave toys with unsupervised pets. Remove and replace if damaged." The **Chuckit! Ultra Ball** is for fetch. Chuckit says plainly that the balls are "not intended for chewing," and that owners should "always choose a size larger to prevent swallowing." The Small is 2 in across, for dogs up to 20 lb, so a puppy heading past that weight needs the Medium. VCA adds that tennis balls' abrasive surface can wear teeth down over time, one reason to prefer a rubber ball for a dog that carries its ball everywhere. **Pro tip:** keep a toy in your pocket. When the puppy mouths your hand or grabs a sleeve, swap in the toy and praise it for chewing that instead. The ASPCA says "gentle guidance can teach your puppy to restrict chewing to appropriate objects, like his own toys." ## What to skip while the baby teeth are in - **Antlers, hooves and bones.** Cornell says to avoid "antlers, hooves and bones, which may break a tooth, or splinter and cause stomach problems." The ASPCA's own chewing page warns against cooked bones "like leftover t-bones or chicken wings, as these can splinter and seriously injure your dog." - **Hard nylon.** Benebone, whose puppy chews were sold by Amazon.com, says on its [nylon safety page](https://www.benebone.com/pages/nylon-safety) that its chews "are made of nylon, which is a hard substance," that its "puppy product line is just a tad softer than our adult products," and that its puppy products "need to be monitored very closely." We left Benebone without a card for that reason. - **Your old things.** The ASPCA says not to confuse a puppy by "offering unwanted household items, like old shoes and discarded cushions." An old sneaker teaches the puppy that sneakers are toys. ## Puppy-proofing and supervision A toy only works if the puppy can reach it before it reaches your things. The ASPCA's advice: - "'Dog-proof' your house. Put valuable objects away until you're confident that your dog's chewing behavior is restricted to appropriate items." - "Do your best to supervise your dog during all waking hours until you feel confident that his chewing behavior is under control." - When you cannot watch, confine the puppy to a safe area with its toys. A [crate](https://petprooflab.com/home-beds/best-dog-crates) or a room behind a [baby gate](https://petprooflab.com/home-beds/dog-gates-and-playpens) does the job. Both toy makers ask for the same watchfulness. KONG recommends "supervising your pet whenever they are playing with any non-edible toy or object," and Nylabone says to "ALWAYS SUPERVISE your puppy to ensure he/she cannot bite off large pieces." The ASPCA's chew position says to "immediately consult a veterinarian if their pet consumes a chunk of chew material." The adult teeth are worth a look too. The [AVMA's dental care page](https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/pet-dental-care) lists "extra teeth or retained baby teeth" and "broken or loose teeth" among the reasons to have a pet's teeth checked sooner. If a baby tooth is still in place next to its adult replacement, or your puppy stops eating or drools more than usual, ask your vet. This page is general information, not veterinary advice ([more on that](https://petprooflab.com/about#veterinary)). For the rest of what a new puppy needs, see our [new puppy checklist](https://petprooflab.com/life-stages/new-puppy-checklist); for food puzzles that also soak up chewing time, our [dog puzzle toy guide](https://petprooflab.com/play-training/dog-puzzle-toys) has a section on puppies. ## Seller and recall check On September 28, 2026, every KONG Puppy listing we found on Amazon was sold by Pattern Products, a third-party seller, not by Amazon.com or a KONG store; buy KONG from the maker or a retailer you trust. Some Nylabone Puppy Chew toys were sold by a third-party store called Paws to Tails; the one on this page is sold by Amazon.com. We found no CPSC recall of Nylabone, Mammoth, Chuckit or KONG dog toys in the [CPSC recall database](https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls), and none of these brands appears on our [pet product recall page](https://petprooflab.com/recalls) as of September 28, 2026. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### When do puppies stop teething? The ASPCA says the intense chewing phase usually ends by six months of age. Nylabone says puppies finish moving to adult teeth at six to eight months, depending on breed and size. ### Can I give my teething puppy ice cubes? The ASPCA says some owners use ice cubes, freezable toys or frozen wet washcloths to numb teething pain, but VCA lists large ice cubes among things hard enough to chip teeth. A freezable toy or a frozen washcloth is the gentler choice. ### Are Nylabones safe for puppies? Nylabone's Puppy Chew line is made in a soft material for puppies with baby teeth, per its listings, and is not meant for puppies with adult teeth. Use the thumbnail test on any chew, supervise, and replace it when the ends wear down. ### When should my puppy move to an adult KONG? KONG says its Puppy rubber is for puppies under 9 months, and to move up to the red Classic or black Extreme once the adult canines are fully grown in. ### Are rope toys safe for teething puppies? For supervised play, yes, in a size meant for your puppy's weight. VCA says to retire a rope toy once it frays so the puppy does not swallow the strands. --- *PetProofLab is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We did not test these toys; ages, sizes and guidance are the makers' own, from their sites and listings. This page is general information and not veterinary advice.* ## Sources - ASPCA: [Destructive chewing](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues/destructive-chewing) - nylabone.com: [Guidelines for use](https://www.nylabone.com/products/guidelines-for-use) - kongcompany.com: [FAQ](https://www.kongcompany.com/faq) - ASPCA: [Position statement dog chewstreats](https://www.aspca.org/about-us/aspca-policy-and-position-statements/position-statement-dog-chewstreats) - vcahospitals.com: [How to choose the best chew toy for your dog](https://vcahospitals.com/resources/lifestyle-dog/supplies/how-to-choose-the-best-chew-toy-for-your-dog) - vet.cornell.edu: [Risks fractured tooth](https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/riney-canine-health-center/canine-health-information/risks-fractured-tooth) - benebone.com: [Nylon safety](https://www.benebone.com/pages/nylon-safety) - American Veterinary Medical Association: [AVMA's dental care page](https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/pet-dental-care) - U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: [CPSC recall database](https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls) --- Last updated: 2026-09-28 Canonical URL: https://petprooflab.com/play-training/puppy-teething-toys How to cite: "Puppy Teething Toys (2026): Soft Enough for Baby Teeth, Sized to Grow", PetProofLab, https://petprooflab.com/play-training/puppy-teething-toys (checked 2026-09-28). Disclosure: as an Amazon Associate PetProofLab earns from qualifying purchases. Safety information summarizes public guidance and is not medical advice.