When Can a Puppy Start Using Chew Toys?

Anyone who has welcomed a new puppy into their home knows that puppies can have sharp teeth and that they love to chew! One thing that can help to take care of puppy chewing and puppy biting and mouthiness is the use of chew toys. Here’s an overview of what you should know about when a puppy can start using chew toys and other options for dealing with puppy teething and biting—

Why Do Puppies Chew?

Between weeks 12 and 24, puppies are in the peak of their teething period. This means that a puppy’s baby teeth start to fall out and are replaced by permanent teeth, which are stronger than puppy teeth. This can be an uncomfortable time for puppies, as well as a frustrating time for their human parents. At this stage, puppies are chewing to soothe discomfort.

As puppies get older, chewing is something that may be done for entertainment. Chewing is also something that’s naturally done to keep jaws strong and teeth clean.

When Can I Give My Puppy Chew Toys?

When your puppy is younger than 12 weeks of age, it likely won’t need any chew toys. Between 12 and 24 weeks, though, a puppy will need toys to help ease the pain and discomfort of teething. Nylabone toys and bones for puppies are a great option, as are the Kong puppy toys that can be frozen. Note that it’s important to get toys that are appropriate for your puppy’s age.

After your puppy reaches 24 weeks old, it will be ready for more adult chew toys. Rope toys, distraction toys that can be filled with treats, fetch toys, and comfort toys are all great options—you’ll just have to figure out what type of toy your pup prefers the most! Always choose toys that are designed for dogs and not children.

Correcting Puppy Biting and Chewing with Puppy Training

In addition to making sure that your puppy has teething toys to ease their discomfort and protect your furniture and personal items, you should also consider enrolling your puppy in puppy training classes with Happy Pup Manor. In addition to teaching basic commands and good behaviors, our training programs for puppies also focus on puppy mouthiness and biting. We know that having a pup who chews up your personal items can be extremely frustrating—we want to correct these behaviors before your pup becomes an adult dog with a problem.

To learn more about our training programs, call Happy Pup Manor today. We welcome puppies up to age three.