Teething is one of the most important and challenging stages of a puppy’s life. If you are a puppy parent dealing with constant biting, chewing, and destroyed household items, you are not alone. Puppies explore the world through their mouths and during teething, that urge becomes intense. This is why it is important to choose good bones for teething puppies. It is essential not only for your sanity but also for your puppy’s dental health and safety.
In this ultimate guide, we will break down everything you need to know about teething puppies, from safer bones to bones that need to be avoided. It will also guide you on how natural dog chews can help your puppy grow into a happy, healthy adult.
Understanding Puppy Teething: What’s Really Happening?
Puppies begin teething as early as 3/4 weeks of age, and the process can continue until they are around 6/7 months old. During this stage, their baby teeth gradually fall out, and adult teeth push through the gums which can cause significant discomfort, soreness, and itching. This natural process often leads puppies to chew more than usual as a way to relieve pressure and soothe their tender gums.
The most common signs of teething can be excessive chewing or biting, gnawing on furniture, shoes, or hands, increased drooling, mild gum inflammation, and irritability or restlessness. These behaviors are perfectly normal, but they can quickly become problematic if puppies chew inappropriate items. This is why it is important to provide safe, durable, and digestible chew bones. It will help your puppy develop healthy chewing habits, maintain good dental health, and reduce stress during this critical developmental stage.
1. Why Choosing the Right Bones Matters?
Please note that not all bones are safe for puppies. Selecting the wrong option can lead to serious problems such as broken teeth, choking hazards, and digestive issues. Puppies are very vulnerable during the teething stage, so it is important to provide chews that are both safe and appropriate for their age and development.
Veterinarians emphasize that teething puppies need chew options that are gentle yet durable, which are made from digestible, natural ingredients, and have the right level of hardness to protect delicate, developing teeth. It is important to choose the right bone, not just to satisfy a puppy’s natural urge to chew but to soothe sore gums, promote healthy oral development, and build good chewing habits that last a lifetime.
You can make teething a safe, stress-free experience for both your puppy and your home by choosing the right chews. Explore Pure Dog Chew’s puppy-safe, vet-approved chews designed to support healthy growth from the very first bite.
2. Bones You Should NEVER Give Teething Puppies
Before discussing what is safe, let’s clarify what isn’t.
i) Cooked Bones: Cooked chicken, beef, or lamb bones can splinter easily. This can pose a serious risk of choking or internal injury.
ii) Extremely Hard Bones: Antlers, hooves, and weight-bearing bones are too hard for puppies. This can cause cracked or broken teeth.
iii) Artificial Plastic Bones: Many synthetic bones contain chemicals and don’t break down naturally, which makes them unsafe for dogs. It is necessary to avoid these and stay focused on truly good bones for teething puppies.
3. What Makes a Bone Safe for Teething Puppies?
Veterinary experts recommend several key factors when selecting chew bones for teething puppies to ensure both safety and effectiveness. Firstly, bones or chews should be made from natural, digestible ingredients so that if small pieces are accidentally swallowed, they won’t pose a health risk. The chew needs to be gentle on developing teeth and puppies' gums. Their teeth are far more sensitive than those of adult dogs so softer textures are essential. At the same time, chews should be long-lasting enough to engage your puppy but not so hard that they risk cracking teeth. Finally, puppy chews should be free from chemicals, preservatives, and artificial additives to reduce the risk of stomach upset, allergies, and other health issues.
Choose chews that meet these criteria to safely satisfy your puppy’s natural chewing instincts and support healthy oral development. Explore Pure Dog Chew’s puppy-safe, vet-approved chews for healthy growth from the very first bite.
4. Are Yak Cheese Chews Good for Teething Puppies?
Yes. If yak cheese chews are chosen correctly and used under supervision, they are among the best and safest bones for teething puppies.
Veterinarians recommend yak cheese chews because they are made from natural yak and cow milk which are hardened using traditional methods without any chemicals. They are easily digestible even if small pieces are swallowed, and can be softened which makes them ideal for younger teething puppies. You can find these types of chews at brands like Pure Dog Chew. They carefully craft chews using time-honored Himalayan techniques to ensure their safety and high-quality for dogs of all ages.
The yak cheese chews are ideal for soothing sore gums while encouraging healthy chewing habits from an early age. They offer long-lasting engagement, support dental hygiene, and reduce destructive chewing, all while being free from grains, gluten, and artificial additives. This makes them a vet-approved choice for redirecting chewing behavior, supporting dental health, and providing a fun, long-lasting chewing experience.
5. How to Use Chews Safely During Teething
Even the safest chews should be used properly to protect your puppy and make teething a positive experience. Firstly, always supervise chewing time, especially during the early stages of teething, to ensure your puppy doesn’t accidentally swallow large pieces or chew too aggressively. For young puppies under four months, soften yak chews by soaking them in warm water for a few minutes makes them gentler on sensitive gums while still satisfying the chewing instinct.
It is also important to limit chew sessions to 10/15 minutes at a time to prevent them from over-chewing that could irritate their tender gums. At last you need to remove small pieces once the chew has been worn down to a size your puppy could swallow. For added enjoyment, you can also puff these small pieces in the microwave to create a crunchy, safe treat.
6. Chewing and Dental Health: A Long-Term Benefit
Good bones for teething puppies do more than relieve discomfort and also helps build lifelong dental habits. Dental benefits include reduced plaque buildup, stronger jaw muscles, cleaner teeth as adult teeth emerge, and a lower risk of dental disease later in life. Yak cheese chews naturally scrape the teeth as puppies chew and support healthy oral hygiene from the very beginning.
Many puppy behavior issues start during teething. Without proper outlets, puppies may develop habits like, furniture chewing, hand biting, or shoe destruction. Introducing appropriate chew bones early helps puppies learn what is acceptable to chew, how to self-soothe, and how to stay calm when uncomfortable. This early training saves puppy parents time, money, and frustration.
7. Best Types of Chews for Different Puppy Stages
i) Early Teething (3–4 Months)
During the first stage of teething, puppies have very sensitive gums and small teeth. In this period, puffed yak cheese chews are ideal as they are gentle yet satisfying. There should be short and supervised chew sessions of 10–15 minutes to help them relieve discomfort without overwhelming their developing jaws.
ii) Mid Teething (4–6 Months)
As puppies grow, their teeth become stronger and adult teeth begin to emerge. In this period, small-sized yak cheese chews with slightly firmer textures are perfect. They provide enough resistance to satisfy chewing instincts and also help them soothe sore gums and encourage healthy chewing habits.
iii) Late Teething (6–7 Months)
In the final stage of teething, puppies have most of their adult teeth and their chewing needs increase. In this period, original yak cheese chews are recommended because with longer chewing sessions, they can maintain jaw strength, support dental health, and redirect natural chewing behavior away from furniture and bedding.
Pure Dog Chew offers size-appropriate chews to support puppies at every stage and ensure a safe, satisfying, and vet-approved chewing experience from the very first tooth to the last.
Final Thoughts
Teething is temporary, but the habits your puppy forms now last a lifetime. This is why it is very important to choose good bones for teething puppies that help soothe discomfort, protect developing teeth, and prevent destructive behaviors, all while keeping your puppy happy and engaged. If you offer safe, natural chews, you’re giving your puppy more than a treat! You’re giving them comfort, health, and a strong foundation for the future.
Explore Pure Dog Chew today and give your teething puppy a safe, natural chew they’ll love.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What are good bones for teething puppies?
Good bones for teething puppies are natural, digestible, and gentle on developing teeth. They should be firm enough to soothe sore gums but not so hard that they risk damaging a puppy’s teeth.
2. Are bones safe for teething puppies?
Yes, bones can be safe for teething puppies when chosen carefully. You should avoid cooked or extremely hard bones and always select puppy-appropriate, natural chew options under supervision.
3. At what age can puppies start using chew bones?
Most puppies can start using soft, safe chew bones from around 3 months old, especially during early teething. The texture should be suitable for their age and chewing strength.
4. How long should a teething puppy chew each day?
Veterinarians generally recommend 10–20 minutes per session with supervised chew time spread throughout the day to avoid over-chewing sensitive gums.
5. Can bones help reduce biting and chewing behavior?
Yes. Good bones for teething puppies help redirect chewing away from furniture, shoes, and hands while easing gum discomfort and promoting healthy chewing habits.