Puppy Teething

When a puppy is teething, it is normal for them to become excessively nippy.  We need to remember that, just like a toddler growing in their teeth, it is uncomfortable and sometimes painful for a puppy as well.  the best way to manage them when they are teething is to keep them busy and give them lots of frozen treats to try to help numb their gums.


Puppies don't get all their adult teeth in until they are about 6 months old.  Anywhere from 3-8 months your pup will be teething and need some good chews to be able to help alleviate some of the discomfort they are experiencing.

Rope Toys

These can be very useful when your puppy is teething.  They are a nice thing for your pup to chew on to help pass the time (watch that they don't tear and ingest any of the strings) and very versatile.  You can soak and freeze rope toys to help with the soreness of their mouth.  Keep in mind that sodium is not good for a dog in large quantities, so either soak in water, low sodium broth or a home made bone broth with no added salt.  Make sure the rope toy is size appropriate and once soaked, either place it on a tray or in a bag and into the freezer for a few hours.  Ideally, you want to freeze over night - if you have multiple ropes this makes it easier on you!

Ice Cubes

Ice cubes are another cheat for when your puppy is teething.  Try giving your pup an ice cube or two if you find they are overly nippy but you don't want to soak and freeze a rope toy.  As with the rope toys, you can have them made of just water, low sodium broth or your own home made bone broth.  You can pre-make a bunch of these and have them on hand for when you need them.  Ice cubes are also a wonderful treat in the summer time if the weather is really hot.

Frozen/Chilled Fruit or Veggies

Giving your dog a cold or frozen apple or carrot to munch on will help with their soreness as well as keep them busy for a bit.  Try to pick a sweeter apple and a carrot appropriately sized to your puppy and their habits.  Always supervise in case they decide to gulp and swallow a large chunk.

Frozen Kong

Kong toys are great for keeping your pup busy and not destroying the rest of your home, but if you freeze it, it can double as an anti-teething device!  You can either just freeze the toy itself, or stuff it and then freeze it to keep your pup even more occupied.  We love to stuff it with peanut butter and some of their kibble/treats before freezing.  You can also use pumpkin pure, canned food, ground raw meat (if they are on a raw diet) - the list goes on!  You can find some recipes on Kong's website and probably many more through a Google search or on Pinterest.


The moral of the story is that frozen is good when your pup is teething.  Just be patient with them.  Just like a child, they are growing new teeth and having them erupt through their gums.