My Puppy is Chewing Everything — What's Safe for Teething?
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The teething phase arrives suddenly. One week your puppy is gnawing at things occasionally. The next, everything is fair game — chair legs, shoes, the corner of the skirting board, your hands.
Teething isn't bad behaviour. It's biology. But it does need redirecting — and the earlier you establish what's appropriate to chew, the smoother the next few months will be.
When do puppies teethe?
Puppies are born without teeth. Their baby (deciduous) teeth come in between 3 and 6 weeks of age. Then, from around 3 to 6 months, those baby teeth fall out and adult teeth grow in — all 42 of them, in a process that takes about three months and involves significant gum discomfort at various stages.
The peak chewing phase typically runs from around 3 months (when adult teeth start coming through) to 6–7 months (when most adult teeth are in). A second, often more intense phase can hit at adolescence — 6 to 18 months — when dogs have adult energy and adult curiosity but not yet adult self-control.
What puppies actually need when teething
Chewing during teething serves a real physiological purpose. It relieves the pressure and discomfort of incoming teeth, stimulates healthy jaw development, and provides the sensory feedback puppies instinctively seek.
What you're looking for in a teething chew:
- The right hardness — soft enough not to damage fragile baby or incoming adult teeth, hard enough to provide satisfying resistance and last more than five minutes
- The right size — big enough not to be swallowed, small enough that a young puppy can grip it properly
- One ingredient — a puppy's digestive system is still developing; the simpler the chew, the better
- No sharp edges or splintering — non-negotiable
Is natural wood safe for teething puppies?
Yes — with the right wood and the right size. Olive wood is the better starting point for most puppies. It's slightly softer than coffee wood, which makes it more forgiving on fragile or incoming teeth. It fibres rather than splinters, and it's dense enough to last a proper chewing session.
Coffee wood is harder and better suited to puppies that have moved through the early teething phase and into adolescence (6 months+), or for breeds that are naturally strong chewers from a young age (Staffies, Labradors, Boxers).
Both are 100% natural — one ingredient, no additives — which matters particularly for a puppy's developing system.
Size matters more with puppies
For puppies, getting the size right is especially important. A chew that becomes small enough to swallow before a session is finished is a genuine risk. Use the weight-based size guide — and if your puppy is at the lower end of a size range, go up, not down.
A general rule for puppies: the chew should be at least as long as your puppy's muzzle. Anything shorter is a swallowing risk.
What to avoid for teething puppies
Antlers and bones — too hard for puppy teeth. Baby teeth in particular are fragile; adult teeth coming through are still not fully set. The hardness of antler or cooked bone can cause fractures.
Rawhide — swells significantly when wet. Chunks can be swallowed before you notice. Chemical processing. Not appropriate for puppies.
Rubber toys alone — fine for play, but don't satisfy the chewing instinct in the same way. Most puppies will chew the rubber toy briefly and then go back to the skirting board.
Sticks from the garden or park — unknown wood species (some are toxic), bacteria, pesticides, and sharp splintering risk. Not worth it when purpose-made alternatives exist.
For teething puppies, we recommend starting with Olive Wood Stick Chews in the size matched to your puppy's current weight. Supervise the first few sessions — most puppies take to them immediately, but it's worth watching how yours chews before leaving them unsupervised.
→ Shop Olive Wood Chews — the gentler starting point for puppies
→ Coffee + Olive Bundle — try both woods as your puppy grows
Frequently asked questions
At what age can I give my puppy a wood chew?
Most puppies can be introduced to natural wood chews from around 12 weeks, once they're settled in their new home and past the very early development phase. Always choose olive wood (softer) rather than coffee wood for young puppies, and supervise fully for the first few sessions.
My puppy swallowed a small piece of wood — what should I do?
A small piece of natural wood fibre that's been chewed down will almost always pass without issue — it's organic material in a form the body can handle. If you're concerned, or if your puppy is showing signs of distress, contact your vet. This is also a signal to size up on the chew — if your puppy was able to break off a swallowable piece, the chew may be too small.
How long will the teething phase last?
Active teething (adult teeth coming in) typically runs from around 3 to 7 months. The strong chewing urge can persist into adolescence — sometimes up to 18 months — even after all adult teeth are in. The good news: dogs that are given appropriate chewing outlets during puppyhood develop better chewing habits as adults.
Can a teething puppy have a chew every day?
Yes. Regular access to an appropriate chew is exactly what a teething puppy needs. There's no reason to limit frequency — think of it as providing the outlet rather than rationing a treat.