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Your dreams were occupied by idyllic images of a gorgeous little puppy who would snuggle up and want lots of cuddles....... but you appear to have ended up with a cute looking monster, strike that, a vampire dog!
Puppy mouthing may be cute at the beginning, but as your pup grows, these little nips can turn into really painful bites.
Their teeth are pincer sharp and can easily puncture skin, especially as they are initially unaware of how hard they’re biting or how much it hurts you.
Whilst this is a completely natural canine behaviour during the puppy stage, it is absolutely crucial to let your puppy know what is and more importantly what isn’t allowed to be chewed on.
The quicker they learn that teeth and skin don't mix the easier your life will be.
Chews toys won't solve all your biting and nipping problems, but they can help! The right chew toy will help your pup burn off some excess energy and fill their desire to nibble.
We take a look at some of the best and healthiest options out there to help distract your puppy and give you and your family a much needed break.
IN THIS ARTICLE
Our Picks of the Best Chew Toys
(to help stop puppy biting)
Whilst puppy is focussed on other things, your hands and ankles get some respite. The biting is often worse at certain times of the day, so save these activities for when you really need a break.
With positive reinforcement, pups will learn that chewing and licking these toys is not only encouraged, but also a fun pastime to enjoy into adulthood.
1. Best Puppy Chew Selection
Nylabone
Nylabone has been making dog chew toys, chew treats and toys since 1955, so they certainly know a thing or two about puppies.
Their range of products aim at satisfying your puppy's natural chewing instinct.
The Nylabone puppy starter kit is perfect because each bone shaped chew fits easily into your pocket so you can grab it quickly if you need to.
Made with a soft, durable nylon, these toys are designed for puppies who have their very first set of teeth.
The pack contains three different classic bone-shaped chews ranging from gentle teething, moderate and extreme.
Nylabone suggest that you start with the gentle flexible bone and progress to the tougher bone when your puppy starts to display some adult teeth.
What's more, they have extra chicken flavour added to keep your puppy chewing for longer. A finger preserving bargain!
Dimensions: 3.5cm x 11.2cm
Reasons to Buy :
- Three levels of chewing style
- Added flavour
- Can be frozen
- Pocket size
Reasons to Avoid :
- Only one size
2. Best for Young Puppies
KONG Puppy Teething Stick
Renowned for creating innovative dog toys, this KONG Teething Stick is made from soft rubber to soothe your puppy's gums and teeth.
We love this teething stick because you can simply add treats to extend play and give puppy something to really concentrate on.
It's designed with patented Denta-Ridges which run along the whole length or the stick so you can easily add dog-friendly peanut butter, meat based pastes or soft cheese.
Additionally the hollow centre is perfect for pushing in a few small treats to really get you puppy motivated. It's worth mentioning that Kong also sell dog treat paste in a variety of flavours.
Designed to work alongside their range of chew toys, it comes in an easy to use dispensing can, but can work out more expensive than other options like dog friendly peanut butter.
Dimensions: 5cm x 9.5cm
Reasons to Buy :
- Ridges can be filled with treats
- Soothes teeth and gums
- Treat dispensing centre
Reasons to Avoid :
- Only one size
3. Best for Puppies to Hold
Bamboodles
UK company Bamboodles make a range of dog chews for aggressive power chewers to gentle chewers.
What makes Bamboodles stand out from the crowd is their easy to grip shape which can be held securely by your puppy as they chew.
Designed specifically for puppies is this Bamboodles Fish. Crafted from bamboo fibre combined with nylon fibre to create a longer-lasting chew toy, it is softer than the original and best-selling Bamboodles T-Bone.
As your puppy chews the product, the infused bamboo flakes away rather than shears or snaps so there are no sharp edges to worry about.
Better still the bamboo fish are infused with real salmon scent so this should hold your puppy's interest for even longer.
Oh and it's worth mentioning that the range of Bamboodles chew toys help control plaque and tartar build up on your puppies teeth.
Dimensions: 5cm x 9.5cm
Reasons to Buy :
- Easy to grip
- Designed for puppy teeth
- Infused with salmon scent
Reasons to Avoid :
- Not suitable for aggressive chewers
Dog subscription boxes are a hugely popular and a convenient way to try out new brands not necessarily stocked on your local high street. We review one of the best Ultimutt Dog Box
4. Best Treat Dispenser
SodaPup
Durable treat dispensers are a simple, cheap yet imaginative idea to keep your puppy entertained. Acting as a boredom buster and to stop those teeth nibbling, they are principally designed to fill with their favourite treat or food.
Winnie the Pooh would love this honey pot from SodaPup and we think your puppy will too. But don't be fooled by it's simplicity!
This honey pot will provide a tasty and fun game for your puppy as they work around the pot to seek out every last titbit with their tongue.
The benefits don't stop there. You could serve their whole meal from the honey pot to provide more of a mental challenge and to ultimately slow them down which will in turn tire your puppy considerably.
We love the Honey Pot design because it is incredibly easy to clean (much easier than a Kong), so you can fill it with kibble, wet or raw dog food and add a whole range of treats and supplements.
We've found for best results, mix some wet and dry foods. Peanut butter, Pure Paté and yoghurt act as excellent glues for dried foods and supplements.
What's in our pot ?
🥜 Dog Friendly Peanut Butter - Pets Purest
🍗 Pure Paté - 100% fresh meat or fish perfect for dicing up and filling the pot - from the range at Fetch Club Shop
🍥 Greek Yoghurt & Raspberry
🥕Carrot
🍃 Spinach
🐟 Sprat, air-dried fish twist, duck foot - all from the range at Fetch Club Shop
🦷 Sprinkled with Dog's Lounge - Chomper - Natural Plaque & Tartar Remover
It's safe to say this one survived our photoshoot by the skin of its teeth !
If you want to keep your dog busy for longer, the treats can be frozen inside - great for the warmer summer months. We think that this Honey Pot Treat Dispenser offers the perfect distraction for young dogs and puppies.
We are firm fans of the SodaPup range, including their amazing HoneyComb eBowl which we feature in the Best Dog Bowls for 2024.
Dimensions - 8cm x 8cm
Reasons to Buy
+ Simple puzzle
+ Promotes calm behaviour
+ Simple distraction
+ Tough
Reasons to Avoid
- Only works with food
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5. Best for Tug-of-War
Tug-e-Nuff
Tug-e-Nuff are a family run company launched way back in 2009. They have combined their considerable experience as professional dog trainers with creativity to develop a range of high quality, innovative tug toys.
Tug toys are great for puppies. They are the perfect boredom buster, burn off that excess energy and can distract your puppy from biting.
This Sheepskin Bungee Chaser is from a range of Chasers, so called because the long handle allows you trail it along the ground without bending down.
Trailing the toy erratically mimics prey so is incredibly enticing for your puppy.
The toy measures over a metre long, so is ideal as they can play tug with you from a distance to help to build their confidence.
Headline features include the attractive bite material which is crafted from real sheepskin. The unique scent and texture of the sheepskin is extremely motivating for most dogs. It's worth noting that all the sheepskin is responsibly sourced and a by-product of the meat industry.
The strong handle is padded for extra comfort and includes a bungee cord section.
We love this design feature as it takes some of the strain away from your arm and your puppy's neck during the tug game.
Available in four colour combinations with a choice of black or white sheepskin bite material. If you prefer, Tug-e-Nuff also offer rabbit fur or faux fur options.
Too big for your pocket, it's a tug toy designed to be used at home (great fun on a rainy day) or in the garden.
Our Verdict - The Sheepskin Bungee Chaser ticks all the boxes for a puppy tug toy. It's incredibly durable so will stand the test of time, is suitable for more anxious dogs and was the most enticing of all the tug toys we tested. |
Reasons to Buy
- Ideal for puppies
- Super fluffy
- Padded handle
- Bungee section
Reasons to Avoid
- Too big for your pocket
Buying Options
Get 10% OFF theTug-e-Nuff range
Use discount code SMARTBARK at checkout
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Hints & Tips to Stop Your Puppy Biting
Be Kind, Be Consistent
Firstly, cut yourself some slack. Try and find your inner voice which is warm and supportive not the one which shouts “This will never end, it’s a nightmare!” Celebrate the small steps you are taking with your puppy and consciously give yourself a pat on the back for even the slightest win.
Whichever method you choose to adopt, make sure everyone in the family knows exactly what to do. A united front is absolutely key (probably more important than the method your choose) otherwise your puppy will simply be confused and frustrated
To stop puppy biting, anyone who plays with your puppy has to teach them that teeth and skin don't mix!
Stop and Keep Still
Any time your puppy places teeth on you, stop and go completely still. If your puppy continues, turn away from them and cross your arms – a clear signal that your attention has been withdrawn.
If this doesn’t work, move away leaving them to calm down for a moment before going back. Once your puppy is calm you can praise them. Your puppy should learn that mouthing means that all fun ends. Do this every single time your puppy makes a mistake.
Ultimately this method definitely reduces puppy biting, however you must ensure that when you cross your arms and turn away you don't make eye contact. Puppy will still feel that they are getting attention through eye contact.
To adopt this method you need to completely remove all your attention which means no eye contact at all. In this instance having another member of the family to guide you can help ensure you don’t return to the situation too quickly (when you can’t look at your puppy it’s quite tricky to tell when they’re calm).
Be aware that this option is very difficult for young children who tend to react loudly because they're scared of the puppy biting.
Yelp at your Puppy
When you play with your puppy, let them mouth on your hands. Continue play until they bite particularly hard. When this happens, immediately give a high-pitched yelp, as if you’re in agony, and let your hand go limp.
This method should startle your puppy and cause him to stop mouthing you, at least momentarily. If yelping seems to have no effect, you can use a phrase or word in a stern voice instead.
Praise your puppy for stopping or for licking you. Resume whatever you were doing before. If your puppy bites you hard again, yelp again. This method of bite-inhibition aims at slowly reducing the force of the bite.
The key to this method is to ensure everyone's using the same yelp or word. Consistency is key as is the tone of your voice. It's worth noting that usually, deeper more masculine voices tend to get better results.
Remember biting is a stage and like all stages, it will end.
Take the photos when your pup is looking angelic, because trust me, in a year or two you'll forget how bad this was and probably start to think about getting another puppy!
Hopefully, you found some great dog chew ideas in this article to help you. Thanks for stopping by and reading our article on the Best Puppy Chew Toys