Puppies & Training

Puppy teething: how frozen toys soothe sore gums (and what not to give)

When teething starts and ends, how cold helps, safe frozen fills, and what to keep away from young teeth.

By 6 min read
Puppy sitting next to a chewed-up cushion

Your puppy has a new hobby, and it is chewing. Table legs, shoelaces, the corner of the rug, your fingers: nothing is off limits. If your puppy is somewhere between three and six months old, there is a good chance their gums are sore and their adult teeth are pushing through.

Teething is a normal stage, but it can make for a long few months in a small flat or a busy family home. Cold helps, and so does having the right thing to chew. Here is how frozen toys fit in, what to put inside them, and what to keep away from young teeth.

Puppies swap their baby teeth for adult teeth between about three and seven months old, and sore gums make them chew more. A puppy-sized natural rubber toy, filled with soft food and frozen, cools the gums and gives a safe chewing outlet for up to 45 minutes. Avoid cooked bones, antlers, very hard chews, plain ice cubes and anything small enough to swallow.

When do puppies start and stop teething?

Most puppies start losing their baby teeth at around three to four months old and have their full set of adult teeth by six to seven months. Every puppy is a little different, so treat these ages as a rough guide.

Approximate ageWhat is happening in your puppy's mouth
3 to 6 weeksThe 28 baby teeth, also called milk teeth, come through
3 to 4 monthsBaby teeth loosen and fall out, starting with the small front teeth
4 to 6 monthsAdult canines and back teeth come through. Chewing is often at its peak
6 to 7 monthsMost puppies have their full set of 42 adult teeth

What are the signs of teething in puppies?

The clearest sign is a sudden urge to chew everything in reach. You may also notice:

  • More drooling than usual
  • Red or slightly swollen gums
  • Small spots of blood on toys
  • Tiny teeth on the floor or in the bed
  • More mouthing and nipping of hands
  • Less interest in hard food for a day or two

Do not worry if you never find a single baby tooth. Many puppies swallow them, and this is harmless.

How do frozen toys help a teething puppy?

Cold soothes sore gums, and firm rubber gives your puppy something safe to sink their teeth into. A filled toy adds licking, which many puppies find settling, and keeps them busy far longer than an empty toy.

Frozen food inside a rubber toy also softens slowly as your puppy works at it, so the toy stays cool without being rock hard. All Freezbone toys are made from natural rubber, and the FreezWheel, for example, is designed to be tough enough for keen chewers while still gentle on teeth and gums.

“My puppy (9 wk) spent 25 minutes with her FreezBone. Normally she plays with something for 2 minutes before moving on. Great product! P.S. She slept like a rock afterwards too!”
Patrick L., verified buyer

What should I put in a frozen teething toy?

Use your puppy's own food as the base, so frozen treats do not throw their diet off balance. Then add small amounts of simple, puppy-safe extras.

You will need

  • A puppy-sized rubber toy
  • A portion of your puppy's wet food, or kibble soaked in warm water
  • A spoonful of plain, unsweetened natural yoghurt
  • Optional: a little mashed banana or a few blueberries

Method

  • Soak the kibble until soft, then mash it with the wet food
  • Spoon the mix into the toy and press it down
  • Smooth a thin layer of yoghurt over the top
  • Freeze for a few hours or overnight, then serve

Freezbone tip

Start easy. For the first few goes, fill the toy loosely and freeze it for just an hour, so your puppy gets a quick win. Once they understand the game, pack it tighter and freeze it overnight. Always take the food from their daily portion. For more ideas, see the Freezbone recipe videos and our guide to frozen treats made from kibble.

Keep these out of every fill: chocolate, grapes and raisins, onion and garlic, anything sweetened with xylitol (check peanut butter labels), cooked bones, and stock cubes or gravy granules, which are very salty and often contain onion.

What should I not give a teething puppy?

Skip anything very hard, anything that splinters and anything small enough to swallow. Young teeth are sharp but not as strong as adult teeth.

Good choices

  • Puppy-sized natural rubber toys, filled and frozen
  • A rubber toy chilled in the fridge, for a softer cool option
  • Chews sold for puppies, matched to their size
  • Two or three toys in rotation, so one is always frozen

Avoid

  • Cooked bones of any kind
  • Antlers, hooves and very hard nylon chews
  • Plain ice cubes, which are very hard on young teeth
  • Toys small enough to swallow whole
  • Rope toys that fray into long strings
  • Shoes, socks, cables and children's toys

A simple rule: if you cannot press a fingernail into a chew, it is likely too hard for puppy teeth. Hard chews can break teeth, and a broken tooth needs a vet.

What size frozen toy should I get for my puppy?

Choose a toy too big to swallow or get stuck in the mouth, sized for the dog your puppy is now, and size up as they grow.

The smallest Freezball holds 60 ml and suits dogs under 5 kg. The small Freez Doughnut holds up to 80 ml and suits dogs between 5 and 10 kg. Our Freezbone size guide matches every toy to your dog's weight and chewing style.

Supervise your puppy with any toy, especially the first few times. Check it regularly, and replace it if pieces start to come off. Wash it after every use; our guide on how to clean a frozen dog toy shows the easy way.

“Both our pups love these! It's especially useful to preoccupy our puppy that does not know what to do with all her energy! Can't wait to buy more shapes and sizes for them to enjoy!”
Bryna W., verified buyer

How do I stop my puppy chewing furniture and hands?

Redirect, do not punish. Each time your puppy chews something they should not, calmly swap it for something they can have, then praise them.

  • Puppy-proof your home: lift shoes, cables and remote controls out of reach.
  • Use a pen or baby gate when you cannot watch your puppy.
  • If your puppy nips your hands, pause the game and offer a toy instead.
  • Make sure your puppy gets plenty of sleep. Overtired puppies tend to nip more.

Teething often overlaps with house training and meeting the world. Our guides to house training a puppy in a flat and puppy socialisation in the city cover those weeks too.

When should I take my teething puppy to the vet?

Most teething needs nothing more than patience and good chews. Book a vet visit if you notice:

  • A baby tooth still in place next to the adult tooth that has replaced it
  • Bleeding that does not stop, or a swollen face
  • A broken or discoloured tooth
  • Your puppy not eating for more than a day
  • Very red, swollen gums with bad breath

The chewing phase does pass. Until then, a freezer stocked with filled toys makes those months much easier for your puppy, and for your furniture.

General information, not veterinary advice. If you're worried about your puppy, talk to your vet.

Frequently asked questions

  • Plain ice cubes are very hard and could damage young teeth, so a softer frozen option is a better choice. Frozen food inside a rubber toy cools the gums just as well and softens as your puppy licks it. Always supervise your puppy with frozen treats.

  • Teething usually runs from about three to four months old until six to seven months, when the adult teeth are in. Many young dogs keep chewing a lot after this, simply because they enjoy it, so safe chew toys stay useful.

  • Yes. Soak the kibble in warm water until soft, mash it, pack it into a rubber toy and freeze it. Take that kibble out of your puppy's daily portion so they do not overeat.

  • A small amount of plain, unsweetened natural yoghurt is fine for most puppies. Avoid flavoured or sweetened yoghurts, and never use anything containing xylitol. If your puppy gets an upset stomach after dairy, leave it out.

  • Sore gums, curiosity and play all make puppies mouth and nip. Offer a chew toy every time they reach for your hands, pause play if they bite, and make sure they get enough sleep. Biting usually eases once the adult teeth are through and your puppy learns gentler play.

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Written by Freezbone Team

We design freezable, refillable natural-rubber chew toys and test every fill and routine on our own dogs before we write about it. Freezbone Limited ships across the European Union from Ireland.

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