Got a teething dog on your hands? Then look no further — these homemade puppy teething toys are just the thing. Ideal for making in a hurry, the best homemade puppy teething toys go a long way to relieve pain and discomfort.
While many of the best puppy toys can help to keep your furry little friend entertained, homemade teething toys go one step further, by soothing the itchiness and pain that comes with growing teeth.
Did you know, puppies grow their teeth much earlier than human babies do? In fact, you might start to notice your fur baby losing their teeth at around three-four months old and growing new ones thereafter. This teething process can last around eight-12 weeks. Meaning, by the time your pup reaches six months old, it might have all 42 of its adult teeth.
Just like with any teething process — whether that’s for human babies or fur babies — it can be quite uncomfortable when all those gnashers are pushing their way through the gums. You might notice your pup is teething because it's starting to drool a lot, or searching for anything it can chew as a way of easing the pain. But that’s where the top puppy teething toys come in. From frozen dog treats to a twisted dishtowel, discover some of the best teething toy ideas to try now and later.
1. Puppy ice-pops
Making your own frozen dog treats may not be the first thing that springs to mind when you think of a teething toy, but these ice-pops won’t just help soothe inflamed gums, they’ll also keep your puppy amused for ages.
Ingredients:
- Fruit - bananas and strawberries make a great pair
- Peanut butter
- Yogurt
- Ice cube trays
Method:
- Mash your chosen fruit. We love bananas and strawberries together, but you can use any dog-safe choice including blueberries, raspberries, and peaches.
- Add in a few teaspoons of peanut butter and yogurt.
- Pour the mixture into the ice cube trays and freeze overnight.
You can also make ice-pops using a low-sodium bone broth that you’ve made at home, so play around and see which one your pup prefers.
Recipe via Raising Rascal (opens in new tab)
2. Twisted tea towel
Instead of throwing out that old dishtowel, give it a wash and repurpose it for your puppy to play with. Soak the towel in some sodium-free bone broth (chicken works nicely for this) and then wring it out and twist it tightly before popping it in the freezer overnight. When you get it out the next morning, your pup will have a tasty toy to chew on.
If you have a teacup dog breed, you’ll want something smaller than a tea towel as that will be too difficult for their little mouths to clamp down on, so opt for a flannel instead. Make sure you supervise your puppy when they’re playing with this toy and take it away once it’s defrosted so they don’t shred it and swallow any material.
3. Frozen Kong toy
If you’ve already got a few puppy toys lying around, chances are that one of them might be a Kong. The rubber design and hollow inner of the Kong make it an ideal option for when your fur baby is teething, but instead of giving them the toy on its own, why not make it more fun?
There are many Kong recipes you can make at home. Try smearing the inside with a little yogurt or cream cheese or for some long-lasting play, slather with sugar-free peanut butter, and then stick sliced banana, berries, or watermelon to the inner walls. Pop in the freezer and then once the fruit is solid, give it to your pup as an enriching and cooling treat.
4. Chamomile ice chips
Chamomile is a relaxing herb that has soothing properties that could help ease gum pain in your pup. Brew up a pot of chamomile tea and then pour it into ice cube trays and freeze. Once frozen, smash the cubes up so they’re not too big and fill an old glove. Tie a knot in the wrist to secure the chips inside.
As your dog chews on the glove they’ll benefit from the coolness of the cubes and the chamomile will help relieve some of the discomfort we’re feeling. Although chamomile has been deemed safe for dogs in the right quantities, we recommend you have a chat with your vet first to make sure you’re getting the dosage right.
5. Sweet potato rope toy
Fiber and fun? We’re loving this one! All you need for this toy is some rope and a sweet potato and you’re good to go. Clean the sweet potato thoroughly and then cut it into 1-inch round pieces. Use a cookie cutter, a knife, or an apple corer to remove the middle of each round and then dehydrate by baking in the oven at 212 degrees Fahrenheit for around five hours.
Once the sweet potatoes are cool, take a piece of rope about a foot long and tie a knot at one end. String the rings through and then tie a knot at the other end. Voila! You now have your very own healthy puppy teething toy.
Recipe via Elmo's Kitchen (opens in new tab)
Find out; how many toys should a puppy have. It’s the question on every new pet parent's lips. But how much is too much?
