Dog food for teething puppies
A teething puppy's mouth is genuinely sore, usually from around three to six months old as the adult teeth push the baby teeth out, and the practical question is rarely which entire food to switch to — it is how to make mealtimes comfortable while their gums settle, without changing what they are actually eating.
Softening food rather than switching it
Most puppies teething on a dry kibble do better with it softened slightly, using a small amount of warm water left to soak in for a few minutes rather than fed straight from the bag. This is a texture change, not a diet change, and it usually only needs to last a few weeks while the discomfort is at its worst.
Wet or pouch puppy food is naturally softer and can be a straightforward alternative during this phase if your puppy is reluctant to eat dry kibble at all, whether fed on its own or mixed through their usual dry food to bring the whole bowl to a gentler texture.
What the label words actually mean
A "complete" puppy food is nutritionally balanced on its own and does not need anything added to it; a "complementary" one, more common among treats and toppers, is meant to be fed alongside a complete food rather than instead of it. Check which your puppy's main food is before assuming a soft topper covers their full nutritional needs.
Puppy-specific formulas are worth sticking with through teething rather than switching to an adult food early, since the higher energy and calcium-to-phosphorus balance they carry supports the jaw and skeletal growth happening at exactly this stage.
Giving something safe to chew alongside meals
A properly sized puppy chew toy, distinct from an adult dog's chew, gives a teething puppy somewhere appropriate to direct the urge to gnaw, which helps protect your furniture and their own teeth from anything too hard for a mouth still losing baby teeth.
Avoid anything genuinely hard — antlers, real bone, or very firm nylon chews meant for an adult's stronger jaw — until the adult teeth are fully through, since a puppy's teeth and gums at this stage are more vulnerable to damage than they will be a few months later.
What we stock
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Inflatable Herding Ball for Dogs with Pump
A large inflatable herding ball with pump that taps into your dog's chase instinct.
From£19.99
Durables Toy Crocodile
The crocodile from Red Dingo's Durables line: solid hardware, hard-wearing materials and a five-year manufacturer guarantee, which is rare enough to be the reason to buy.
£20.49
Tuffy Junior Zoo Hippo
A junior-sized Tuffy hippo built in bonded layers with webbed, multi-row stitched seams, light enough for smaller dogs and puppies, that floats and is machine washable.
£18.99
Inflatable Herding Ball with Handles for Dogs
A large, tough inflatable herding ball that taps into your dog's natural chase-and-nudge instinct. Reinforced bite-resistant fabric and grab handles make it great for active outdoor play with medium and large breeds.
£29.99
Self-Moving Chew-Resistant Dog Ball
A USB-C rechargeable ball that moves on its own to keep dogs busy and active. Tough E-TPU construction stands up to chewing during supervised play, and the splash-resistant build suits indoor or outdoor use.
£15.99
Tuffy No Stuff Ultimate Ring Red Paw
Meet the Tuffy No Stuff Ultimate Ring Red Paw — one of the toughest dog toys we stock. Tuffy build their toys in multiple bonded layers with several rows of stitching and protective webbing on the seams, so they stand up to serious chewers far better than an ordinary plush. They float, and they’re machine washable (air dry).
£13.99
Chase Buddy Boredom-Busting Dog Toy
An interactive chase toy that gives a restless dog somewhere to put its pursuit instinct, providing mental and physical exercise indoors or in the garden.
£14.99
Coffee Wood Tug & Chew Dog Toy
Two coffee wood chews joined with hemp rope for a tug-and-chew combo — natural, sustainable, and brilliant for interactive play.
£17.49
Kingdom Fruit Rope Dog Toy
A plush fruit-shaped rope toy with a squeaker in both the head and the body
£6.99
Inflatable Herding Ball for Dogs
A large inflatable ball too big for a dog to pick up, with a bite-resistant double-layer shell that slow-deflates if punctured, for high-drive chasing and nudging.
£23.99
Pet Corrector
A compressed-air training aid that interrupts unwanted behaviour with a natural warning hiss
From£6.49
Herding Ball for Dogs — 45cm Tough Oxford Cover
A 45cm herding ball with a tough Oxford cover over a separate inner bladder, with a foot pump in the box.
£29.99
Common questions
- At what age do puppies start teething?
- Puppies typically start losing their baby teeth from around three to four months old, with the full set of adult teeth usually in by six to seven months. Individual puppies vary, so treat this as a general window rather than a fixed date.
- Should I switch my puppy to wet food while they are teething?
- You can, but you do not have to. Softening their usual dry food with a little warm water often solves the discomfort just as well, and either approach is fine as a temporary measure while their gums are sore.
- Can teething affect how much a puppy eats?
- Yes, some puppies eat less or more slowly while teething because chewing is uncomfortable. If your puppy goes off food for more than a day or two, or seems unwell rather than just reluctant to chew, it is worth checking with your vet.
- What should I avoid giving a teething puppy to chew?
- Avoid very hard chews such as antlers, real bone or firm nylon products made for an adult dog's stronger jaw, since a puppy's teeth and gums are more easily damaged at this stage. Choose a chew specifically sized and softened for puppies instead.
- Is it normal for a teething puppy to chew more on furniture?
- Yes, a puppy with sore gums often chews on anything within reach, furniture included, simply because it eases the discomfort. Providing enough appropriate chews and rotating them for novelty usually redirects that behaviour better than telling a puppy off after the fact.
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Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.