Quick answer: The safest chew for a teething puppy is one that softens as they chew, so it never puts damaging pressure on milk teeth or emerging adult teeth. Fangz collagen chews are puppy-safe from 4 months old and slowly soften with saliva, making them one of the few long-lasting chews that genuinely won't fracture a puppy's teeth. Avoid any hard chew that doesn't yield to pressure: yak chews, antlers, and hard nylons are the main offenders.
Teething puppies chew everything. Your shoes. Your furniture. Your ankles. That's not bad behaviour; it's a biological drive. Between about 3 and 7 months, your puppy is pushing out 28 baby teeth and cutting 42 adult teeth. Their gums ache. Chewing is how they manage it.
The problem is that the wrong chew during this window can cause serious, permanent damage. Milk teeth are softer than adult teeth. Emerging adult teeth are even more vulnerable while they're still partly embedded in the gum. This is the one stage of a dog's life where you need to be genuinely careful about what you hand them.
Here's what's actually safe, what's not, and why.
When can a puppy start chewing?
Most puppies can start with appropriate chews from about 4 months (16 weeks). Before that, stick to soft treats and training rewards. By 4 months, the puppy teeth are fully in and strong enough to handle a proper chew, though still not hard enough for rock-solid options.
Fangz collagen chews are suitable from 4 months old. That's the figure from our product specs, and it aligns with the general 16-week guidance most vets use as a starting point for chews.
The teething phase wraps up by around 7 months for most breeds, when all adult teeth are through. But "puppy-safe" habits (supervise, choose appropriate hardness, match the chew size to the dog) stick for life.
Why teething puppies need to chew
Chewing relieves gum pressure during teething, the same way a human baby gnaws on a teething ring. Beyond that, a 2023 study published in PMC found that long-lasting chews elicit the most positive and calm emotional states in dogs during periods of social isolation, compared to treat-dispensing toys or other enrichment devices. Translation: a good chew doesn't just help with teething. It calms a puppy down.
The instinct doesn't disappear once the adult teeth are in. A puppy that learns early that chewing a Fangz is the satisfying option is a puppy that isn't eating your couch at 18 months.
The hardness rule: the only test that matters
There's a simple vet-endorsed check for whether a chew is safe for any dog, including puppies. Press your thumbnail firmly into the chew. If it doesn't leave a mark, the chew is too hard for puppy teeth (and probably for adult teeth too).
Anything that passes the thumbnail test, meaning it yields slightly, is in the safe zone.
Fangz collagen chews soften with saliva as your puppy works on them. What starts as a firm chew becomes progressively easier on the teeth and gums as it warms up. That's not a flaw in the product. It's the mechanism. An air-dried collagen chew is designed to be worked, not defeated in minutes, and the softening is what makes it safe.
Safe chews for teething puppies
Collagen chews (our pick for 4 months+)
Collagen chews made from beef collagen and beef gelatine are one of the most sensible options for teething puppies. Here's why.
They're digestible. Unlike rubber or nylon, if your puppy swallows a piece, it's broken down in the stomach. They soften as the puppy chews, so they don't stay tooth-damagingly hard all the way through. And they occupy a puppy for a serious stretch of time: a Fangz chew lasts hours at minimum per session, and a single chew often lasts days to weeks depending on how hard your dog goes at it. That's exactly what you need when the gum pain is at its worst.
Fangz collagen chews have 3 ingredients per flavour: beef collagen, beef gelatine, and one superfood or powder. Our Goat's Milk flavour is mild and creamy, which makes it particularly well-suited to younger, more sensitive pups. Our Pumpkin flavour (with real pumpkin powder) is tummy-friendly. All four flavours are about 93% protein, with roughly 1% fat, so there's no hidden junk adding up across the week.
For a puppy under 8kg, use a Small Fangz (~50g). You know the size is right when the chew is long enough that they can't swallow the whole thing in one go. Build a Fangz pack to try multiple flavours and find your puppy's favourite.
Bully sticks (with caveats)
Bully sticks, made from dried beef pizzle, are a common puppy chew recommendation and broadly appropriate from around 12 weeks up. They're digestible, protein-rich, and have enough give that they won't fracture teeth.
The caveats: they smell. Strongly. The odour is distinctive and, depending on your household, very unwelcome. They also tend to be higher in fat than collagen-based chews, which matters if your puppy has a sensitive stomach. And they're a shorter-duration chew than a dense collagen chew, finishing faster with a determined puppy.
If your puppy is good with bully sticks, they're a fine option. If the smell is a dealbreaker, a Fangz collagen chew is odourless and lasts considerably longer: hours per session, with a single chew typically surviving days to weeks across multiple sessions.
For a deeper comparison, see our article on bully stick vs collagen chew.
Rubber chew toys (freezer-ready)
Rubber toys like Kongs filled with wet food or yoghurt and then frozen are well-suited to the early teething window (before 4 months) when even soft chews may be too firm. They're not consumed, so there's no digestibility concern. The cold helps numb inflamed gums.
Limitation: they require preparation. You need to stuff and freeze them ahead of time, and they need washing between uses. For owners managing a teething puppy alongside a life, the zero-prep option matters.
What to avoid during the teething phase
Yak chews and Himalayan chews
Yak chews are made by pressure-curing yak and cow milk into a dense block. The entire point of the manufacturing process is hardness. They do not soften under saliva the way collagen chews do.
That hardness is fine for a fully dentitioned adult dog with established enamel. It is not fine for a teething puppy. Vet dentists regularly see slab fractures in adult dogs from yak chews; in a puppy with softer milk teeth or newly emerging adult teeth, the risk is even higher.
Yak chews fail the thumbnail test. Don't use them during the teething phase.
See: Are yak chews safe for dogs?
Antlers and horns
Antlers are naturally dense, pressure-resistant bone material. They are among the hardest chews you can give a dog. Like yak chews, they don't soften; they stay tooth-crackingly hard from the first chew to the last. Vet dentists call antlers one of the most common causes of tooth slab fractures in dogs.
For a teething puppy: hard no. For a fully grown adult power chewer: still worth reading the evidence before you decide.
See: Are antlers safe for dogs?
Hard Nylabones and synthetic chews
Plastic and nylon chews (Nylabone and similar) were designed to be indestructible. That's the product promise. But indestructible means they stay hard indefinitely, which makes them inappropriate for puppies and for any dog where tooth fracture is a concern. They also shed microscopic plastic particles as they're chewed. Digestibility is zero.
Rawhide
Rawhide is processed beef hide, typically treated with chemicals during manufacturing. The safety concern for puppies isn't just hardness; it's the choking and blockage risk. Rawhide softens and swells when wet and can form a gummy, throat-blocking mass. For a small puppy, this is a genuine hazard. Skip it entirely.
Puppy chew comparison table
| Chew type | Safe for 4-month puppies? | Softens with saliva? | Digestible? | Lasts a long time? | Odourless? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fangz collagen chew | Yes (from 4 months) | Yes | Yes | Yes (hours per session; one chew lasts days to weeks) | Yes |
| Bully stick | Yes (12+ weeks) | Partially | Yes | Moderate | No (strong odour) |
| Rubber toy (stuffed/frozen) | Yes (any age) | N/A | N/A | Until empty | Yes |
| Yak chew | No (milk teeth) | No | Partially | Yes | Low odour |
| Antler | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Hard Nylabone | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Rawhide | No | Swells (hazard) | Poorly | Moderate | Variable |
Column note: "Lasts a long time" refers to chew duration before consumed, not product shelf life.
Which Fangz flavour for a teething puppy?
Any of our four flavours is appropriate from 4 months, but here's a quick guide to picking.
Goat's Milk: Mild and creamy. Best starter flavour for puppies that are new to chews or have sensitive digestion. At roughly 82% protein and 2% fat (slightly higher than the other three), it's still very lean. The goat's milk powder gives it a gentle, appealing flavour without anything strong.
Pumpkin: Real pumpkin powder, tummy-friendly. Good for puppies prone to loose stools. Our Pumpkin chew is 93% protein, about 1% fat.
Beetroot: Iron and folate. Good if you want an extra functional ingredient without an unusual flavour. 93% protein, about 1% fat.
Beef + Spirulina: Greens and protein. Works well for puppies that show no digestion issues with the other flavours. 93% protein, about 1% fat.
Size: Small Fangz is designed for dogs under 8kg. Most puppies will be in the Small category when they start at 4 months. Once they're over 8kg, move to Medium. Head to the Fangz Build Your Pack page to pick your flavour and size.
The 10% rule during teething
The 10% rule applies regardless of life stage: treats and chews should make up no more than 10% of your puppy's daily calorie intake. Fangz collagen chews are high in protein and very low in fat (around 1%), so they don't carry the same calorie risk as many commercial treats. But the rule still stands, especially with puppies whose daily calorie requirements are calculated precisely to support growth.
If you're giving a Fangz most days during the teething phase, make sure you know your puppy's daily kilocalorie target and account for the chew. Your vet or breeder can give you a starting figure based on breed and weight.
Supervision is non-negotiable
No chew is set-and-forget. Supervise your puppy whenever they have a chew, especially early on. Watch for:
- Trying to swallow a piece that's too large (take it, let them finish the small end first)
- Any signs of gagging or discomfort
- Extreme attempts to break the chew rather than gnaw it
If a collagen chew gets worn down to a small piece, take it away. Most dogs will keep chewing happily on a stub that's become a swallowing risk.
If your chew is too firm for your puppy straight out of the packet, soak the end in warm water for 5 minutes first. This softens and enhances the flavour, and makes it more appropriate for the youngest chewers.
Where Fangz isn't the answer
Honest note: if your puppy is under 4 months, they're too young for a Fangz. Stick to soft training treats, frozen rubber toys, and vet-approved teething options for the 8 to 16 week window.
If you have a gulper, meaning a puppy that tries to swallow large chunks without working them properly, supervise closely and consider whether a chew is the right choice before they've learned to manage it safely.
And if your puppy is showing signs of dental pain beyond normal teething discomfort (swollen gums, refusing to eat, excessive pawing at the mouth), that's a vet visit, not a chew recommendation.
The bottom line
The teething phase is 3 to 4 months of intense chewing drive followed by a lifetime of learned chewing habits. Getting it right early matters.
The chew you want is one that satisfies the instinct, lasts long enough to actually settle a puppy, and won't damage the teeth that need to last 12 to 15 years. That's the brief Fangz was built to fill.
Puppy-safe from 4 months. 3 simple ingredients. Softens with saliva. Odourless. Made in Brisbane. Build your Fangz pack and pick the flavour that suits your pup.
Try a Fangz chew for your puppy and see which flavour they prefer.
Related reading:
- Best long-lasting dog chews in Australia (2026)
- Are collagen chews safe for dogs?
- Best long-lasting chews for small dogs and puppies
Sources
- PMC (2023): "Long-Lasting Chews Elicit Positive Emotional States in Dogs during Short Periods of Social Isolation." Animals (Basel), Flint et al. PubMed Central PMC9951671. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9951671/
- Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC): Guidance on safe chewing and dental products. https://www.vohc.org
- Fangz product specifications: sourced from Helen and John's canonical product documentation (Dad's docs, April 2026).
- Thumbnail pressure test: widely cited vet-dentist guidance for evaluating chew hardness. Sourced via general veterinary dental resources (Veterinary Dental Specialists of the Pacific; Veterinary Dental Specialists Australia).