Must-Have Toys for a New Puppy

A new puppy will chew on something — the only question is whether it's a toy you chose or the corner of your couch. Good toys give that energy somewhere productive to go. The right ones also soothe a sore mouth during teething, work a puppy's brain until it's genuinely tired, and offer comfort when the world feels big and lonely. Here's how to pick toys that do those jobs safely, followed by the seven we'd reach for first.

Why the Right Toys Matter for Puppies

Toys aren't a luxury for a puppy — they're a developmental tool. During teething, which usually peaks between roughly three and six months of age, puppies chew because pressure on swollen gums feels good. Give them an appropriate chew and they're less likely to redirect that urge onto your shoes, baseboards, and hands. Softer rubber toys made specifically for puppies are ideal here, and chilling or freezing a fillable one adds a numbing effect that takes the edge off sore gums.

Toys also build a puppy's brain. Working a puzzle or treat dispenser asks a puppy to problem-solve, and that mental effort is surprisingly tiring — many trainers and veterinarians note that a short session of focused puzzle play can wear a dog out as much as a moderate walk. A mentally satisfied puppy is a calmer, less destructive puppy.

Finally, the right toy offers comfort. A heartbeat plush that mimics littermates can take the sting out of first nights alone in a new home, which makes it a natural companion to crate training your puppy and the routine that helps a pup settle.

The Categories of Must-Have Toys

Rather than buying a dozen random toys, think in terms of four jobs. A good starter kit covers each one.

Chew and teething toys. These are the workhorses of puppyhood. Look for soft, durable rubber that gives slightly under pressure — like a puppy-formula KONG — and avoid hard plastics, antlers, or bones during teething. Stuffable chews you can freeze pull double duty as gum-soothers.

Puzzle and enrichment toys. Treat-dispensing balls and wobblers turn mealtime into a brain game. Start with a beginner-friendly puzzle that matches a short attention span, then dial up the difficulty as your puppy figures it out. These are some of the best tools for the rainy days when a long walk isn't happening.

Comfort toys. A soft plush — especially one with a heartbeat or warmth feature — gives an anxious new puppy something to curl up with. Comfort toys are about emotional security more than play.

Fetch and active toys. Balls and tug toys channel physical energy and build your bond. A small multipack means you always have a spare when one disappears under the furniture.

How to Keep Toys Safe

Two factors do most of the safety work: size and hardness.

For size, choose toys your puppy can't fit fully into the mouth, and that won't break into swallowable chunks. A toy built for a large breed may be too unwieldy for a tiny pup, while a small-dog toy can be a choking hazard for a bigger puppy. When you're between sizes, size up.

For hardness, use the classic rule of thumb: press your fingernail into the toy. If you can't leave a slight indentation — and if whacking it against your knee would hurt — it's too hard and can fracture teeth. Teething puppies in particular do best with toys that flex a little.

A few more habits help: rotate toys so only a handful are out at once, which keeps them interesting and gives you a built-in moment to inspect them; pick non-toxic materials; and match the toy's job to your puppy's stage. A daily routine that pairs the right toys with good nutrition and supplements — like a puppy vitamin or a digestive probiotic — keeps a growing pup healthy from the inside out.

How We Picked

We chose toys that each clearly own one of the four jobs above, then favored materials and sizes appropriate for puppies — soft, flexible rubber for chewing, beginner-level mechanics for puzzles, and well-reviewed durability for fetch. We weighed real-world feedback on teething relief, ease of cleaning, and how long each toy survives an enthusiastic mouth, and we confirmed every product link below is live. Our overall pick, the KONG Puppy, earns the top spot because it does the hardest job — keeping a teething puppy happily occupied — better and more safely than anything else on the list. Each remaining pick rounds out a balanced, safe starter kit.