Become a chew expert

Puppies

Practical, honest guides on natural chews — sizing, safety, and what actually keeps dogs busy.

Simplified illustration of a smaller retained baby canine beside a broader adult canine.

Retained Puppy Teeth in Small Breeds: What to Check at Six Months

A baby tooth still sitting beside its adult replacement at six months needs a vet, not another chew. Roughly one extra-small dog in seven has one.

Aug 27, 2026 7 min read

A puppy approaches a stationary bully stick for a first supervised sniff.

The First Chew: How to Introduce a Puppy to a Bully Stick

A short, supervised first session with a correctly sized bully stick. Follow the puppy’s growth-feeding plan and remove the stub at three inches or sooner.

Aug 27, 2026 6 min read

A growing puppy eats a normal meal while an adult watches.

Can Puppies Eat Lamb? Yes, and the Chew Is a Separate Question

Yes — lamb is behind about 5% of confirmed canine food allergy cases. Whether a lamb chew fits your puppy is a separate question; ours start at six inches.

Aug 27, 2026 7 min read

An educational illustration contrasts a developing canine tooth's open root apex with a mature root.

Rawhide and Puppies: Why the Answer Is Different Before 12 Months

Foodiepaws doesn't sell rawhide. It's the wrong chew for a puppy under about twelve months: adult teeth are up by six months, the roots under them are not.

Aug 27, 2026 7 min read

A supervised puppy explores a broad soft rubber toy on the grass.

Puppy Teething and Chewing, Month by Month

A puppy's 28 baby teeth are in by six weeks, start shedding at twelve weeks, and become 42 adult teeth by five to seven months. What to give at each stage.

Aug 27, 2026 7 min read

An owner collects a puppy's chew as the puppy moves toward a soft toy.

How Long Should a Puppy Chew on a Bully Stick in One Sitting?

Five to ten minutes for a teething puppy, and about fifteen once the permanent teeth are all in. Stop sooner if your puppy starts gulping or guarding the stick.

Aug 27, 2026 7 min read

An owner checks a growing puppy's current size on a floor scale.

What Size Bully Stick for a Puppy? Size the Mouth, Not the Body

Size a puppy's bully stick to the mouth in front of you, not the adult weight on the breed page. Length follows this month's weight; thickness the teeth.

Aug 27, 2026 7 min read

An adult gently pressing a flexible puppy toy to show how its material yields.

What to Give a Teething Puppy, and What to Skip

Choose a chew that gives and fits your puppy. Antlers, hooves and rigid nylon bones stay off the list; jumbo bully sticks are a separate choice for mature jaws.

Aug 27, 2026 6 min read

An owner and clinician discussing Dental development and Chewing behavior beside a seated puppy.

Are Cow Ears Safe for Puppies? An Age Gate With a Reason Attached

Foodiepaws doesn't sell cow ears. Most puppies can handle one from about 12 weeks, when the baby teeth start dropping out and permanent teeth erupt.

Aug 27, 2026 6 min read

An owner clearing fallen branches from a yard while the dog waits behind a secure garden barrier.

Why Your Dog Eats Sticks, and What to Hand Him Instead

Dogs eat sticks for four reasons: boredom, teething, pica, and a medical problem underneath. Only the last two need a vet. How to tell which one you have.

Aug 27, 2026 7 min read

A blank weekly puppy-care planner separating chew sessions from the amount eaten.

How Often Can a Puppy Have a Bully Stick? A Week-by-Week Plan

Most puppies can chew a bully stick several days a week. What you ration is how much stick disappears, and that budget changes every month.

Aug 27, 2026 7 min read

Overhead view of an adult closely supervising a puppy as they prepare for a short chew session.

Are Bully Sticks Safe for Puppies? A Practical Guide

Yes — with the right size and supervision. When puppies can start bully sticks, how long they should chew, and which stick to pick first.

Jul 9, 2026 6 min read