Puppies come in all different sizes. There are giant breed puppies such as Great Danes, Great Pyrenees, Mastiffs, Irish Wolfhounds, St. Bernard’s and Newfoundland dogs that can weigh between 20 and 30 pounds at eight weeks of age and up to 45 pounds by 12 weeks of age.
At the same time, the small breeds of dogs such as Shih Tzus, Maltese and many of the terrier breeds may weigh less than four pounds at eight weeks and less than 6 at 12 weeks.
These two different extremes in puppy sizes require different options in dog chews for puppies. The chew that fits the needs of the giant or large size of puppy is simply too big for the toy or small dog to even begin to chew. At the same time, the chew toy that is perfect for the small puppy is easily swallowed whole by the large or giant breed puppy, which poses a choking hazard.
Age Considerations
It is important to avoid giving any dog chews for puppies to puppies that are not yet weaned. Most puppies are weaned at 12 weeks, but some may be weaned earlier based on specific situations.
Starting out with the smaller sized puppy chews is recommended for any weaned puppy, and changes based on the growth rate of the puppy over the next weeks and months.
Consider Chewing Behavior
The size of the puppy’s mouth is important, but so is his or her chewing behavior. Some small dogs are very aggressive in chewing on dog bones, while some large breeds are more likely to carry the chew toy around in their mouth and just nibble over a period of time.
The more aggressive the puppy is in chewing, the more important it is to increase the size of the chew toy for safety and to avoid the risk of swallowing large pieces and biting off big chunks.
