Suitable chews for 8 week old puppy

[DorcasBouvier]

We got our puppy at the weekend (she's a vizsla so likes to chew a lot!). She's got lots of toys to chew on (rubber ones, rope ones, nyla bone) but seems to get bored really easily with them. I thought she might like some kind of hide chew but all the ones I saw in Pets at Home are for 12 weeks plus. Does anyone know if there are any that you can give to younger puppies? Something a bit tasty to keep her interested.

[UptownAbbie]

my lab loved homemade tuggies made out of old clothes when he was a tiny pup. I used to hide treats or bits of kibble in the knots. Playing tuggy is useful for teaching the off/drop command as its important to train pup to stop tugging and let go of it instantly. My dog still wouldn't be without one, he settles down in the evening and chews the knots for ages, carefully spitting out soggy lumps onto the floor. A favourite game is for someone to stand on tuggy (current one made out of old jeans) and dog drags person along the floor till they fall over, such fun .

[yesbutnobut]

Dorcas, I bought a nylabone 'puppy starter' set of 3 different bones. Little did I know that one of them was edible and my tiny pup ate it over the course of an afternoon. Not only that but it was smokey bacon flavour and her spaniel ears smelt of it for the next 2 days! She didn't come to any harm luckily. I think a lot of chews etc are meant to be for slightly older dogs but I give my puppy something called 'Ribbies' which are made in New Zealand and are mini spare ribs. The packet says not for very young pups but my vet gave my pup one of these when we went just after I got her and so I'm assuming they are fine. I think most things are probably fine in moderation. With the toys I find that pup wants to interact with these rather than play with them herself, so don't feel it's just your pup that is like this. I have given my pup rawhide (one of those cute shoes which my daughter chose specially!) but only occasionally as I've read it can upset the tummy.

Your puppy sounds gorgeous

[midori1999]

I would give raw bones but be careful to introduce gradually to avoid tummy upsets.

[DorcasBouvier]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone! I have managed to find some Ribbies online and will have a go at making a tuggie. We also got her a shoe this morning which is she is enjoying at the moment (the lady at the petshop said it was OK as long as she's supervised). She's also had a plastic milk bottle this morning as well as a watering can :)

[midori1999]

Please be very careful with the chew, especially the laces. Commercial dog treats and toys are not tested for safety at all and rawhide can give tummy upsets easily, especially in a puppy.

[DorcasBouvier]

The shoe chew has already been taken away. I was watching her with it and she pulled off a big piece which I was worried she'd swallow.

Jajas, I have just put up a photo of her. Sadly we don't have Spider any more ~ she died a few months ago (she was 20 though, so not bad going!)

[UptownAbbie]

what a gorgeous puppy . My lab plays with a 10 month old viszla and they are so funny together. Lab gallops after ducks, rabbits etc all gangly legs and ears flapping, and the viszla creeps and stalks in slow motion and ends up getting jumped on by lab.

[cedmonds]

Hi
We give all ours including the litters, pig noses. cow toys and the sterilized bones they also have treated pig ears as well. Ive got a litter at the moment and they are very happy chewing a pig nose each.