What Kind of Chews Are Best for Puppies?

Four weeks to go until we pick up our puppy!

Guys, I’m getting so excited for this!!

Our Weimaraner pup is about 4 weeks old now. He is one of only two boys in the litter of eight.

It’s been awhile since I’ve raised a puppy though (yikes!), so once again I’m turning to you for help.

Yes, I will discuss these with our pup’s breeder and vet, but I want to hear about your experience too.

I’d love to hear your suggestions in the comments.

See my past puppy questions here.

As I’m loading up on puppy supplies …

Here are my 6 questions this week:

1. What are the best types of chews for puppies?

I want something safe for a puppy but interesting to him. What worked the best for you in the past?

For edible chews, my plan is to get some bully sticks and beef tendons (because my senior dog Ace likes these!). I’m comfortable feeding these because they’re natural, they don’t seem to break or splinter and apparently they’re easier for dogs to digest than rawhides.

• Mighty Paw Naturals Bully Sticks

For non-edible chew toys, I plan to have some Nylabones and Kong toys on hand. Ace likes both of these. I’ll stuff the Kongs with treats or peanut butter.

I’ll also have all sorts of other soft toys too like rope toys and stuffies.

… And we have a box of 50 tennis balls.

2. Can an 8-week-old Weimaraner puppy hold it from about 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.?

I guess I’ll find out!

3. Is the puppy less likely to cry at night if his crate is in our bedroom?

I don’t mind having his crate by our bed, even if he whimpers and cries some the first few nights.

Do you think having him near us will make him cry less or more?

We’re in an apartment so I want to keep the crying to a minimum, but, you know … puppies.

4. How often do you de-worm a puppy?

Our breeder recommends every month for the first few months and then putting him on a monthly heartworm/roundworm/hookworm prevention at six months. Seems like a lot to me, but I’m sure she knows what she’s talking about.

I give Ace a heartworm preventative every 6 to 8 weeks April through December.

5. Does diatomaceous earth actually work to prevent fleas?

I currently use K9 Advantix II for flea prevention on my adult dog. I hate putting this on him, and I really don’t want to use chemicals on our puppy. However, we can’t use natural, topical flea prevention products in our home due to allergies. It’s out of the question.

However, what about food-grade diatomaceous earth? I’ve heard many good things about it naturally and effectively killing and preventing fleas, but I’ve never tried it. I’m pretty skeptical.

My question: Does this really work? And does it really work in areas where there are a TON of fleas?

I feel like some dog owners “think” their natural flea “prevention” is working but really they just live in an area with no fleas. For example, in North Dakota I never used any flea prevention and never once saw a flea. After a month of living in San Diego, all 3 of my pets had fleas. Hence, the K9 Advantix.

6. Is there any reason to take our pup to the vet right away at 8 weeks?

Should I bring our puppy in for a checkup that first week or just wait until he’s due for the next round of vaccinations + de-worming at 12 weeks?

I wouldn’t want him to get sick from something he picks up at the vet. Also, really don’t want to spend the money on an exam if it’s not needed.

Alright, your feedback is very welcome! Thank you in advance!

Also, leave your own puppy questions in the comments. I’ll get them answered for you!

Related posts:

Help! My 6 puppy raising questions so far!

Will my dog be sad if I get a puppy?

Puppy training guide

How to introduce my dog to a puppy