Labrador still chewing at 22 weeks? Here's what helps

At 22 weeks, your Lab is through the worst of teething — but don't be fooled into thinking that means the chewing is winding down. This is actually the age where destructive chewing often peaks, because the relief-driven gnawing of teething gives way to something else: boredom, jaw strengthening, and a Lab's deep-seated need to have something in their mouth at all times. Having the right chew toys available — firm enough to satisfy, safe for still-developing adult teeth, and ideally something that can be stuffed to hold attention — makes a real difference to what gets chewed instead of the furniture. What's your puppy actually going for most — furniture, shoes, skirting boards? And is this happening when he or she is left alone, or all the time?

That pattern — ignoring toys she already has and going for furniture the moment you leave — tells me two things. First, the existing toys probably aren't engaging enough to compete with the novelty of destruction. Second, there's likely a mild separation component: chewing is self-soothing for dogs, and solo chewing ramps up when they're a bit unsettled. Before I suggest anything, one quick question: have you tried stuffable toys like a Kong, or has it mainly been solid rubber or rope toys?

That's exactly the gap. For a 22-week Labrador who's past teething but in full-on power-chewing mode, I'd go straight to the Kong Extreme in size Large. Standard Kongs are too easy for Labs — they flatten and puncture them — but the Extreme is made from much denser black rubber that holds up properly. The key difference with stuffable toys versus solid ones is that she has to work for the reward, which occupies her brain as well as her jaw. Stuff it with a mix of peanut butter and her kibble, freeze it overnight, and it'll keep her genuinely busy for 20 to 40 minutes — long enough to cover the window when she'd normally go for the sofa. Give her the frozen Kong just before you leave, so it becomes something she associates with you going out rather than something to dread. One Kong probably won't be enough on its own — having two or three on rotation in the freezer means you always have one ready.

It makes a real difference, for two reasons. One, it dramatically slows down how fast she can get the food out — a room-temperature stuffed Kong might last five minutes for a determined Lab, but frozen can stretch to 30 or 40. Two, the cold still provides some gum comfort even at this stage, and the effort involved is genuinely tiring in a way that passive chewing isn't. It's not a myth — it's just that most people try it once with a loosely packed Kong and don't see the full effect. Pack it dense, freeze it solid, and it's a different experience for the dog.

Yes — Labs grow into their appetite for destruction fast. At 22 weeks she's probably already 15 to 20kg and her jaw strength is close to adult levels even if she's not fully grown. A Medium Kong won't last, and she could potentially work bits loose. Large Extreme is the right call, and it'll still be the right toy when she's fully grown. The Kong Extreme Large is easy to find on Amazon UK — search for 'Kong Extreme Dog Toy Large' and it'll come up, usually around £12 to £15. Pick up two if you can.