Finnish Spitz puppy teething chews — sensitive stomach

Switching away from flavoured chews after a bout of loose stools is exactly the right call — a lot of those artificial flavourings and additives are too rich for young puppies, and Finnish Spitz pups in particular tend to have fairly sensitive digestion. Teething is one of the most intense periods of puppyhood, and you do need something in their mouth — but it has to be the right thing. What flavoured chews were you using, and has the stomach settled since you stopped them?

That makes sense — the Nylabone flavoured range is heavily scented and some puppies just can't handle the additives at this age. At 14 weeks your Finnish Spitz's adult teeth are nowhere near through yet, so you want something firm enough to satisfy but not so hard it puts stress on those baby teeth. What I'd recommend is the Kong Puppy — the classic rubber one in the puppy-specific red or pink rubber, which is a softer compound than the adult version. It has no flavouring, it's designed specifically for developing teeth, and crucially you can stuff it with a tiny bit of plain yoghurt or mashed banana and freeze it, which does a lot to soothe inflamed gums. Finnish Spitz are energetic and mouthy — she'll take to it well. Has she had any rubber toys before, or has it all been chews so far?

That's a fair concern, and the reason most puppies ignore plain rubber toys is that there's nothing compelling about them. The Kong works differently because of the stuffing — frozen plain yoghurt, a smear of xylitol-free peanut butter, or even just her own kibble soaked in water and frozen turns it into a puzzle she has to work at. That engagement is what keeps her on it rather than the sofa leg. At 14 weeks even five minutes on a frozen Kong is genuinely soothing when her gums are sore. I'd get the small size for a Finnish Spitz at this age — she's not a large breed, and the small fits her jaw well. The puppy-specific one is sold as the Kong Puppy Classic on Amazon UK, usually around £7-9.

The main thing is to supervise the first few sessions so you can see she's chewing it rather than trying to tear chunks off — at 14 weeks that's very unlikely, but good habit to start. Keep an eye on the rubber over time; if it starts to pit or tear, replace it. As for moving on — once her adult teeth are through, typically around 6-7 months, you'd switch to the Classic Kong in the standard red rubber, which is firmer. Finnish Spitz are medium-sized dogs so the small or medium Classic will suit her then. You won't need to change anything before that. The Puppy version will see you comfortably through the worst of the teething phase.

Good choice — and honestly, once you get the freezing routine going it becomes one of those things you prep the night before and it just works. Your furniture will thank you. Hope her gums settle down quickly.