Puppy teething prep for a Gordon Setter

Teething is one of the most intense periods of puppyhood — and you're already thinking ahead before collection day, which puts you in a genuinely good position. Having the right chew toys ready from day one makes a real difference to how much destruction happens, especially if they're firm enough to satisfy that urge, safe for teeth that are still coming through, and ideally chillable to soothe sore gums. How old is your puppy, what breed, and is your main concern the chewing itself or protecting specific things in the home?

A Gordon Setter at 8 weeks — great choice of breed, but they're big dogs with a strong chewing instinct even as puppies, so you're right to take this seriously. Before I make a specific suggestion, just one question: are you planning to freeze anything for her, or would you prefer something she can just use straight out of the box without any prep?

Perfect — then I'd go straight for the KONG Puppy toy in a large size. It's made from a softer natural rubber formulated specifically for puppies whose adult teeth are still coming in, so it won't damage her gums or developing teeth the way a harder chew might. The hollow centre is the real trick: you stuff it with a bit of puppy-appropriate paste or wet food, freeze it overnight, and she'll spend a serious stretch of time working at it rather than eyeing your skirting boards. For a Gordon Setter at this age, the large is the right call — the small and medium get outgrown fast in bigger breeds. Keep two or three on rotation in the freezer so there's always one ready. That alone will dramatically cut down how much she investigates the furniture in those first few weeks.

For the first week or two, the frozen KONG is enough to focus on — you want her to really bond with it as her go-to thing rather than having too many options that dilute that. Once she's settled in and you've got a sense of her chewing style, you can add a natural chew like a bully stick for supervised sessions. But honestly, get the KONG routine established first. Puppies at 8 weeks are still learning what's theirs to chew, so consistency matters more than variety at this stage.

You're well set. Order two if you can — having a spare in the freezer means you're never caught without one ready. Enjoy Saturday, Gordon Setters are wonderful dogs.