Toy question for GSD puppies

[Kaia Murphy]

Hey everyone!

I am brand new here and to the breed so please understand I am still learning.

I’m starting to build a little “puppy prep list” (probably going overboard but it’s fun ). For toys, I know GSD pups love to chew, are things like Kongs and rope toys safe for them at 8 weeks? Or are they too small/too tough for their little teeth?

What did your puppies absolutely love at that age? I don’t want to waste money on the wrong stuff, but I also want to have a variety ready when my future pup comes home.

 

[Malakai The Great]

Hey Kaia, welcome aboard! Great to have you here. The puppy prep stage is exciting, and trust me, you’re not overdoing it. With shepherd pups, being prepared saves a lot of headaches later.


At 8 weeks, here’s what I’ve had good luck with:

Kongs – Go for the puppy version since the rubber is softer. You can stuff them with kibble, yogurt, or wet food and freeze them. Perfect for teething relief and keeping a pup busy.

Rope toys – They’re fine as long as you supervise. Some pups just play tug, others try to shred and eat the strings. Great for short tug sessions though, and helps build engagement.

Puppy chew bones – The softer Nylabone or Benebone puppy versions are great. Adult ones will be too hard on little teeth.

Plush toys – A lot of people skip these, but my shepherd adored a squeaky duck at 8 weeks and carried it everywhere like a security blanket. It didn’t last forever, but it was worth it.

Rotation – Don’t give everything at once. Rotate toys every couple of days so they stay fresh and exciting.


One tip from experience: don’t be surprised if your pup ignores a toy you thought they’d love. Their favorites change as they grow. Looking forward to hearing more about your pup when the time comes. You’ll have your hands full in the best way possible.

 

[Kaia Murphy]

Hey Kaia, welcome aboard! Great to have you here. The puppy prep stage is exciting, and trust me, you’re not overdoing it. With shepherd pups, being prepared saves a lot of headaches later.


At 8 weeks, here’s what I’ve had good luck with:

Kongs – Go for the puppy version since the rubber is softer. You can stuff them with kibble, yogurt, or wet food and freeze them. Perfect for teething relief and keeping a pup busy.

Rope toys – They’re fine as long as you supervise. Some pups just play tug, others try to shred and eat the strings. Great for short tug sessions though, and helps build engagement.

Puppy chew bones – The softer Nylabone or Benebone puppy versions are great. Adult ones will be too hard on little teeth.

Plush toys – A lot of people skip these, but my shepherd adored a squeaky duck at 8 weeks and carried it everywhere like a security blanket. It didn’t last forever, but it was worth it.

Rotation – Don’t give everything at once. Rotate toys every couple of days so they stay fresh and exciting.


One tip from experience: don’t be surprised if your pup ignores a toy you thought they’d love. Their favorites change as they grow. Looking forward to hearing more about your pup when the time comes. You’ll have your hands full in the best way possible.

Thanks so much for the detailed breakdown, that’s super helpful! I didn’t even know there was a softer puppy version of Kongs, so I’ll definitely grab one of those. The plush toy tip is great too. I wouldn’t have thought a squeaky duck could become a favorite, but that’s kind of adorable.

Rotating toys every few days makes sense, I’d probably just throw everything at them at once otherwise. Appreciate the advice, and I’ll keep you updated when the time comes. I’m already excited (and a little nervous) about having my hands full!

 

[Caryll]

As above! But if you get a mong, make sure you don't get a knock-off; some of them only have one hole which could create a vacuum and trap your pup's delicate tongue!

 

[Kaia Murphy]

As above! But if you get a mong, make sure you don't get a knock-off; some of them only have one hole which could create a vacuum and trap your pup's delicate tongue!

Oh wow, I never would’ve thought of that! Thanks for the heads up, the last thing I’d want is my pup getting their tongue stuck. Do you have a favorite type of Kong filling you use? I keep hearing people say peanut butter but I’m wondering what else works.

 

[20thcentboy]

Hey everyone!

I am brand new here and to the breed so please understand I am still learning.

I’m starting to build a little “puppy prep list” (probably going overboard but it’s fun ). For toys, I know GSD pups love to chew, are things like Kongs and rope toys safe for them at 8 weeks? Or are they too small/too tough for their little teeth?

What did your puppies absolutely love at that age? I don’t want to waste money on the wrong stuff, but I also want to have a variety ready when my future pup comes home.

Best of luck on the new pup.
Our experience.
Note #1 when you get the dog, training starts immediately and never ends. She has tested us from day one, even today. Be prepared for the tug of war in whose alpha.
Ropes work, even at 10 weeks old.
Heavy chew toys did not work for our feet, she drops them on us while playing.
Squeaky toys died early and often.
Tractor supply had some decent toys at first, if you have one near by.
Now at 22 months, it's all about rawhide chews and the Jolly ball.
She has 3 Jolly balls and it's like crack to her.
Your dog will probably be somewhat different than ours but I figured some ideas may help.

 

[Kaia Murphy]

Best of luck on the new pup.
Our experience.
Note #1 when you get the dog, training starts immediately and never ends. She has tested us from day one, even today. Be prepared for the tug of war in whose alpha.
Ropes work, even at 10 weeks old.
Heavy chew toys did not work for our feet, she drops them on us while playing.
Squeaky toys died early and often.
Tractor supply had some decent toys at first, if you have one near by.
Now at 22 months, it's all about rawhide chews and the Jolly ball.
She has 3 Jolly balls and it's like crack to her.
Your dog will probably be somewhat different than ours but I figured some ideas may help.

This is awesome, thank you so much for all the advice! I’ve heard a lot of people mention Jolly balls, sounds like I definitely need to add one to the list. Good tip about the rope toys too, I wouldn’t have thought to start tug that early. I’ll check out Tractor Supply and see what they’ve got.

Also curious, did Venus take to rawhide right away or did you have to try a few different chews first?

 

[20thcentboy]

This is awesome, thank you so much for all the advice! I’ve heard a lot of people mention Jolly balls, sounds like I definitely need to add one to the list. Good tip about the rope toys too, I wouldn’t have thought to start tug that early. I’ll check out Tractor Supply and see what they’ve got.

Also curious, did Venus take to rawhide right away or did you have to try a few different chews first?

At first it was just sticks from the yard, they were kinda soft ones, not supper hard. I think when she was around 6 to 8 months we got her rawhide from Tractor supply. Pig ears worked for a bit. She won't chew milk bones for some reason. The first six months were a rollercoaster of training commands of "not to do" things and who was in charge.

 

[Kaia Murphy]

At first it was just sticks from the yard, they were kinda soft ones, not supper hard. I think when she was around 6 to 8 months we got her rawhide from Tractor supply. Pig ears worked for a bit. She won't chew milk bones for some reason. The first six months were a rollercoaster of training commands of "not to do" things and who was in charge.

Sounds like Venus really knew what she liked early on! Pig ears are a great idea, I’ll add those to my list too.

And yeah, I’m already bracing myself for that rollercoaster of “who’s in charge” moments… pretty sure I’ll lose the first few rounds