• Some toys can be dangerous for puppies to chew.Black puppies image by diter from Fotolia.com
  
  Puppies love to chew. It's a natural impulse for many dogs and it's equally natural for their owners to want to give them special toys to chew on so that they don't destroy furniture, dog houses or other property. Unfortunately, many items designed as chew toys can damage a dog's teeth or break apart to lodge in its throat or digestive system. Other products may contain chemicals that can be dangerous to your dog. A good pet owner must be aware of these dangers and choose safe and appropriate chewing toys.
  
  

Bully Bones

• Dogs tend to love "natural" chew products --- those made of various animal parts. Rawhide and cow leg bones are extremely common, but they can pose a variety of risks. Rawhide is chemically treated and can easily break apart to choke the dog or create a blockage. Leg bones are usually very hard and can damage the dog's teeth. Bully bones are a good alternative for dogs who like the flavor and feeling of chewing on an animal product. Unlike leg bones, they are soft enough for a dog to break apart -- thus reducing the risk of tooth fracture -- but unlike rawhide, the fragments are not harmful to the dog's digestive system.
  
  

Consumable Bones

• Many available toys are consumable but not made of animal products. Many dogs enjoy the taste of these toys, but they are for consumption, unlike animal bones. You can purchase a long-lasting consumable bones made out of cornstarch. To make them tastier for dogs, these consumable bones come in a variety of flavors that usually mimic the taste of various meats. Some products also contain reformed rawhide that breaks down differently than traditional rawhide and are safe for digestion.
  
  

Durable Rubber and Nylon

• Rubber toys may not be as appetizing to your dog, but they are a safe option for chewing. Soft rubber squeaky toys are fine for small dogs that don't have a tendency to rip their toys to shreds, but larger or more enthusiastic dogs can easily swallow them. Several brands of heavy-duty rubber toys are on the market. To rectify the taste issue, many of these toys include a compartment that can be filled with treats for the dog to discover. Some are designed as "smart toys" and act as a puzzle, challenging the dog to find the compartment and release the treats.