If you’re in the thick of the puppy teething stage — the chewing, the crying, the random need to bite your ankles — I see you.
When Pepper (my Labrador puppy) hit the 4-month mark, she suddenly wanted to chew everything. And honestly? I don’t blame her. Teething hurts.
So I went on the hunt for something natural that complements her raw meaty bones as she’s raw-fed.
It had to be safe so definitely no rawhide for us. Also, long-lasting, and… you know… not my furniture.
That’s how I found coffee wood and olive wood dog chews — and three months later, Pepper is still really liking them. Well, the olive wood dog chew that is, because we lost the coffee wood chew on our trip to France.
In today’s post, I’ll walk you through why olive wood chews work so well for teething puppies, how they compare to other natural dog chews, and what to look for when choosing one.
Why Olive Wood Chews Are Great for Teething Puppies
When puppies teethe, they naturally crave pressure on their gums. Olive wood chews offer just that — but in a way that’s safe, dense, and satisfying.
Here’s why they work so well:
1. Olive wood is extremely durable but doesn’t splinter
Unlike regular sticks you’ll find in your yard, olive wood is tight-grained. When chewed, it softens into tiny wood fibers rather than sharp splinters. Huge win. That said, it’s a bit softer than coffee wood chews.
2. They’re completely natural
Just a piece of responsibly harvested olive wood — nothing else.
No glue, no chemicals, no artificial flavoring.
3. They help redirect destructive chewing
Bite your hands? Nope.
Chew the table leg? Also nope.
Chew the olive wood? Absolutely yes.
4. They satisfy the need for oral enrichment
Puppies (and dogs in general) are wired to chew — it calms them, focuses them, and burns mental energy. Olive wood is a great “chew assignment” your puppy can work on safely.
5. They last a long time
Pepper has been working on her olive wood chew for months, and it’s still going strong. Occasionally, her adult brother Wally chews on it as well.
Are Olive Wood Chews Safe?
Yes — when used correctly.
But here’s what matters:
- Supervise your puppy, especially in the beginning.
- Choose the right size (slightly larger than your pup’s mouth).
- Replace when the chew becomes too small to hold comfortably.
If your dog is a “destroyer,” monitor more closely. Pepper is a moderate chewer, and olive wood is the one thing she doesn’t obliterate within minutes.
Tip: If your pup(py) doesn’t start to chew on it right away, you can smear some peanut butter or pumpkin purée on there to get them interested in digging in.
How Olive Wood Compares to Other Natural Dog Chews
Here’s a quick breakdown from my experience raising multiple raw-fed dogs:
Bully sticks
Bully sticks are great chews that all dogs love, but calories add up and they don’t last nearly as long.
Yak chews
Yak chews are longer-lasting than bully sticks but they don’t last as long as olive wood chews.
Antlers
Antlers are too hard for puppy teeth — risk of tooth fractures. If you decide to go with Antlers, I recommend split antlers where the marrow is already exposed. Those aren’t quite as hard as whole antlers.
Olive wood
The sweet spot: tough, but not too tough, and they freakin’ last for a long time!!
My Experience: 3 Months Later
Now that Pepper’s 7 months old, she no longer needs the olive wood stick to massage her gums and soothe her teething pain. But she still likes to chew on it several times per day.
Like, she’ll chew on it in the living room while we watch a movie.
She also keeps herself busy with it in her crate or under my desk in the office.
I filmed a short one minute video so you can see how she uses it — this was in the kitchen:
Which Olive Wood Dog Chews Do I Recommend?
The olive wood chews that I got for Pepper are by Wildfang – a brand that’s available in the US, in Canada and yes, also in Germany where we currently live.
I got her the L size which is for dogs who weigh between over 55 lbs. That said, they also come in S (for dogs under 33 lbs) and in M (for dogs between 35-55 lbs).
👉🏻 Use code OLIVEW10 for 10% off through 08/13/2026 (affiliate link)
These chews are infused with olive oil which adds some extra flavor – it can’t be much though, or at least I can’t smell it and the sticks also don’t feed oily at all.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wildfang Olive Wood Chew
✅ Long-lasting
✅ 3 sizes
✅ Helps soothe puppy teething pain
Look for:
- sustainably sourced
- single-ingredient
- sanded + polished surface
- no sharp edges
Olive wood is one of the few dog chews I feel confident recommending for teething puppies.
Tip for frugal shoppers
One of my readers, Sonja, pointed out that she saw a piece of coffee wood…IN THE BIRD Section at Walmart. The piece was about 12-14” long and about an inch in diameter, for $2.99! The same stick in the dog section was “On Sale” for $6.99!
So next time you’re in Walmart or in the bird section of a pet retail store, see if you can find coffee wood or olive wood sticks and compare prices.
Thank you for sharing your tip, Sonja!
…or use code OLIVEW10 for 10% off Wildfang Olive Wood Chewing Sticks now through 08/13/2026 (affiliate link)!
FAQ About Olive Wood Chews
Do olive wood chews splinter?
Not in sharp shards. They flake into soft, fuzzy fibers that are safe to eat.
How long does one chew last?
Most puppies get weeks or months out of a single piece. For Pepper, it’s lasted for 4 months!
Can adult dogs use olive wood chews?
Yes! They’re great enrichment for adult dogs too.
Are they safe for aggressive chewers?
For power chewers, supervise more closely — and choose a thicker size.
Final Thoughts
If your puppy is chewing everything in sight, olive wood chews are a safe, natural, long-lasting option that can make the teething phase so much easier.
Pepper and I are 100% fans — and I hope your puppy loves them just as much.
If you try them, hit reply and let me know how they work for you!
👉🏻 Now through 08/13/2026, use code OLIVEW10 for 10% off (affiliate link)
Related Reading
- Labrador puppy raw feeding
- 3 easy cow-hoof fillers for dogs
- How to puff yak cheese for dogs
- How to get rid of stinky dog breath
- How to cope with a fractured dog tooth
- How to prevent dog tartar build-up with dog chews
Barbara Rivers is the founder of K9sOverCoffee and a raw feeding educator with over a decade of hands-on experience.
She has fed raw in the US and Europe since 2015, after her Boxer mix Missy’s cancer diagnosis led her to move away from processed kibble and commit to species-appropriate nutrition.
As a former professional dog walker, she developed deep insight into canine behavior, conditioning, and the essential link between proper exercise and long-term health.
Barbara completed online training with veterinarian Dr. Marion Smart and Labrador breeder Dana Scott and works for one of Germany’s leading raw dog food brands, BARFER’S.
In 2026–2027, she is completing a year-long raw nutrition certification for dogs and cats at THP School, founded by raw feeding pioneer Swanie Simon.
Through her blog and weekly newsletter, she provides clear, experience-based guidance to help dog owners feed raw safely and confidently.