7 Best Dog Chews For Puppies During Travel That Won’t Stink Up the Car

You’re two hours into a six-hour drive to the trailhead, the puppy in the back is finally starting to settle, and then it hits you: the unmistakable, stomach-turning smell of a half-chewed bully stick. A good chew can be the key to a peaceful journey with a young dog, but the wrong one can make a small space feel unbearable. Choosing the right travel-friendly chew is as important as packing your own favorite road trip snacks.

Disclosure: This site earns commissions from listed merchants at no cost to you. Thank you!

Keeping Your Puppy Calm and Your Car Fresh

The drive to the adventure is part of the adventure itself. A bored, anxious puppy can make that drive miserable by whining, barking, or turning your gear into their own personal chew toy. A good chew provides crucial mental stimulation, channeling that boundless puppy energy into a quiet, focused activity.

This isn’t just about keeping them busy; it’s about setting a calm tone for the entire trip. When your pup learns that car rides are a time for relaxing with a special chew, it makes getting to the campground or trailhead a positive experience for everyone. The key is finding something that lasts long enough to be effective but doesn’t fill the car with an overpowering odor.

Nylabone Puppy Pacifier for Gentle Teethers

If you’re traveling with a very young puppy just getting the hang of chewing, this is your starting point. The Nylabone Puppy Pacifier is designed specifically for those tiny, developing teeth. It’s made from a softer material than their adult chews, satisfying the urge to gnaw without being too aggressive on sensitive gums.

This chew is a tool for teaching, not a long-lasting challenge for a power chewer. Its primary benefits are its gentle texture and its complete lack of odor. The tradeoff is durability; a puppy with a strong jaw or emerging adult teeth will go through this quickly. Think of it as the perfect option for a shorter one or two-hour drive to a local park or for the first few car trips to build good habits.

Benebone Puppy Wishbone for Power Chewers

When your pup graduates from gentle nibbling to more determined chewing, the Benebone is the next logical step. It’s made from a durable nylon but is slightly softer than their adult versions, making it a great transitional chew. The real genius is the wishbone design, which is incredibly easy for a puppy to hold in place with their paws.

This chew is built for engagement and will last significantly longer than softer options. The flavor is infused directly into the material, meaning there’s no coating to lick off and, more importantly, no smell to fill the car. The main consideration is supervision. While durable, you should always monitor your puppy to ensure they aren’t breaking off and ingesting large pieces. It’s a fantastic choice for multi-hour drives where you need sustained, odor-free entertainment.

Kong Puppy Teething Stick for Soothing Gums

Teething is a tough phase on the trail and in the car. A puppy with sore gums is a fussy puppy. The Kong Puppy Teething Stick is less of a simple chew and more of a versatile soothing tool. The unique Denta-Ridges help clean teeth and soothe gums as your puppy chews.

The real advantage for travel is its versatility. The hollow center can be stuffed with puppy-safe peanut butter, yogurt, or their own kibble to make it an irresistible puzzle. For an extra level of soothing on a long, hot drive, you can even freeze it before you leave. The durable, non-toxic rubber is completely odorless on its own, though be mindful that a stuffed Kong can get a bit messy. It’s a trade of potential mess for maximum, long-lasting engagement.

Himalayan Yak Chews: A Long-Lasting Option

For a natural, edible option that won’t stink, it’s hard to beat a yak chew. These are made from a traditional recipe of hardened yak and cow milk, creating a rock-hard chew that can keep a puppy occupied for hours, if not days. They are virtually odorless and don’t leave a greasy or sticky residue on car seats.

The primary tradeoff with a yak chew is its hardness. It is critical to choose a size-appropriate chew and supervise your puppy. For very young dogs or extremely aggressive chewers, the hardness could pose a risk to their teeth. However, for a moderate chewer on a cross-country road trip, this can be an absolute game-changer, providing quiet, focused chew time without any unpleasant smells.

Whimzees Puppy Dental Treats for Road Trips

Sometimes you don’t need a chew that lasts for five hours. You just need a 20-minute distraction to get you through city traffic or while you’re setting up the tent. Whimzees Puppy Dental Treats are the perfect solution for these shorter-duration needs. They are designed to be fully digestible and have a firm, nubby texture that helps clean teeth.

These aren’t a long-haul solution; a determined puppy will finish one relatively quickly. But that’s the point. They offer a high-value, engaging, and completely odor-free reward that serves a purpose. They’re a great tool to have in your pack for quick moments of redirection, both in the car and at the campsite.

Earth Animal No-Hide: A Digestible Choice

Many outdoor folks are hesitant to use traditional rawhide due to concerns about digestibility and chemical processing. Earth Animal’s No-Hide chews offer a similar long-lasting, satisfying chewing experience but are made with simple, digestible ingredients like brown rice flour. They provide that peeling, tearing satisfaction that many dogs love.

These chews strike an excellent balance between durability and safety. They last a good while, are much easier on a puppy’s stomach than rawhide, and have a very low odor profile. The tradeoff is cost; they are a premium product. But for a long trip where you want peace of mind about what your puppy is ingesting, they are an outstanding choice.

West Paw Hurley: The Indestructible Option

If your puppy is a four-legged demolition machine that views all other chews as a ten-minute challenge, you need to bring in the heavy equipment. The West Paw Hurley is a non-edible chew toy made from an incredibly durable, bouncy, and non-toxic material called Zogoflex. It’s designed to withstand the most powerful jaws.

This isn’t a treat, so it may not hold a puppy’s interest on its own without some encouragement. However, it is completely odor-free, dishwasher safe, and virtually indestructible. It’s a fantastic "last resort" chew for when you simply cannot risk a puppy ingesting parts of a lesser chew. Think of it less as a snack and more as a permanent piece of gear in your pup’s adventure kit—a reliable, safe, and scent-free option for any trip.

Ultimately, the best chew is the one that keeps your puppy safe and your car smelling fresh, allowing you to focus on the road ahead. Don’t get bogged down searching for one perfect solution; build a small toolkit of a few different options for different situations. The real goal is getting out there and making memories with your new trail partner, and a peaceful drive is the first step toward a great adventure.